The Thief — Claire North

The Gameshouse is an unusual institution. Many know it as the place where fortunes can be made and lost though games of chess, backgammon-every game under the sun. But a select few, who are picked to compete in the higher league, know that some games are played for higher stakes-those of politics and empires, of economics and kings. In 1930s Bangkok, one higher league player has just been challenged to a game of hide and seek. The board is all of Thailand, and the seeker may use any means possible to hunt down his quarry-be it police, government, strangers, or even spies.