Keywords

psychological suspense mystery;literary fiction psychological thriller;slow burn psychological novel;Cold War fiction mystery;surveillance and paranoia thriller;quiet suspense British fiction;conspiracy literary thriller;contemporary London suspense;psychological thriller;Cold War echoes;urban isolation;literary thriller UK;modern and contemporary fiction;literary fiction;suspense fiction

Eyes peering through wall-climbing plants, with the title Such an Odd Word to Use, subtitle Secrets don't hide, they echo, and the author name Carl Goodwin.

A quietly unsettling psychological thriller that peels back the layers of contemporary urban life to reveal something far stranger beneath the surface. Set in modern-day London, the story follows a man who begins to notice things that others overlook — stray glances, subtle patterns, offhand phrases that seem just a little too rehearsed. As his sense of reality begins to warp, the question becomes not just what is happening, but why no one else seems to see it.

With a taut, elegant style and a growing sense of unease, Such an Odd Word to Use explores themes of isolation, surveillance, and the quiet erosion of trust. At once cerebral and emotionally charged, it’s a literary thriller for readers who appreciate nuance, ambiguity, and the slow creep of something not quite right.

For those drawn to the intersection of suspicion and clarity — this is a story that lingers.

Where to Buy

Pre-order paperback — Amazon UK

Add on Goodreads

US readers: Pre-order at Barnes & Noble

Details

  • Publisher: Whitefox Publishing
  • Publication Date: 9 October 2025
  • ISBN (Paperback): 9781917523622
  • ISBN (eBook): 9781917523639
  • Pages (Paperback): 162
  • Words: 31.5k

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