Twelve thousand dollars overdue. And the tax man always collects.

San Francisco, 1996. David’s life is coming undone: blackouts he can’t explain, rage he can’t remember—and Sarah, his wife who never came home. Then, a knock at the door: Agent Carter, the tax man.

He says it’s just about the debt. But it isn’t. With unsettling charm and icy precision, he tears open David’s past; exposing childhood scars, a failing marriage, and a mind frayed by guilt and fear. Carter knows things he shouldn’t. He hints at secrets buried in David’s missing hours. And always, always, circles back to Sarah: Where is she? And what did David do during the blackouts he can’t remember?

Trapped in a waking nightmare, David fights to cling to reality. But Carter has allies in the shadows, a labyrinth of lies, and a plan more sinister than David can imagine. With every answer, new questions emerge, and the boundary between victim and monster begins to blur. In the end, David is forced to confront the question that terrifies him most: Could he have hurt the woman he loves?

Perfect for fans of Alex Michaelides, Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn, The Tax Man offers a hypnotic descent into obsession, paranoia, and conspiracy. An unforgettable debut by James Fischer, this haunting psychological thriller will have you questioning what’s real, what’s imagined, and what secrets we keep, even from ourselves.

About the author

Born in 1995, James Fischer has been passionate about storytelling since childhood, inspired by the thrillers and fantasy novels he devoured in his early years. His background in English Language and Literature, alongside his fascination with psychoanalysis and philosophy, has shaped his approach to storytelling. While academic frameworks taught him structure, he wanted to preserve the essence of literature, blending personal insights with the themes that intrigue him most. In his time as a trainee accountant, he witnessed the chaotic world of bureaucracy first hand – an experience that fuelled the creation of Carter, a character who blurs the lines between psychopathy and bureaucracy. Stay tuned for his upcoming books for some more mind-bending journeys into human nature.