Much like Small Pleasures, Chambers' previous novel, this is a quiet, historical with deep themes surrounding relationships, identity and independence. This novel takes a real life story of a neglected man discovered by police and admitted to a psychiatric hospital and creates a fictional background to the event. Chambers explored mental health in the 1960s with accuracy and sensitivity and this book had propulsion as we flip between the past and find out more of how William, one of the protagonists ended up in the poor state in which he was found. I enjoyed this novel and think Chambers writes intelligent novels that are easy reads.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.