The Fall, Author Simon Mawer - Book Review

WINNER OF THE BOARDMAN TASKER PRIZE! `Wonderful and surprising. An absolute joy to read. Simon Mawer has entered the first rank of British novelists` . `Beryl Bainbridge/p> The shared passion of the mountains between Rob Dewar and Jamie Mathewson is the driving force for this drama packed novel and pulls us back into the past of their parents to uncover the secrets long buried. This novel starts with the fall of Jamie from the Great Wall nearly 40 years on from the beginning of their high drama friendship and compels Rob to start the journey back into the past by returning to the place they had grown up and confronting it headfirst.

This novel cuts back and forth over a period of 50 years uncovering secrets born in the heat of war of Caroline, Diana and Guy Mathewson piece by piece. Whilst at the same time following the lives of Rob and Jamie as the confront climb after climb in the mountains and in their friendship.

The descriptive narrative of the climbs are exciting and gives you the feel that you are actually there on the mountain looking for that hand hold to stop you plummeting to the ground.

What makes this novel so incapturing is the lies, betrayal, and the effect of the secrets their parents chose to hide. The surprising twist at the end will leave you speechless.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a high drama novel where you just can`t stop turning to the next page to find out what unfolds. A truly excellent piece of work by Simon Mawer.

Book: The Fall

Author: Simon Mawer

Publisher: Penguin Books

Book Review By: Amy Gault