The eponymous creature at the heart of American author Nathan Hill’s debut novel is a mythological Norwegian shapeshifting water spirit that entices unsuspecting children with its beauty before luring them to their doom.

The legendary monster weaves its way through the tragicomic life of Samuel Andresen-Anderson, an uninspired college teacher, would-be author and gaming addict struggling to find his place in the world.

Haunted by his mother’s decision to abandon him when he was a child, Samuel is riddled with self-doubt, squandering his talents and wasting his days – until he learns that his long-lost mother has hit the headlines by throwing rocks at a presidential candidate.

Determined to find out for himself why she left him behind, Samuel embarks on a quest to discover who his mother was in the past and who she has become. Samuel’s investigations reveal a side to his mother he could never have imagined, and lead him to uncover her role in the infamous riots of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Hill’s dense, satisfying storytelling shines a critical and satirical light on contemporary America culture and introduces a cast of quirky characters – some strangely beguiling, others despicably toxic – all caught up in a series of bizarre events and experiences.

Comparisons with fellow American author John Irving seem inevitable, and it’s not surprising that Irving has endorsed this debut.

Reviewed by Maureen Eppen