Wonder is a meticulous man working to authenticate record feats for Guinness and the like, whose inherent anonymity allows him to blend into the background.
And he does so successfully in not just one life, but three. A trio of cities and wives, each with two children: Adam and Evie.
The Wonder children narrate this novel, remaining faceless, written as many and one simultaneously.
They are made bland through duplication and only at the end are their individual traits revealed.
But the differences in Wonder's wives are fleshed out, as Knox validates his main character's need for fulfilment.
This book is a commentary on all relationships, in that people seek what they lack.
Knox, a married Sydney father of two, is known for exploring the concept of secret lives in his work, which includes four other novels.
He is also an award-winning journalist and a ghostwriter.
Despite being the anti-hero, Wonder is forgivingly portrayed by his children. His endearing characteristics make him more human and unnervingly relatable.
The ease with which he comes to have multiple families is alarming, as it is comfortable to assume only the worst people do such things.
Less surprising is Wonder's inevitable demise.
Ultimately the things he relies on to stay sane disable him, and he is left wandering in confusion as the conflicting components of his various lives intersect.
Although extreme in its scenario, this novel honestly reflects the complexity of everyday love and life. Rosie Manins is chief reporter at Dunedin Television.
• Rosie Manins
