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Thomas Pynchon’s Shadow Ticket was first published in the United States on October 7, 2025, marking his first novel since Bleeding Edge (2013). The story follows Milwaukee private investigator Hicks McTaggart as he searches for a missing heiress whose trail leads from Wisconsin to Hungary. Penguin Random House lists a paperback edition for October 6, 2026; that is the paperback date, not the novel’s original release date.
When was Shadow Ticket announced and published?
Penguin Press announced the novel on April 9, 2025. Publishers Weekly reported that Penguin Press president and editor-in-chief Ann Godoff acquired U.S., Canadian and open-market rights, and described Shadow Ticket as Pynchon’s ninth novel. It followed Bleeding Edge, published in 2013. Publishers Weekly’s announcement identified October 7, 2025, as the planned publication date.
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Penguin Random House lists October 7, 2025, for the hardcover, large-print, ebook and audiobook-download editions. The paperback is a later edition, listed for October 6, 2026. The Guardian reported that Jonathan Cape published the novel in the UK, also on October 7, 2025. Penguin Random House’s edition listings distinguish the dates by format.
What is Shadow Ticket about?
The novel opens in Milwaukee in 1932, during the Great Depression, as Prohibition’s repeal approaches. Hicks McTaggart, formerly a strikebreaker and now a private investigator, takes what seems like a straightforward job: find and bring back the missing heiress to a Wisconsin cheese fortune.
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His investigation carries him aboard a transoceanic liner and onward to Hungary. The publisher’s synopsis says the case draws McTaggart into the orbit of Nazis, Soviet agents, British counterspies, swing musicians, paranormal practitioners and outlaw motorcyclists. The Associated Press also identifies Milwaukee in 1932 as the setting and describes the missing-heiress assignment. The AP’s announcement reproduces the publisher’s synopsis; its promotional wording should not be mistaken for a verified statement written by Pynchon himself.
The Guardian characterizes the premise as a noir caper, a useful description of its private-eye setup rather than a confirmed label from Pynchon. The Guardian’s report also notes the trail to Hungary.
Which editions are listed?
| Edition | Publisher-listed date | Length | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback | October 6, 2026 | 304 pages | 9780593298039 |
| Hardcover | October 7, 2025 | 304 pages | Not stated on the publisher page |
| Large print | October 7, 2025 | 448 pages | Not stated on the publisher page |
| Ebook | October 7, 2025 | 304 pages | Not stated on the publisher page |
| Audiobook download | October 7, 2025 | 10 hours | Not stated on the publisher page |
These dates, lengths and the paperback ISBN are as listed by Penguin Random House; availability and retailer listings may change. Check the publisher’s page for current format details before choosing an edition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is this Pynchon’s first novel in 12 years?
The interval is measured from Bleeding Edge in 2013 to the 2025 publication of Shadow Ticket. That makes the familiar “first novel in 12 years” description accurate as a calendar-year comparison, though it is not a claim that exactly 12 years elapsed between publication days. Pynchon’s earlier books include V., The Crying of Lot 49, Gravity’s Rainbow, Vineland, Mason & Dixon, Against the Day and Inherent Vice, among others, according to the publisher.
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