This alluring, clever and conniving character comes to us in a series in which we watch corruption take hold over the course of several novels as he becomes ever more grasping and amoral.  

But most of the people this character interacts with, including his wife, don’t see his deceit and dishonor. They are blinded by his charm and beauty and likeability.  

He is driven by greed and grievance and a conviction that he is due more than the world has given to him and that sense of entitlement motivates him beyond theft and on to murder.

”He was himself and yet not himself.  He felt blameless and free, despite the fact that he consciously controlled every move he made.”

In the novels, this character moves through glittering cities among the languorously wealthy, people who inherited their money or earned it in genteel ways. 

They were worlds made up of manor houses and chateaux, perfumed casinos and exclusive art galleries.

In fact, this character even impersonates a painter at one point to pull off a sophisticated scam. In the end, he has to resort to violence when he’s about to be unmasked.

The author who created this character said she strongly identified with him and understood what motivated his crimes.

A journalist who wrote a profile of the author wrote that “...no matter where (she) found herself, she felt she didn’t belong and often fantasized about disappearing.”

Fortunately for readers, the work in which she channeled her loneliness and disconnect has endured.  

So, here’s your literary challenge:  Can you name that character and one of the novels in which he appears?

When you have the answer, email me: kmiller@mpr.org

— Kerri Miller | MPR News