"The Girl Before" JP Delaney

Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.

The request seems odd, even intrusive—and for the two women who answer, the consequences are devastating.

This novel follows the story of two women in two different time frames: Then, Emma and Now, Jane. Immediately this creates a sense of intrigue- both lives are obviously connected somehow and obviously the connection must be through the flat that we see the women moving into. What happened to Emma while she was at One Folgate Street and what might happen to Jane while she rents there? What happened to the girl before?

First we meet Emma and her boyfriend Simon. After suffering a recent, very traumatic break in, Emma needs to move to somewhere she feels safe. One Folgate Street seems to offer this. Designed by an architect, it is minimalist in design and managed by the most state of the art equipment and technology. As the estate agent says, "No matter how often I come here, it always takes my breath away." Emma is completely blown away by the stunning effect of the beautifully designed open space with a particularly unusual staircase as its central feature:

"It's like something hewn into a cliff face: floating steps of open, unpolished stone with no hand rail or visible means of support."

But before Simon and Emma can secure their tenancy there, they need to read the rules.

"'Basically it's a list of dos and don'ts. Well, don'ts mostly. No alterations of any kind, except by prior agreement. No rugs or carpets. No pictures. No pot plants. No ornaments. No books-'
'No books! That's ridiculous!'" 

Well I have to agree with that!

After agreeing to the rules, there's a test to complete and an interview to attend. Landlord Edward Monkton has complied a demanding questionnaire that is like some advanced psychometric test. The questionnaire begins by asking the prospective tenant to list every item they consider essential to their life and then continues with some fascinating, searching, thought provoking and down right difficult questions which appear throughout the novel, breaking up the chapters and sections. This is a really clever technique - as well as breaking up the narrative and therefore creating more tension, Delaney also uses it to show the growing sense of unease that the reader, and the tenants, begin to feel towards One Folgate Street and JP Delaney. Some questions did distract me from the story a little as I couldn't help but wonder how I might answer and briefly consider the dilemmas they proposed, but ultimately they make you wonder why a landlord would be posing such complicated questions and what he was driving at?

However, the main thing that appeals to Emma is that because of the technology, the gadgets, the sheer cleverness and intelligent programming that runs the house, she feels completely safe here. This is a house where "Nothing bad could happen to you."

The chapters alternate between Emma and Jane. Jane also needs a fresh start. For her, One Folgate Street offers a sanctuary; a de-cluttered, open, clean space where there are no traces left of what should have been. But as soon as she moves in she realises that behind this polished facade there lies a secret. She sets out to untangle the truth from the lies but can she stop herself from making the same choices? Unwittingly, she begins to follow the same path as the girl before.

The most captivating character in this book is the flat itself. It is described so well that it really dominates the novel. It is so dramatic and so stunning in its design; so decluttered and pristine. And then there's the sophistication of the technology, for example the way the tenant wears a bracelet which triggers the shower - including your preferred temperature - and as the agent explains there are:

"'Ultrasonic motion sensors. Coupled with a detector that adjusts the level according to how dark it is outside.....Then you choose the mood you want from the app. Productive, Peaceful, Playful and so on. It adds extra UV in the winter so you don't get depressed.'" 

Both Emma and Jane see this flat as not just somewhere incredible to live, but as somewhere that will change them as a person. As if the presentation of a clean, clear space with nothing out of order- a place of perfection where everything is so efficiently controlled, will somehow bring the same order to their lives. As Emma says:

"Perhaps the house will turn me into a better person. It will bring order and discipline to the random chaos of my life."

Although JP Delaney's novel is really a psychological thriller, I think they might also be exploring a much larger metaphor. One Folgate Street seems to represent the internal state of Edward Monkton's mind; his quest for perfection, his quest for control. It also creates a metaphorical space to explore the internal struggles of the characters and to raise questions about the trouble people go to when trying to control their lives- hoping that the way we organise our homes may create a sense of order across our mental entanglements.

And then what's really compelling about the flat is the way that it's character begins to become so sinister. From being a home where Emma and Jane felt spoilt, treated, special and privileged, it then seems to become unfriendly.

"It feels like I'm being watched."

As their tenancy continues they are expected to complete assessments - hot water and other amenities are shut down until Monkton has the data he requires. The only search engine that Emma and Jane can access is "Housekeeper" which then controls what results they view. Gradually they realise that actually the landlord has a lot of information about them and can actually monitor every thought, every decision and every action.

Is this a house or is it a prison? Is it a space in which the characters are trapped? Is it a privilege or a punishment to be here?

"What if the house itself decides not to protect me? How safe am I really?"

And who is behind the house? Who is controlling the house? Why are they controlling the house? What happens the tenants who stay in the house?

I can imagine this book making a very good film. The location would be visually so stunning and the character of Edward Monkton is as intriguing, attractive and as chilling as characters like Christian Grey or perhaps occasionally more sinister like the captor in John Fowles' "The Collector."  Emma is complex - again with shades of Rachel from "The Girl on the Train" and Amy from "Gone Girl" - there is much more to her than meets the eye. And Jane - perhaps the most likeable character out of them all- but not a straightforward one. Each character has their own issues, emotional fragility and fallibility. Again this made me feel like One Folgate Street really was more metaphorical of something more internal and more psychological.

It's a page turner. It's going to be popular and it's going to appeal to all those who are enjoying the new titles within the rapid growth of the "GripLit" genre. It should become a film.

"The Girl Before" will be published on January 26th 2017 by Quercus. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a review copy.

For further recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"The Trophy Child" by Paula Daly

Confession time. I have three of Paula Daly's books on my kindle but this is the first one I have managed to fit into my review schedule and actually finally get around to reading! And I now I know why I see so many rave reviews of her novels and that all the enticing things said about her writing are true!

I'm so glad I rushed to get an ARC of "The Trophy Child" but I must say, never has a book come along at a more pertinent time in my life!!

"The Trophy Child" is about Karen Bloom, tiger mum extraordinaire. Karen runs a tight ship, rushing Bronte from music lesson to dance lesson to school to more music lessons, believing that tough discipline is the true art of parenting and that achievement leads to ultimate happiness. She has an unending quest for perfection and excellence which she focuses particularly on her prodigy daughter Bronte.

But despite Karen's dedication to preserving a carefully constructed facade of a perfect family, things are beginning to crumble. Her son from a previous relationship is developing a drug habit, her step daughter Verity is beginning to rebel and protect Bronte and her husband Noel is trying to remember why he ever fell in love with this tough, driven, assertive woman who is putting her family first at the very expense of the family.

And then tragedy strikes. Bronte goes missing. And from then on, every boundary, barrier and wall that Karen has constructed around the Bloom family starts to collapse.

This is a good read. There is murder, mystery, drugs, bullying, sibling rivalry, infidelity, suspense and tension. What's appealing about this story is that, like any great psychological thriller writer, Daly takes a family that are seemingly ordinary. A family that is not unlike some you know or with features that you recognise in families in your community and shows that with a little digging beneath the surface things are not always as perfect as they seem. Daly explores the devastating consequences that can befall a family when they stop communicating, lose sight of what they really want for each other, what they really mean to each other and set off on a course of action that can only lead to dramatic results.

I don't think this novel was particularly good for my blood pressure. Or my stress levels. That Karen, wow, she really is a piece of work.

"You've not even got your shoes on. You know how I hate to be late. Being late is not who I am. Not who you are, Bronte Bloom. Late people are not only disorganised, they are disrespectful of other people's time. Is that how you want to be regarded? As disrespectful?"

And she doesn't let up. Ever. And that is how she speaks to everyone, all the time. Even Noel her husband. Karen truly believes she is doing the right thing by Bronte - she really isn't as bothered about Verity or Ewan as they clearly don't have the potential or talent that she is fostering in Bronte - and even just reading about the exhausting schedule she keeps Bronte to made me want to lie down. Listening to the mechanics of her life, the routine, preparation, the appearance puts the reader in a spin and what's even more upsetting is that Karen is completely devoted to Bronte. She thinks this is what she should do for her daughter, that this is the way to love and cherish her.

"Karen was a tiger mother and she was proud of it. Why shouldn't she be? Just because ordinary mothers had decided it was wrong to push their offspring, just because they took the easy way out, saying it wasn't a mother's place to mould a child into greatness, it didn't mean Karen had to go along with it. Because they would say that, wouldn't they? It was an easy way to justify their own lazy lives, their own acceptance of mediocrity."

You see, utterly charming isn't she?! Daly's characterisation of Karen is excellent. She is detestable. There is not one redeeming feature about her. Because she is so proud of her actions and behaviour, because she is so sure of herself and so deeply unpleasant to everyone else, it is easy to dislike her and not feel guilty about your reaction to her. I had no sympathy for her. Even when Bronte goes missing, it is hard to feel much sympathy for Karen as she does not miss an opportunity to make vicious comments, carry out underhand behaviour and make unrealistic demands on the police. She really is vile. And although usually it's fun to 'love to hate' the bad guy, it wasn't much fun here. It was just hating to hate the bad guy the whole way for me!

In contrast is our detective Joanne Aspinall. Calm, unflustered, real, genuine, and human. Joanne is perceptive. She will not be riled or goaded by Karen. She will not be brushed off by Noel or fooled by Verity. She will ask the questions, probe further, dig deeper. The background about Joanne and her personal relationships happening alongside the investigation paint the picture of a flawed woman, but a woman whose integrity, intelligence and balanced life view keep emphasising the dysfunctional behaviour of the Bloom family. It's a great balance.

Noel, the husband is a bit of a disappointing character - deliberately so I think. He is worn down by Karen. He is too weak to stand up to her but also knows too well what the consequences of any descent might be. He seems tired and resigned. ......But actually he has some secrets too, which then did affect the way I felt towards him. Ultimately, as a father whose daughter goes missing and then goes on to suffer further tragedy should gain all our empathy but Daly doesn't make it that straight forward. Why should she?! This is a thriller after all! There is a murderer out there don't you know!

It's difficult to say more without giving anything away. I would describe novel as domestic noir but it is not a crime thriller in the traditional sense. It is very compelling because the characters are so fascinating so you are gripped by their motivations. The story isn't so much about who needs to be arrested, but more about who is guilty and who is responsible. It is about watching the dynamics between people and really evaluating what it is that lies between them.

Karen is not a murderer but she suffocates Bronte. Karen is not weak but she becomes a victim. Verity is not a jealous step sister but she becomes a suspect and Noel is a not a faithful husband but does love his children. The definitions within the novel are complicated. The family is complicated. Things are not as they seem. People are not as they seem. This is a story about deception, ambition, callousness and lies. This is a novel about the fatal outcomes of modern day parenting gone wrong.

The real question is how much has been exaggerated by Daly? How much of this is just fiction and how much of it is nightmarishly true? How many of us have the faint beginnings of a Karen Bloom growing inside us, either wittingly or unwittingly, either despite our best efforts or because of our best efforts? Noel sees traces of Karen in other mothers. Joanne sees echoes of it around her. Has this novel created a despicable character beyond belief who horrifies us or has it raised a few questions in our own minds about the minefield of modern day parental pressures and expectations?

This is a story of murder, mystery and psychopathic behaviour; it is compelling but it is not just about solving a crime, it's not just about saving people. It's about parenting, motherhood, expectations placed on families by society and patterns of behaviour that are beginning to change the whole concept of childhood. It's a great read. Daly's depictions of the Bloom family are unsettling and quite terrifying.

This novel will stay with you. It may not be the most chilling crime read of 2017 but it will give you nightmares, haunt you and make you think about the characters long afterwards. Read it. Get your friends to read it because guys, we really do need to talk about Karen.

"The Trophy Child" will be published on 26th January 2017.

For more recommendations and reviews you can follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

Review of Criminally Good Books 18th Jan 2017

Bibliomaniac's Book Club: Criminally Good Books Event 

Cass Green, Leigh Russell, Angela Clarke and Susi Holliday 

Thanks so much to everyone who came along to Bibliomaniac's First Live Book Event! For me, it really was a dream come true to meet some of my favourite writers and ask them more about their novels and their writing lives.

Thanks Angela, Leigh, Susi and Caroline for being such wonderful guests!

It was a brilliant event  - a full house of bibliomaniacs, book groups, people who want to start reading again and people who just enjoy a good book. The authors were absolutely fantastic - full of wit, charm, humour, stories, advice and happy to tell us all about their books, their writing and their book groups! Thanks so much to everyone who bought a ticket and came along. I hope you all enjoy reading your new books! Let me know on Facebook or Twitter how you get on!
Bibliomaniac's Facebook page
Bibliomaniac's Twitter page

Thanks so much for Harpenden Arms for providing such a perfect venue and with all their help organising the room and running the bar all evening - no book group can be without wine! The authors had a meal in the restaurant area first and were really impressed by the food. Since its recent refurbishment The Harpenden Arms really is a lovely venue and the staff are exceptionally friendly, helpful and supportive! The private room upstairs was a great setting for our evening!
harpenden-arms.co.uk

Thanks also to Ines and Steph from Harpenden Bookshop for coming along and selling copies of the authors books all evening. It was brilliant to be able to buy the book you'd just heard tantalising and intriguing things about and then get them signed by the authors! If you were unable to get hold of the book you wanted then please pop into the shop and buy a copy there or order online via Waterstones. It is really lovely to have such a fabulous, well stocked bookshop on the high street with such dedicated, friendly staff who all have a passion for books and can all help you with recommendations on what to read next. They can also order books in for you (saving you the postage!)
www.waterstones.com

Also thanks to publishers No Exit Press for all your continual encouragement, support and advice!
No Exit Press Website

So here's a few highlights from the event!:





Book Recommendations from the Authors:



I have reviewed some of these books:
Bibliomaniac's review of Behind Her Eyes
Bibliomaniac's Review of Lie with Me

This link includes a review, a book trailer and all you need to run a book group session on Good Me Bad Me:
Bibliomaniac's Book Club: Good Me Bad Me

Susi's recommendation for something properly creepy is this - out in April!!!







And the Goody Bag - this should have included various treats......

• In three of the books mentioned tonight, there are references to Butterflies so this inspired the Butterfly tattoos
• A book plate or two to stick in the books you bought at the event or your favourite novels so everyone knows they belong to you!
• Some sweets to enjoy with a coffee and a good book today!
• Various bookmarks and postcards with lots of book recommendations including Bibliomaniac's business card so you can follow me on your preferred social media or email me to keep up with recommendations, reviews and live events! You can also sign up to receive blog posts via email on this website
• Lots of information about the next event for which tickets are now on sale! Here is the link:

Bibliomaniac's Book Club: March Event

There was also a double sided card full of questions that can be used on any book by any book group. I *slightly* misjudged the size of the font when I ordered these so here is a link to the page which includes all the questions in a font you can actually read!!
Questions for any book / book group

Thanks again to everyone who came along. You made one Bibliomaniac exceptionally happy and it was amazing to share some book love with everyone!

I really hope you enjoyed the evening and I really hope you'll come along to the next event on 22nd March which will be the same format and will give you the chance to meet another four authors! Here's the link and tickers are now on sale!
Eventbrite: Tickets for Dazzling Debuts

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3, subscribe to this blog via email or friend me on Facebook Facebook Katherine / Bibliomaniac

Bibliomaniac's Book Club: Questions for any occasion!

Here are some questions that can be asked about any book in any book group session! 

What were the central themes or questions in the book?

Who was the most interesting character in the book?

Does this story belong to a particular time or is it universal?

How does this book compare to others in its genre?

Did you relate to any of the characters? Did you share any of their motivations?

What is the significance of the title? What alternative title would you give the book?

Did this book provoke any emotional reactions in you?

Did the main character make good or bad choices?

What was your favourite passage in the book?

If the book were made into a movie who would you cast as the main characters?

What are the key characteristics  / strengths/ weaknesses / motivations of the main protagonist?

Which celebrity or person in power should read this book and why?

What one piece of advice would you offer the main character?

What life lessons are found in this book and do you agree with them?

What do you think will be your lasting impression of this book?

Can you sum the book up in one line? Could you write a strap line to go on the front cover?

What one question would you like to ask the main character? Or any of the other characters?

Do the first and last sentence relate to each other?

Can you think of one question you would pose to a book group based on this book?

What one question would you ask the author about this book?

How could the conflict have been resolved differently?

Can you think of any other books which deal with similar themes, have similar characters or are written in a similar style to this book?

At which moment does the major conflict in the book come to an end?

Was the author better at description or dialogue?

Is the story driven more by the plot or the characters?

What personal impact did this book have on you?

How did the author get you interested in this story?

Did you enjoy reading this book? Why?

Are the major themes in this book relevant to your life?

How would you summarise the story?

What famous actor would you like to hear read this story on an audio book?

Did this book inspire you to explore new ideas or to look at things from another perspective?

Did any of the characters help you to understand someone you’ve know?

What surprised you about this book?

Which character would you most like to know in real life?

How would you illustrate the cover?

Does the book end in the way you expected?

Was there anything missing from the book that should have been included?

Follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) for more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat!

Dazzling Debuts: Four New Authors, Four New Books

Bibliomaniac's Book Club presents:

DAZZLING DEBUTS: 

FOUR NEW AUTHORS, FOUR NEW BOOKS 

Wednesday March 22nd

8-10pm 

The Harpenden Arms (Upstairs) 

Ticket: £10 (+VAT)

                  

    Ticket price includes one free drink and entry to a raffle for signed copies of the books

Buy your ticket at tickets for Dazzling Debuts via eventbrite

 or find details on Twitter: @katherinesunde3 or Facebook: katherine.sunderland.14 

TALL OAKS by CHRIS WHITAKER 

For fans of Twin Peaks and The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair, this brilliant debut is dark yet hilarious, suspenseful and sad.

Everyone has a secret in Tall Oaks . . .

When three-year-old Harry goes missing, the whole of America turns its attention to one small town.

Everyone is eager to help. Everyone is a suspect.

Desperate mother Jess, whose grief is driving her to extreme measures.

Newcomer Jared, with an easy charm and a string of broken hearts in his wake.

Photographer Jerry, who's determined to break away from his controlling mother once and for all.

And, investigating them all, a police chief with a hidden obsession of his own . . .

In Chris Whitaker's brilliant and original debut novel, missing persons, secret identities and dangerous lies abound in a town as idiosyncratic as its inhabitants.

For my review of Tall Oaks please click :
bibliomaniac's review of Tall Oaks


THE HIDDEN LEGACY by G J Minett 

1966. A horrifying crime at a secondary school, with devastating consequences for all involved.

2008. A life-changing gift, if only the recipient can work out why . . .
Bearing the scars of a recent divorce - and the splatters of two young children - Ellen Sutherland is up to her elbows in professional and personal stress. When she's invited to travel all the way out to Cheltenham to hear the content of an old woman's will, she can barely be bothered to make the journey.

But when she arrives, the news is astounding. Eudora Nash has left Ellen a beautiful cottage, worth an amount of money that could turn her life around. There's just one problem - Ellen has never even heard of Eudora Nash. 

Her curiosity piqued, Ellen and her friend Kate travel to the West Country in search of answers. But they are not the only ones interested in the cottage, and Ellen little imagines how much she has to learn about her past . . .

Graham Minett's debut novel, The Hidden Legacy, is a powerful and suspenseful tale exploring a mysterious and sinister past.

To read my review of The Hidden Legacy click here:
bibliomaniac's review of The Hidden Legacy

To read my review of Lie In Wait click here:
Bibliomaniac's review of Lie in Wait


CUT TO THE BONE by Alex Caan 

For fans of THE FALL a slick, dark contemporary thriller, in the tradition of SARAH HILARY and ROBERT GALBRAITH that grips from the very first page...

One Missing Girl. Two Million Suspects.

Ruby is a vlogger, a rising star of YouTube and a heroine to millions of teenage girls.

And she's missing . . .

But she's an adult - nothing to worry about, surely?

Until the video's uploaded . . .

Ruby, in the dirt, pleading for her life.

Enter Detective Inspector Kate Riley; the Met's rising star and the head of a new team of investigators with the best resources money can buy. Among them, Detective Sergeant Zain Harris, the poster boy for multiracial policing. But can Kate wholly trust him - and more importantly, can she trust herself around him?

As hysteria builds amongst the press and Ruby's millions of fans, Kate and her team are under pressure to get results, and fast, but as they soon discover, the world of YouTube vloggers and social media is much darker than anyone could have imagined.

And the videos keep coming . . 

For my review of Cut to the Bone please click here:
Bibliomaniac's Review of Cut to the Bone


WITHOUT TRACE by Simon Booker 


A gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gone Girl and Making a Murderer.

"A cracking debut. A real page-turner with a compelling central character"
- Mark Billingham 

For four long years, journalist Morgan Vine has campaigned for the release of her childhood sweetheart Danny Kilcannon - convicted, on dubious evidence, of murdering his 14 year-old stepdaughter.

When a key witness recants, Danny is released from prison. With nowhere else to go, he relies on single mum Morgan and her teenage daughter, Lissa.

But then Lissa goes missing.

With her own child now at risk, Morgan must re-think all she knows about her old flame - 'the one that got away'. As the media storm around the mysterious disappearance intensifies and shocking revelations emerge, she is forced to confront the ultimate question: who can we trust...?

For my review of Without Trace please click here:
Bibliomaniac's review of Without Trace

You can follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) or Facebook or Instagram or sign up to receive all future blogs via email for more recommendations, reviews and updates about events!

**BLOG TOUR** A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart

      A BOY MADE OF BLOCKS BY KEITH STUART 

‘Funny, expertly plotted and written with enormous heart’ GRAEME SIMSION
‘Heartwarming, funny and special. I devoured this cracking book’ THE UNMUMSY MUM	‘Not just a great plot, but a rare sense of honesty and insight’ GUARDIAN
‘A wonderful novel that tugs at your heart’ DAILY MAIL	‘A heartwarming and wise story’ CATHY RENTZENBRINK
‘Tremendously moving’ HEAT	‘A wonderful read’ HUFFINGTON POST

         Published on 5^th January 2017 | Paperback and eBook price £7.99

A beautiful, funny and surprising story of family and love, perfect for fans of The Rosie Project, David Nicholls’ Us and Nick Hornby’s About a Boy.

MEET THIRTY SOMETHING DAD, ALEX… He loves his wife Jody, but has forgotten how to show it. He loves his son Sam, but doesn't understand him. Something has to change. And he needs to start with himself.

MEET EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SAM… To him the world is a puzzle he can't solve on his own.

When Sam starts to play Minecraft, it opens up a place where Alex and Sam begin to rediscover both themselves and each other… When life starts to tear one family apart, can they put themselves back together, one piece at a time?

A Boy Made of Blocks is a beautiful, funny and heartwarming story of family and love inspired by the author’s own experiences with his autistic son.

MY REVIEW FOR A BOY MADE OF BLOCKS: 

This is a tender novel, inspired by Stuart's own relationship with his son who has autism, about a father trying to rebuild his complicated relationship with his son and how they begin to bond over the computer game of Minecraft. It's an emotional read with moments of sadness, frustration and anger but yet full of humour, warmth and love. It reads very much like a Nick Hornby or David Nicholls book; accessible, fluid, easy and engaging- a good light read.

The book opens with Alex, the father, separating from his wife Jody as the pressure of raising a son whose condition is so consuming and demanding that it has sadly become too much for both of them. Alex gives an honest and frank admission of the effects of parenting a child with autism:

"We've basically spent out whole marriage worrying about Sam - his outbursts, his silence, the days he'd scream at us, the days he'd hide in his bed and shrink from any contact at all. Days and days, stretching out to months, trying to anticipate the next breakdown. And while we were coping with that, the things that Jody and I had together somehow faded away."

It's difficult enough to prioritise your relationship with small children anyway, so I can certainly understand Alex and Jody's situation - neither are to blame and neither are too angry but there is a sense of mental and emotional exhaustion which makes the effort of each other too much. However, Stuart's writing is humorous and the fact that the story comes from Alex's point of view rather than Jody's probably helps distance the reader from becoming overwhelmed by the emotional issues in the novel. I really enjoyed Stuart's wry comparisons about how Alex and Jody respond to their separation, for example, the women go out to lunch with that "effortless unguarded frankness that most men are incapable of. You know:'Have some of this lemon cake, it's lovely and also, tell me more about the emotionally apocalyptic disintegration of your nine-year marriage?'" The men have a conversation about football which includes a couple of very loose similes for Alex's situation. Other than that it is largely ignored and Alex finds himself camping on a flat airbed in his friends flat, seeking refuge in the pub or in a video game.

However, Alex is not shallow and he is not unaffected by the separation. He is a dedicated father who loves his son Sam deeply. He fights for Sam - "you learn the rules and exploit them..you fight for every test, every consultation, every specialist.." He just struggles with how to parent him at times. And this is not something he can be admonished for - in fact, it encourages more empathy - it is his care, love and responsibility for his son that has lead to his sense of failure and helplessness.

"Sam is the planet of concern and confusion that we have been orbiting for most of our relationship."

And he feels guilty that they have struggled so much when their diagnosis is that Sam is on the upper end of the autism spectrum - "the easy end. The shallow end....the underlying message being: you've got it easy compared to other parents." But as Alex states, "labels only get you so far." When Sam is screaming and shouting they can say "it's Autism" but "Autism is a sort of malevolent spirit, a poltergeist, a demon. Sometimes it really is like living in The Exorcist." Labels don't "help you sleep, stop you from getting angry and frustrated".

"Because of autism, there is no Jody and I, there is Jody, me and the problem of Sam. That's how it feels. But I can't say that. I can barely think it."

The novel also offers insight to the day to day struggle of living with autism. Stuart's convivial language easily conveys situations and provides pertinent, striking examples without sounding in any way educative or text book like. This is not a "guide to dealing with autism" or an autobiography but there are some descriptions which I thought really captured what parents with children who have autism must feel. As Alex tells us "Autistic children do not all have special powers.... To Sam, the world is a gigantic engine that needs to function in a certain way, with predictable actions, in order to ensure his safety...... everyone else is playing this huge game and he's got to try to figure it out as he goes along. It's exhausting ....we have to explain everything over and over...some rules will never make sense to him."

But such heart rendering explanations are often contrasted with comments that will raise a smile and reestablish the balance of this ultimately "feel good" read. I especially liked the things Sam has "shared" with people as he often says the first thing that comes into his head and with very little awareness of what's appropriate and what should not be repeated to people's faces, although excruciating for Alex and Jody, it did make me giggle! Or Alex's account of breakfast:

"CAREFULLY CUBED fruit. Have you ever cut apples into exact one-centimetre cubes at five in the morning? It's tough- especially when the recipient makes Gordon Ramsay look laid back and amenable."

Or during a very public tantrum:

"Jody had to restrain me from picking Sam up, handing him over to the concerned woman on the deckchair next to us and saying. "Here, honestly, you take him."

Although I think there is not a parent among us who has not had that feeling at some point!

Then there is a shift in the novel. Alex and Sam discover Minecraft. With three young children myself, this is a game I am very familiar with and to be honest, what attracted me to the book in the first place. For those not in the know, Minecraft is basically like lego but on screen. You create virtual worlds, build the most awesome structures, raise animals and it seems to have endless potential. I think it is a very imaginative and creative game which probably teaches engineering, planning, maths, architecture and story telling. For Sam, it gives him a world which he can control. A world in which the the rules can be ambiguous and ever changing but ultimately, a world in which he is in charge and he understands how to operate within.

To begin with, Alex and Sam simply find the gentle background music of the game "hypnotic" and then when Sam explains some aspects of the game to Alex he speaks the longest sentence Alex has ever heard; "It pours out unselfconsciously. No stutters, no breaks.....it feels revelatory." They then use the world of Minecraft to navigate the real world, using it as a distraction when they are out or making parallels and comparisons so that Sam is suddenly walking past dogs or things that usually act as a trigger obliviously, so deeply engaged in his virtual universe. And then they are able to use Minecraft to talk about autism.

"I am like a Creeper!"
"What because if people get close to you, you explode?"
"Yes!"

While finally managing to connect with Sam, Alex has a series of epiphany like moments about his relationship with Autism, with Sam, with Sam's education, with Jody and suddenly by seeing the world from a different perspective, he gains clarity and understanding. Alex almost "wakes up" after having travelled as a "passenger staring out the window at the rolling scenery" and now wanting to "drag the driver out, punch him in the face and steal the car." He wants to "reconnect with the world." By the end of the novel I was wondering who Minecraft really saved and who really was the character needing saving.

What is really engaging about this book is the down to earth tone of narrative and the very "up front" and honest voice of Alex. He is a very likeable character; he is ordinary, he is fallible, he mishandles things, he makes mistakes. He is a parent trying to do his best. This book is an emotional journey for him but it is written with a gentle warmth. It is not moralistic or patronising. Although a very valuable and interesting account of autism, it is as much about parenting, marriage and facing responsibilities and a great read for anyone with children. It didn't feel like a novel "about autism", it felt like watching Hugh Grant in an amiable Saturday afternoon movie. In fact, I hope it does make it to the screen as I think it would be an excellent BBC drama.

Stuart has added an afterword about the true story behind the book. He says:

"Video games get a bad rap; we often think of them as things we need to control and limit- by they can also be a permissive space where people learn and share and create, without judgement or confinement."

And I'd like to leave you with his final thoughts:

"Life puts up so many barriers to people who are different. Any tool that helps us to appreciate those people - whoever they are, however they differ from us- is a precious thing. This is what I learned and what this book is about."

In 2012 one of KEITH STUART's two sons was diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The ramifications felt huge. But then Keith and both boys started playing videogames together - especially Minecraft. Keith had always played games and, since 1995, has been writing about them, first for specialist magazines like Edge and PC Gamer then, for the last ten years, as games editor for the Guardian. The powerful creative sharing as a family and the blossoming of communication that followed informed his debut novel.

For further information please contact:

Kirsteen Astor, Publicity Director Kirsteen.astor@littlebrown.co.uk | 020 3122 6621

Clara Diaz, Press Officer, clara.diaz@littlebrown.co.uk | 020 3122 6565

www.boymadeofblocks.com | @keefstuart | #MadeofBlocks

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