Invisible World - Hardcover

Cohen, Stuart

3.86

65 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060392274 ISBN 13: 9780060392277

Publisher: Harpercollins, 1998

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An invitation from a dead man propels a Chicago plumber on a perilous journey from blue-collar America to the exotic Far East - and beyond into dangerous, uncharted territory.
Andrew Mann's mundane existence ends the day he receives an astonishing communication from his jet-setting childhood friend, Clayton Smith. Over the years Clayton had sent Andy one postcard after another, chronicling his daring worldwide travels as well as his transformation into a cosmopolitan, successful artist in Hong Kong. Matters take a surreal turn when Clayton sends Andy an airplane ticket to Asia along with an invitation to his own funeral, dispatched shortly before his mysterious suicide.
Set on an irrevocably life-changing course, the reluctant Chicagoan becomes entangled in Clayton's treasure hunt for the perfect textile, and exquisite fabric mapping the "Invisible World" that lies beyond our senses. The lines between the material world and the invisible one lose distinction on this challenging, circuitous quest, bringing Andy to the awe-inspiring vastness of Inner Mongolia...and the discovery of the strength and power within every man.

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Review:

A predawn call startles Andy Mann from slumber. The voice of a stranger breaks the news that Clayton Smith--childhood friend, world traveller, and flamboyant artist--has committed suicide; the revelation that he made plans for his own funeral a few days later in Hong Kong complicates the mystery, as does the fact that he was finally about to make the trip of his dreams to Inner Mongolia. Andy, by comparison a stay-at-home, chronically enervated Chicagoan plagued by a succession of failed careers, has ended up tending to his father's ailing business. With only a day's notice to prepare for Clayton's funeral, Andy hesitates; his father's business needs his attention, and his friendship with Clayton had been waning for a long time. In the end, though, he does attend, spurred on by Clayton's final cryptic message to him: "I've always been your wild card. Play me."

Reminiscences of the friendship and Clayton's rise from restless world traveller to successful artist in Tokyo add heart to the narrative as Andy tries to piece together the events that led to Clayton's death. But the mystery evolves into a treasure hunt as it is revealed that Clayton had been on a quest for an exquisite piece of fabric mapping the "invisible world" that lies beyond the senses.

Invisible World sets a lively pace, creating exotic settings peopled by colourful, original characters. Myriad mysteries pepper the adventure: why did Clayton, finally enjoying artistic success, commit suicide? Why did he so desperately want to visit Inner Mongolia? What is the real value of the invaluable antique fabric? With this sure-footed mystery that doubles as an exhilarating expedition to the edges of the world, Stuart Cohen puts a new spin on the old truth that the lines between the material and the spiritual are an absolute blur.

Review:

‘Top-quality debut suspense novel that crossbreeds The Third Man with The Maltese Falcon and comes up a whopping winner... masterpiece.’
Kirkus Reviews

‘A subtle, suspenseful experience... Here is a thinking person’s thriller, brimming with ideas and a most appropriate complexity’
San Francisco Chronicle

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