An Anatomy of Hide-and-Seek

Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen brings out a magical novel about the search for a lost brother who disappeares during a hide-and-seek game. 

M is no ordinary child. Like a spy from another world, M meticulously studies his peers to learn about everyday things that others take for granted, and has a hard time fitting into the mould of the city of Marrasvirta in the late 1970’s. M’s older brother, the brilliant Alvar, brings some joy into his brother’s life by inventing a peculiar game: ‘the Martian Hide- and-Seek.’ The setup is simple, Alvar hides and M has to find him, but the rules are disproportionately harsh: M can’t refuse the game and Alvar can only come back home once M has found him. 

As the hide-and-seek progresses, M experiences it at the frontier of dream and reality while Alvar makes use of his vast knowledge of illusionist tricks. 

But one day, Alvar actually disappears, leaving M tormented with guilt. Years later, M heads out to discover the truth about Alvar and his strange hide-and-seek game. The journey brings M to new parts of the city of Marrasvirta, where night creatures in studded jackets and fanatical skinheads indulge in nightly dances of death. 

An Anatomy of Hide-and-Seek is the fifth novel from Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen, who depicts an amazing journey into loyalty, betrayal and guilt.