When Leonard Lessing recognises a gunman’s face on television as an old acquaintance, he must decide whether or not to alert the authorities. It is choices such as this one which shape the plot and the subsequent turns it takes. What I loved about this book was the ‘realness’ of its characters and the overall plot. Leonard himself – insecure, indecisive, wannabe hero – is in a rut, due to a shoulder injury preventing him from playing his sax. What occurs in the story, though bizarre, has the potential to occur in anyone’s life and this is the powerful connection you have with Leonard: he’s just your average Joe. 

Beneath the surface, some tough questions are asked, particularly whether a life of ‘sound and fury’ (as lived by the gunman) is more significant than the quieter one led by Leonard himself. Crace craftily uses this experience to contrast how alive and secure Leonard feels with his sax in comparison to the rest of the time. This aids in our understanding of Leonard and hence the choices he makes.