Breathes new life into the literary thriller... Mouth to Mouth is to be devoured in one greedy
gulp' Financial Times'An enthralling literary puzzle... We have no idea where it is heading
right up to the shocking final sentence' New York TimesA struggling author is stuck at the
airport his flight endlessly delayed. As he kills time at the gate he bumps into a former
classmate of his Jeff who is waiting for the same flight. The charismatic Jeff invites the
author to drinks in the First Class lounge and there swearing him to secrecy begins telling
him the fascinating and disturbing story of his gilded life starting with a pivotal incident
from his youth...Alone on the beach one morning Jeff notices a swimmer drowning in the rough
surf - and so he rescues and resuscitates the unconscious man before leaving him to the
emergency services. But Jeff can't let go of the events of that traumatic day and he begins to
feel compelled to learn more about the man whose life he has saved convinced that their
destinies are now somehow entwined. Upon discovering that the man is the renowned art dealer
Francis Arsenault Jeff begins to surreptitiously visit his Beverly Hills gallery eventually
applying there for a job. Although Francis doesn't seem to recognize him he nevertheless casts
his legendary eye over Jeff and sees something of worth - and so he initiates him into his
world of unimaginable power and wealth where knowledge taste and access are currency and the
value of things is constantly shifting constantly calling into question what is real and what
matters. As Jeff finds himself seduced by the lifestyle he pursues a deeper connection with
Francis until morals become expendable and their relationship becomes ever darker leaving him
to wonder... should he have just let Francis drown?
