The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho

A disturbed Russian millionaire starts committing random murders in the delusional belief that his ex-wife will recognize in these acts something that will convince her to desert her current husband and go back to him. The Winner Stands Alone reads somewhat like a thriller, but it is also a commentary on contemporary life. The suspense sustained by the killer's activities is balanced by the author's portraits of people attending social events at the Cannes Film Festival. Coelho's novel is well written and a good read.