Terms May Apply

Synopsis

What would you give for a wish to come true? Your left arm? Your most cherished possession? Your last crumb of integrity?

Kyle Hammond is suffering a surprise birthday party he really didn’t want. As he blows out the candles on his cake, he makes a token wish. Three days later, to his utter astonishment, that wish comes true.

All his problems solved, Kyle is busy counting his blessings when a gaunt pensioner turns up at his door unannounced. The stranger then confounds Kyle by claiming credit for his recent good fortune, followed by a bizarre declaration … when Edmund Wishkin grants a wish, there’s always a price to pay.

Whether he believes the old man or not, Kyle is about to discover the true cost of a wish fulfilled.

About This Book

Terms May Apply is a modern cautionary tale about what happens when you get exactly what you wished for — and the price that comes with it. When Kyle Hammond’s idle birthday wish is miraculously granted, his life is transformed overnight. But the arrival of Edmund Wishkin, a mysterious old man who claims credit for Kyle’s good fortune, sets in motion a chain of events that systematically unpicks everything Kyle thought he wanted.

It’s a “be careful what you wish for” story told with Keith’s characteristic blend of humour, dramatic twists, and genuine emotional punch. As Kyle’s life unravels, the book becomes a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of what actually makes us happy — and how quickly we lose sight of that when money and luck enter the picture.

Edmund Wishkin is in the same lineage as Keith’s other enigmatic characters — Clement, Mungo Thunk, and Kenneth — mysterious figures who appear in ordinary people’s lives and turn everything upside down. But where those characters arrive to help, Wishkin arrives to collect.

Who Is This Book For?

Terms May Apply appeals to readers who enjoy speculative fiction with a moral edge — stories where a fantastical premise is used to explore something real about human nature. If you like novels that ask “what if?” and then follow the consequences to their messy, human conclusion, this is your kind of book.

It sits in similar territory to Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library, Fredrik Backman’s work, and classic cautionary tales where an ordinary person is given something extraordinary and has to reckon with the cost. Fans of Keith’s other books will recognise the formula — a relatable protagonist, an enigmatic stranger, and a story that’s funnier and more moving than it has any right to be.

It’s a standalone novel with no connection to any of Keith’s other books or series.

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is Terms May Apply?
It’s hard to pin down, which is part of its charm. It’s part cautionary fable, part comic novel, part speculative “what if?” story. If pressed, think of it as magical realism meets moral comedy — a fantastical premise played straight in a very ordinary British setting.

Is this book connected to Keith’s other novels?
No. Terms May Apply is a completely standalone novel. Edmund Wishkin is a new character with no connection to Clement, Mungo Thunk, or any other series.

Is it funny?
Yes — Keith’s humour runs throughout, and Kyle’s increasingly chaotic decisions provide plenty of comic moments. But the book also has real dramatic tension and a genuinely poignant final act that readers frequently say brought them to tears.

What’s the “wish” about?
Without spoiling it: Kyle wishes for something most of us have wished for at one point or another. The twist isn’t what the wish is — it’s what it costs. The title is the clue: terms may apply.

Who narrates the audiobook?
The audiobook is narrated by Samuel James and is available on Audible and other audiobook platforms.