The Man
Will be published approx. on 23. July 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-85730-950-1 (ISBN)
Description
The photos Judith Stanley takes are just for her, a private passion to fill her suburban days. But when she shares them with Paul Sorenson, her new photography instructor, she's unprepared to hear his astonished praise. 'Stunning,' he calls her photos. 'Extraordinary.' She has an uncanny eye, he says, and should consider publication. He could help. Except Judith has no interest in sharing her work; in fact, the mere idea of it frightens her.
Still, emboldened by Paul's encouragement, Judith ventures out beyond her quiet neighbourhood to the city in search of increasingly striking images. When she starts to notice the dark shape of a man in the corner of her self-portraits, Judith is certain he's an attacker from her past. She doesn't know why he has returned, but she's sure of his presence: the hoarse sound of his breathing, his hard grip on her elbow. Perhaps it would appease the man if she were to put her camera down and give up her private passion. But she can't; she refuses. Until one night when the man finally emerges from the shadows, and Judith's story suddenly and irrevocably becomes his own.
Chilling and heart-poundingly propulsive, The Man is a phenomenal and timely novel exploring the inescapable fear of living as a woman, the tantalizing seduction of artistic freedom and the very real dangers that lurk both inside and outside the confines of the mind.
Still, emboldened by Paul's encouragement, Judith ventures out beyond her quiet neighbourhood to the city in search of increasingly striking images. When she starts to notice the dark shape of a man in the corner of her self-portraits, Judith is certain he's an attacker from her past. She doesn't know why he has returned, but she's sure of his presence: the hoarse sound of his breathing, his hard grip on her elbow. Perhaps it would appease the man if she were to put her camera down and give up her private passion. But she can't; she refuses. Until one night when the man finally emerges from the shadows, and Judith's story suddenly and irrevocably becomes his own.
Chilling and heart-poundingly propulsive, The Man is a phenomenal and timely novel exploring the inescapable fear of living as a woman, the tantalizing seduction of artistic freedom and the very real dangers that lurk both inside and outside the confines of the mind.
Reviews / Votes
Haunting, atmospheric and relentlessly unnerving, The Man kept me up late reading - and had me looking over my shoulder at dark corners. Beneath the muscular prose and quiet sense of dread is a thoughtful exploration of power imbalances, our relationship with art and the roles we allow women to play -- Andrea Bartz, author of We Were Never Here and The Last Ferry Out I loved Laura Sims's previous books and The Man is just as bold and original, and layered with the obsessive atmosphere of a Hitchcock film or a Patricia Highsmith novel -- Jo Leevers, author of The Museum of Second Chances I loved this book as I love all of Sims's novels. So eerie and sharp, so classic feeling yet contemporary. I think of Highsmith and Hitchcock when it comes to her gift for suspense and dark Americana, but she also has a poet's eye and ear for conjuring visceral dread, vulnerability and beauty in equal measure. A brilliant portrait of a deeply haunted, gifted woman - and a haunting shadow of a man. Maybe my favorite of hers -- Mona Awad, author of We Love You, Bunny With elegant and propulsive prose, The Man is a chilling page-turner that explores art, ambition, gender dynamics and true fear. Creepy, disturbing and dripping with dread, I had to force myself to put it down -- Robyn Harding, author of Strangers in the Villa Fiercely intelligent and deeply chilling, The Man - like the protagonist's self-portraiture - contains more than first meets the eye. It's the sort of novel I immediately want to talk about with others - the perfect book club read. I wish I could read it again for the first time! -- Ana Reyes, author of The House in the PinesMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-85730-950-1 (9780857309501)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
approx. 07/2026
Verve Books
€7.99
Not yet available
Person
Laura Sims's previous novels How Can I Help You and Looker have been featured on Best Books lists in the New York Times Book Review, Vogue, People, Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, Publishers Weekly and more. An award-winning poet, Sims has published four poetry collections; her essays and poems have appeared in the New Republic, Boston Review, LitHub and Electric Lit. She lives in New Jersey, where she works part-time as a children's librarian.