THE WINNER STANDS ALONE

The Winner Stands Alone is the enthralling new novel by the incomparablePaulo Coelho. The story is set during the Cannes International FilmFestival and the entire action plays out over 24 hours. Igor is a wealthyRussian businessman. His wife Ewa left him two years ago and Igor hasnever really come to terms with their break up, especially as Ewa is nowremarried to a famous fashion designer, Hamid Hussein. Igor is insanelyjealous and when Ewa left him he told her that he would destroy 'wholeworlds' in order to get her back, and he intends to keep his promise! Igorhas followed Ewa and her new husband to Cannes and his plan is to cause asmuch violence and destruction as possible until Ewa realises how much heloves her and comes back to him. Ewa loved Igor but she was absolutelyterrified of him. She knows that Igor has killed people in the past whenhe was a soldier, but she also knows a dark secret - that he once coldbloodedly murdered a beggar who was bothering them in a restaurant. Igoris clearly unhinged and he will stop at nothing to regain her love and sohe goes on a ruthless killing spree until he tracks down Ewa...Thestar-studded film festival acts as a backdrop to Igor's maniacal murderingspree and we are ntroduced to various characters along the way, all of whomare desperately trying to get their big break in the shallow world of showbusiness; Gabriela a young and naive actress who is being exploited by heragent and Jasmine a troubled young Rwandan refugee working as a model. TheWinner Stands Alone is a gripping, fast-paced thriller, and Coelhocleverly weaves in elements of social satire, poking fun at our celebrityand money obsessed culture.