Andy Sylvain, the protagonist of Katerina Grishakova’s debut novel THE HERMIT might at first glance seem to be living the ideal life. As a wealthy bond trader, he can be found mingling among New York City high society or relaxing in his lavish Westchester home.

Yet beneath this glamorous surface lies a deep and haunting uneasiness about who he really is and what gives meaning to his privileged but hollow existence. As Andy approaches his 50th birthday, his self-questioning intensifies into a full-blown existential crisis, threatening to upend his world of expensive soirees and industry events. The novel follows Andy through the highest echelons of Wall Street as he works to justify the inherent absurdity of high finance, populated by friends and enemies who switch roles based on the deal and the angle. When he fails to see a financial collapse until it’s too late, Andy must deal with a world that seems to have passed him by.

Grishakova excels at slowly building Andy’s inner turmoil while never sacrificing keen observations and penetrating cultural criticism. The occasional insertion of niche financial terminology and quirky personalities from Andy’s orbit deepen an appreciation for the rarefied realm he inhabits. While the meandering plot sometimes loses momentum, especially later on, the payoff is realizing the extent of Andy’s tortured soul and escalating identity breakdown interwoven within what initially seems a glitzy, hedonistic banker’s tale.

For readers drawn to the question of whether American high finance leaves room for anything besides wealth accumulation, or anyone concerned about dutifully checking off society’s boxes while plagued by inner discontent, delving into the world of Andy Sylvain may hit close to home. The other line-drawn characters pop and recede, essentially serving as archetypes when the narrative requires. The readers know these people in a tangential way, and Grishakova breathes life into them only as needed—so Andy is the only person here with much depth.

Seeing his elaborate life unravel makes for a sobering statement on mortality and what constitutes a purposeful existence. Grishakova presents searching philosophical questions around these universal themes without losing sight of the humanity within. It sometimes seems uncertain of its aims and struggles to connect the dots sufficiently at the end, but this novel nevertheless brings out the drama and tension in the moral and economic quagmire that is living as a Wall Street financial insider.

In THE HERMIT, Katerina Grishakova crafts a compelling character study of one man’s midlife journey to rediscover purpose and meaning beyond his outwardly successful but soulless career on Wall Street.

~IR Staff for IndieReader