Thomas Pynchon Announces New Novel Set in Great Depression

NEW YORK, April 9, 2025 – Penguin Press has confirmed that acclaimed author Thomas Pynchon will release a new novel titled Shadow Ticket on October 7, marking his first literary work since 2013’s Bleeding Edge. The novel is set against the backdrop of Milwaukee during the Great Depression.

Shadow Ticket introduces readers to Hicks McTaggart, a former strikebreaker turned private investigator, tasked with locating the runaway heiress of a Wisconsin cheese fortune. As McTaggart embarks on this seemingly routine case, he unexpectedly finds himself aboard a transoceanic liner, journeying to Hungary, where the challenges multiply.

Pynchon’s description reveals a tapestry of intersecting historical elements, from the looming threat of rising fascism to the burgeoning cultural scene of the Big Band Era. McTaggart’s investigation swiftly escalates, entangling him with a variety of characters, including Nazis, Soviet agents, and British counterspies, all while he grapples with his own limitations in dealing with these formidable forces.

“Surrounded by historical complexities he can barely comprehend, McTaggart must navigate a world that often seems alien to him,” Penguin Press stated. “Amidst this chaos, he discovers an unexpected talent for dance, providing a moment of levity in an otherwise tumultuous adventure.”

Readers can anticipate a unique blend of suspense, humor, and cultural commentary typical of Pynchon’s works, without a predictable return to Milwaukee. The author’s intricate storytelling promises to challenge his audience while delivering thought-provoking insights into early 20th-century America.

As anticipation builds around Shadow Ticket, fans of Pynchon can engage with previous works in preparation for the novel’s release.