Synopsis: I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that.
Title: The Shock of the Fall
Author: Nathan Filer
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780007491438
Rating: 
I made the mistake of starting The Shock of the Fall whilst on the underground on my way to meet friends. By page 25 I had already shed a tear; by page 60 – when I had to get off the train and be sociable – I was distraught.
There is a reason why Filer won the Costa Book award 2013 with this debut novel: it’s mesmerising, beautifully written and unique in the way it tells the story of a young man with mental health problems. Filer has a striking yet quirky way of describing the protagonist’s downwards spiral into mental illness.
Despite it’s serious content, the narrative doesn’t get overpowered by the issues it pertains to. The story is faultlessly and powerfully told by a charming, albeit unreliable narrator. It is a story that pulls you in from the first sentence and doesn’t let go till the last word.
It’s also a stunning book; I generally avoid lugging hefty hardbacks around at all costs but I couldn’t help but carry this one around. The cover is beautiful and the illustrations and the changes in font within the book enhance the effect the narrative has on the reader.
The Shock of the Fall is an incredible book and a must-read for absolutely everyone. Even if you don’t generally enjoy this particular genre; if you like quality, you will love this book.
A Literary Mind 
Hmm… I’m sure it’s very good, but I’m not impressed by the tense error in the synopsis – ‘in a couple of pages he’ll (future) be dead. And he was (past) never the same after that.’ I wouldn’t have expected his editor to miss that one, even if the author did. :¬]