Kingfisher

A creative writing academic finds his carefully constructed life unsettled by an intense fascination with a fellow writer—a poet whose freedom, talent, and way of seeing the world seem to embody everything he longs for.

As his obsession deepens, it begins to strain his relationship with his partner and force him to confront the lingering influence of a difficult childhood shaped by his mother's cruelty. When unexpected crises threaten the fragile balance of his life, he must reckon with desire, identity, and the limits of what one person can take from another.

Atmospheric and emotionally charged, this novel is a compelling exploration of longing, obsession, and self-discovery.

Longlisted for The 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction.