Foxhunt

1949: Milne Lowell, a Canadian writer, moves to London from Montreal to edit a magazine dedicated to cultural freedom. His colleagues include Marguerite Allard, a French-Canadian anarchist, Eric Felmore, an American novelist, and Carson Ward, a British poet. Initially, the group is enthusiastic about the championship of freedom; however, uncertainty grows as unsettling encounters begin to unfold and the peripheral violence of the Cold War closes in.

Foxhunt is an atmospheric exploration of passivity, loyalty, and literature in times of political upheaval. Firmly entrenched in the literary milieu of the era, it carries the reader through shell-shocked streets with suspense and intrigue.

AUTHOR

Luke Francis Beirne

Luke Francis Beirne was born in Ireland and grew up in Western Canada. His first novel Foxhunt, a Foreword Indies 2022 Best Fiction prize finalist, was compared to an early Le Carré thriller. Ghostwriter of more than a dozen genre novels, he has contributed to many publications such as Honest Ulsterman, Hamilton Arts & Letters, and Strange Horizons, including the award-winning story “Models.” Luke holds a Master’s in Cultural Studies and Critical Theory from McMaster University. Blacklion is his second novel. He lives in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Reviews

“elegantly written . . . Foxhunts depictions of a politically unsettled and suspicious time are all too relevant in today?s divided and fractious world.” K.M. Sandrick, Historical Novel Society

“A cold-war thriller rather like early le Carré. … eerily pertinent given recent news” Simon Lavery, Tredynas Days

“Foxhunt is wonderfully written and, as already mentioned, is a slow-to-medium-paced read. Hence, it is the type of novel I enjoy reading. Foxhunt is also a very cerebral and well-placed story within the historical context of the beginnings of the Cold War. I highly recommend Foxhunt as a noir-ish literary mystery-intrigue novel,” James Fishter, The Miramichi Reader

“Foxhunt is an atmospheric dive into Cold War intrigue and romance and paranoia in the literary salons of postwar Europe. Spies and turncoats and secretive spin doctors move chess pieces while pushing cash and lies and clashing ideologies. With its beautifully lyrical prose, Foxhunt is an alchemic mix of realpolitik and shadowy noir.” Mark Anthony Jarman

“Against a seamless historical and literary backdrop, Foxhunt balances compelling intrigue with vulnerable human emotions.” Foreword Reviews

“A remarkable first novel by a brilliant young writer.” David Adams Richards

“Brimming with suspense, political drama and allusions to various literary works, Foxhunt is a rich and thought-provoking novel on the pursuit of creative expression as it is entangled with the surrounding political climate.” The Silhouette, Chinmayi Yathiraju