"First, I'll tell you about the robbery our parents committed. Then about the murders, which happened later." Opening with perhaps the greatest first line in recent years, Richard Ford's dark and brooding coming of age tale will draw you in from the first chapters. It tells the story of Dell Parsons who finds himself carried along in a series of unexpected events beyond his control, mostly as a result of his parents' bad decisions. What happens to Dell and his twin sister will find them leaving their childhood behind, and forced into maturity sooner than they would have guessed. The prose is tight and the well-controlled plot is well-paced, brooding and constanly flirting with suspense. The drama lies in the foreboding that the opening line creates, and the aftermath introduces another set of minor characters who are just as fascinating and quietly disturbing in their own individual way. Fans of John Irving will find plenty to enjoy here, with a host of colourful characters, including fool-hardy parents and bratty, sister siblings. Even fans of Cormac McCarthy will appreciate the sparseness and growing unease of this haunting, witty book. And of course, if you love Richard Ford as much as I do, this is a beautifully constructed masterpiece to add to his incredible body of work.

This story of a young man whose life is derailed when his parents are arrested for robbing a bank is meticulously crafted, original, rather melancholy but also compelling. There's a total lack of melodrama here but Ford knows how to keep you turning the pages, dropping subtle hints of what's to come. His characters are convincing and well-rounded and his story never feels contrived. Not a thriller, buit a seriously good novel.