Armadillo: William Boyd

One winter morning, Lorimer Black - young, good-looking, but with a somewhat troubled expression - goes to keep a perfectly routine business appointment and finds a hanged man. A bad start to the day, by anyone`s standards, and an ominous portent.

For Lorimer works in the only-slightly corrupt business of financial adjusting, and he is about to learn that it is much uglier - and even more crooked - than he ever imagined. Suddenly, he`s being unfairly blamed for all kinds of irregularities. Next, his life is threatened. And, lastly, he`s coming to realise that the life he has led till now - the one someone wants to rub out - is one big fat lie . . .