Shy Creatures did not release its pleasure willingly. It took some time to get going, but it felt all the better for being made to wait. A tender portrayal of love that was beautiful in its depiction of character.
The story begins with us following Helen, an art therapist, as she begins her new job at Westbury Park, a psychiatric hospital. She befriends the charismatic  Gil, a relative through marriage, and begins an affair. This felt slow going at first, but then a call is received that sets up an intriguing premise.
Neighbours at a run-down home near Helen report a disturbance. What is discovered shocks those who are sent out…a thirty-seven year old man who nobody knew existed living with his elderly aunt. William appears mute, but he is a talented artist so Helen attempts to find ways to communicate with him.
Going above and beyond what might be reasonably expected, Helen determines to find out more about William. At the same time we are privy to details of his past that help us to understand how he comes to be in the situation he is.
I’m so happy I stuck with this because William’s story burrows its way into your heart. Based on real events this was a fascinating exploration of the individual and the ties that bind us. Not all the details are palatable, but there’s a clear sense of people trying their best in the circumstances.