Hal Ebbott – författare

A perfect world. But a betrayal that could shatter everything.'Every sentence keeps you hanging in the air, waiting for the next punch to the gut' - Miranda Cowley Heller, author of The Paper Palace'A hard diamond of a novel . . . I have not stopped thinking of it since' - Coco Mellors, author of Blue Sisters For thirty years, Amos and Emerson have built a life others envy. Their wives are close, their teenage daughters have grown up together, their days are passed in the comfortable languor of New York City wealth. Their bond seems unbreakable.This weekend, however, something is different. After gathering for Emerson’s birthday at his country home, celebration gives way to old rivalries and resentments. When tensions erupt, their finely made world is ruptured in one shocking act of violence.In its wake, each must ask: when your world collapses, what — and who — will you sacrifice to survive?Hal Ebbott’s Among Friends is a razor-sharp look at the dark side of American wealth, the brittle foundations of friendship, and the desperate lengths we go to to keep our secrets hidden.‘Bracingly honest and affectingly intimate’ – The Guardian'Assured, acutely perceptive and beautifully written’ – Financial Times'Packs a huge emotional punch. I couldn’t put it down' – Daily Mail‘I’m already begging my friends to read it so we can discuss the ending’ – ELLE'Like a cold gin and tonic on a hot day' – The Washington Post

Who would you choose to believe? Amos and Emerson have been friends for thirty years. Despite coming from vastly different backgrounds, the two men now form an enviable portrait of middle age: their wives are friends, their teenage daughters have grown up together, their days are passed in the comfortable languor of New York City wealth. They share an unbreakable bond, or so they think.Now, it is Emerson’s birthday, and Amos and his family are heading upstate to celebrate in Emerson’s beautiful home. Over the course of the weekend, rivalries emerge and tensions escalate, until a final shocking act of violence threatens to tear the two families’ finely made world apart.In its wake, each of them must choose: between whom and what they love most.

‘A hard diamond of a novel . . . I have not stopped thinking of it since’ – Coco Mellors‘Every sentence keeps you hanging in the air, waiting for the next punch to the gut’ – Miranda Cowley Heller‘Packs a huge emotional punch. I couldn’t put it down’ – Daily Mail‘A living thing . . . A huge achievement’ – Financial TimesPerfect lives hide terrible secretsHaving emerged from a childhood of poverty and neglect, Amos now has a life that others envy: a brilliant wife, a golden daughter, and a friendship that has anchored him for thirty years. All of that is set to change. In the course of one fateful weekend in a beautiful house upstate, Amos’s life will be undone by a shocking act of violence.In its aftermath, Amos must ask: when your world collapses, what - and who - will you sacrifice to survive?‘Bracingly honest and affectingly intimate . . . Upends its characters’ lives so ruthlessly and revealingly that it is hard not to take pleasure in a false facade being finally smashed’ – The Guardian‘Masterly’ – John Banville

‘A hard diamond of a novel . . . I have not stopped thinking of it since’ – Coco Mellors‘Every sentence keeps you hanging in the air, waiting for the next punch to the gut’ – Miranda Cowley Heller‘Packs a huge emotional punch. I couldn’t put it down’ – Daily Mail‘A living thing . . . A huge achievement’ – Financial TimesPerfect lives hide terrible secretsHaving emerged from a childhood of poverty and neglect, Amos now has a life that others envy: a brilliant wife, a golden daughter, and a friendship that has anchored him for thirty years. All of that is set to change. In the course of one fateful weekend in a beautiful house upstate, Amos’s life will be undone by a shocking act of violence.In its aftermath, Amos must ask: when your world collapses, what - and who - will you sacrifice to survive?‘Bracingly honest and affectingly intimate . . . Upends its characters’ lives so ruthlessly and revealingly that it is hard not to take pleasure in a false facade being finally smashed’ – The Guardian‘Masterly’ – John Banville

Auergewohnlich kunstvoll. John IrvingAmos und Emerson kennen sich seit mehr als drei ig Jahren. Trotz ihrer vollig unterschiedlichen Herkunft haben sie es beide zu einigem Wohlstand gebracht und fuhren ein Leben, wie sie es sich einst gewunscht haben: Ihre Ehefrauen sind eng befreundet, ihre jugendlichen Tochter zusammen aufgewachsen, ihre Tage strahlen die behagliche Lassigkeit eines New Yorker Gro stadtlebens aus. Ihre Freundschaft kann nichts erschuttern das glauben sie zumindest. An diesem Wochenende in Emersons Landhaus jedoch spurt jeder: etwas ist anders. Emerson wird 52, und das soll gefeiert werden. Am Abend werden jahrzehntealte Rivalitaten und Ressentiments spurbar, die in einem schockierenden Akt der Gewalt gipfeln einer Tat, die die sorgfaltig aufgebaute Welt der befreundeten Familien zu zerstoren droht. Und nun steht jeder von ihnen vor einer Entscheidung: zwischen dem, was und wen er am meisten schutzen will. So wie eine kraftvolle Intelligenz, eine mitrei ende Stimme oder eine frische Perspektive unsere Wahrnehmung und Reaktion auf die Welt verandern kann, hat mich Unter Freunden in seine kuhle Umgebung hineingezogen und dazu gebracht, meine eignen Tage anders zu betrachten. Keine geringe Leistung fur einen Debutroman oder fur irgendeinen Roman. Richard Ford