Book description
1986, the last day of the summer holidays, and Christopher Hearsey is
wondering why his best mate Arthur has suddenly disappeared, and whether
lippy Gill Ross a few doors down might know anything about it. The
border city of Carlisle is buzzing with rumours following an act of
terrible violence, and in order to begin his search Chris must face down
his own dread, not only of the consequences of his own actions, but of
local big man Booby Grove, and his psychotic sidekick Carl 'the black'
Hole. Populated by a menacing and hilarious cast of characters, and
moving from the dark aggrieved streets of the city to the agricultural
hinterland of the Solway Firth, this is the story of a boy desperate to
get out of town, out of a bad situation, even out of his own skin . . .
'A fierce cry of talent, raw as a confession and tender as a poem.
Polley's language is mercurial, his humour quick and surprising.' Chris
Cleave 'A perfectly pitched quest for lost innocence' John Burnside,
Guardian 'This is a disconcerting debut novel about how meaning is
constructed from murmur, gossip and half-truth . . . Capturing the
chaotic rhythms of these young lives in vivid yet unsentimental prose,
Polley hits the perfect pitch.' Anita Sethi, Independent
Jake Polley was born in Carlisle in 1975. He is the author of two
poetry collections, both published by Picador. This is his first
novel.
