Keywords

psychological thriller, literary fiction, Cold War fiction, urban suspense, cipher mystery, quiet thriller, British fiction, surveillance, contemporary London suspense, psychological thriller, Cold War echoes, urban isolation, literary thriller UK

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

Print Edition

Details

  • Publisher: Whitefox Publishing
  • Publication Date: 9 October 2025
  • ISBN (Paperback): 9781917523622
  • ISBN (eBook): 9781917523639
  • Pages: 162
  • Words: ~31k

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