THE PROOF OF MY INNOCENCE

''A brilliant, shrewd, satirical novel - gimlet-eyed, funny, very clever and a searchingly profound look at the state of this strange country of ours'' William Boyd

''My comfort read: anything by Jonathan Coe'' Bob Mortimer

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Post-university life doesn''t suit Phyl. Time passes slowly living back home with her parents, working a zero-hour contract serving Japanese food to holidaymakers at Heathrow''s Terminal 5. As for her budding plans of becoming a writer, those are going nowhere.

That is, until family friend Chris comes to stay. He''s been on the path to uncover a sinister think-tank, founded at Cambridge University in the 1980s, that''s been scheming to push the British government in a more extremedirection. One that''s finally poised to put their plans into action.

But speaking truth to power can be dangerous - and power will stop at nothing to stay on top.

As Britain finds itself under the leadership of a new Prime Minister whose tenure will only last for seven weeks, Chris pursues his story to a conference being held deep in the Cotswolds, where events take a sinister turn and a murder enquiry is soon in progress. But will the solution to the mystery lie in contemporary politics, or in a literary enigma that is almost forty years old?

Darting between decades and genres, THE PROOF OF MY INNOCENCE is a wickedly funny and razor-sharp new novel from one of Britain''s most beloved novelists, showing how the key to understanding the present can often be found in the murkiest corners of the past.

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''Coe shows an understanding of this country that goes beyond what most cabinet ministers can muster . . . he is a master of satire but pokes fun subtly, without ever being cruel, biting or blatant . . . his light, funny writing makes you feel better'' Evening Standard

''A novelist who gains in range and reputation with every book'' Pat Barker

''Please, God ... if there''s a next life, let me write as well as Jonathan Coe'' Anthony Bourdain

''Probably the best English novelist of his generation'' Nick Hornby