Polygon bags Chris Barkley's 'thrilling' debut novel

Polygon has bagged Chris Barkley’s "thrilling" debut novel, The Man on the Endless Stair. 

Editor-at-large Jamie Crawford acquired world English language rights from Ludo Cinelli at Eve White Literary Agency. The book will be published in June 2025. 

"The Man on the Endless Stair  is a dark, beguiling literary mystery from a visionary new talent", said Cinelli. "I can’t wait for Polygon and Chris Barkley to take readers under its spell." 

The novel follows young author Euan who is taken under the wing of decorated novelist Malcolm Furnivall. Sensing the end, Malcolm invites his loved ones to his secluded island in the Hebrides and entrusts Euan to complete his masterpiece. When Malcolm is discovered brutally murdered and the unfinished novel gone, Euan "must venture deep into Malcolm’s labyrinthine mansion to find the manuscript before it falls into the wrong hands". 

Crawford said: "With shades of Jorge Luis Borges and early Iain Banks, Chris Barkley has written a unique and startling debut novel. A locked room mystery set on a remote Scottish island sees books within books, stories within stories and people within people. The tension builds to a haunting climax that stays with you long after reading."

Barkley added: "So much work has gone into this book, and at times I felt myself to be on an endless stair... I am happy, now, to have some excellent company on the climb. I know The Man on the Endless Stair  is in capable hands and am overjoyed for Polygon to champion it."