'The most gifted, the most prodigal writer of his generation' JONATHAN RABAN Jerry Delfont is a travel writer with writer's block. Lounging in Calcutta one day, he receives a mysterious letter. It comes from an American philanthropist, Mrs Merrill Unger. An Indian friend of her son is in trouble- he woke up in a hotel room with a dead body next to him; he panicked and fled. Mrs Unger would like someone to discreetly look into this matter, to find out the truth. Will Delfont do her the honour? But Jerry is at first more intrigued by the beautiful, beguiling Mrs Unger and her Tantric massages. Yet as he begins investigating the circumstances surrounding the body he wonders what exactly is the nature of her philanthropy . . . A Dead Hand is a dark and twisted narrative of obsession and need from one of our finest writers. 'Genuinely intriguing' THE TIMES 'Original and enlightening' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Theroux's prose is always a pleasure' TATLER