The Closer I Get (Paperback) - Paul Burston

A compulsive, disturbingly relevant, twisty and powerful psychological, social-media thriller from the bestselling author of The Black Path

A compulsive, disturbingly relevant, twisty and powerful psychological, social-media thriller ... NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

LONGLISTED for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize

'Another dark banger from the Orenda Books stable ... A brilliant, twisty cat-and-mouse book about fandom and obsession' Erin Kelly

'Brilliantly twisty. I loved it' Lisa Jewell

Tom is a successful author, but he's struggling to finish his novel. His main distraction is an online admirer, Evie, who simply won't leave him alone.

Evie is smart, well read and unstable; she lives with her father and her social-media friendships are not only her escape, but everything she has.

When she's hit with a restraining order, her world is turned upside down, and Tom is free to live his life again, to concentrate on writing.

But things aren't really adding up. For Tom is distracted but also addicted to his online relationships, and when they take a darker, more menacing turn, he feels powerless to change things. Because maybe he needs Evie more than he's letting on.

A compulsive, disturbingly relevant, twisty and powerful psychological thriller, The Closer I Get is also a searing commentary on the fragility and insincerity of online relationships, and the danger that can lurk just one 'like' away...

'A gripping ride through the heartlands of need and hurt. Even at his most thrilling, Paul Burston never loses his sense of real pain and suffering' Philip Hensher

'As perfect a thriller as you'll read all year' Caz Frear

'This book will make you rethink your social media obsession. Dangerous from page one, lit by bursts of black humour, ultimately honest about the frailty of ego and the masks we all wear. Terrifically readable' Sarah Hilary

'A sucker-punch of a twist that took my breath away! Absurdly gripping, and enough to unnerve anyone who has ever spent any time online' Angela Clarke

So good. Such brilliant characters. Great premise and a thrilling read' Nina Pottell, Prima

'Chillingly recognisable. A delicious tour de force' Alex Marwood

'Compelling, creepy and completely believable' Mel McGrath

'Dark, devious and with a growing sense of dread' Neil Broadfoot

'Brilliantly written, tense and compelling' Amanda Jennings

'Dark twisty fiction at its very best' SJI Holliday

'One of the best books you'll read this year' Ed James

'Effortlessly readable, intensely chilling. That ending floored me' Chris Whitaker

'Unsettling. Taut. Menacing. Burston puts the killer into killer twist' Jonathan Harvey

'Witty and insightful' Susie Boyt

'Brilliant, chilling, totally awesome writing' Miranda Dickinson

'An absolute stunner ... with a deliciously twisted ending' Lisa Hall

'The tension is almost unbearable. The twist is gut-wrenching. The book is a masterpiece in sustained suspense and smart literate contemporary horror. Bravo Mr Burston' Derek Farrell

'Very easy to read, certainly keeps you hooked in with plenty of twists. I suspect it will be a big read this summer' Fiona Sharp

'It's about a gay novelist who becomes the target of an online stalker and is dark, thought-provoking, and totally riveting. As comebacks go, it's on a par with Madonna bursting out of a giant disco ball in a pink leotard!' Matt Cain

'Gripped and Terrified by Paul Burston's new novel, bloody hell!!!' Rowan Coleman

'A fiercely provocative novel, and as well as being a boldly entertaining read, it really, really made me think' LoveReading

'A thought-provoking social-media thriller about fear, fanaticism and the psychological legacy of harassment ... The best work of fiction yet from the novelist, journalist and literary salon host' Attitude Magazine

About the Author

Paul Burston is the author of five novels and the editor of two short story collections. He has written for many publications including Guardian, Independent, Time Out, The Times and Sunday Times. He is the founder and host of London's award-winning LGBT+ literary salon Polari and founder and chair of The Polari First Book Prize for new writing.