Falling

Falling is the story of an ordinary family struggling to survive in difficult times. Both a love story and a dark psychological thriller, the novel launches us into a world in which familiar structures fail and family dynamics unravel, skewed by economic and political turmoil. It depicts a world that is frighteningly possible.

Journalist Adam Winter is less employable than he used to be and craves security for his young family. After he witnesses a dramatic incident in a London rooftop bar, he is catapulted into a world of radical instability. As he tugs at the threads of the story, he finds himself at the centre, unravelling more than he bargained for: a state secret, a family matter close to home, memories that don't seem to belong to anyone. He can't go back, so how will he go forward?

Falling is a thought-provoking exploration of modern displacement, and of a couple keeping too many secrets from one another. There is a tragic inevitability to the sequence of events, told from the alternating perspectives of husband and wife. The narrative style is fast-paced but thoughtful, and at times poetic. Despite its dystopian edge, there are glimmers of hope and humour throughout. The vivid portrayal of the characters gives the novel an immersive, film-like quality.