It could happen to anyone. In a moment of anger, you lash out and someone lies dead. This is the nightmare that becomes reality for Anthony, the high achiever with a low sperm count. On returning home early from work he finds his wife in bed with a hunk and reaches breaking point. His life changes irrevocably.
For a man like Anthony, a corporate accountant protected by life’s privileges, his fall from grace is dramatic and distressing. In prison he is herded with the very people he has previously despised. All his inbred prejudices are challenged head on.
The misery of his time inside is felt powerfully through the descriptions of the monotony of his existence behind bars. He regresses; whenever Anthony thinks about his parents, he becomes a little boy, craving approval.
Then Anthony meets Darren, an repeat offender who asks for his help so he can write to his girlfriend. He finds a purpose again as he teaches his fellow convict how to read and write and Anthony begins to see life from another’s perspective. He wonders how anyone from the underbelly of society ever stands a chance. He also realises that, for all the advantages of education and wealth, his upbringing too was deprived, bereft of emotional warmth and love.
On his release, Anthony has to confront the demons of his previous life. His estranged wife, Deborah, has given birth to a son from her liaison with the man he murdered. Re-entering society at a much reduced level is a shock. It’s a very sweet moment when Anthony wins Employee of the Month in his job as a cleaner. Though he despises his nylon uniform with its company logo, it’s natural for him to strive for the highest standards possible in whatever he does.
Anthony also meets Mary, a sweet girl but one who also has a dark story from her past. Their first encounter is pure farce and is laugh-out-loud funny. When Mary finds a starving cat in a skip she runs to Anthony for help and he relishes his role as the hero rescuing a damsel (and the cat) in distress. After so long feeling emasculated by his inability to get his wife pregnant, Anthony embraces the chance to exercise his improving libido.
It’s not a great passion but it makes him feel needed, and then, overcoming the disadvantage of a criminal record, he lands a professional job.
Deborah still features in Anthony’s affections, especially when he finds that she has moved in with a decent man and he is jealous. His meeting with them and with Deborah’s son is crafted so cleverly that I felt myself squirming in awkwardness on Antony’s behalf.
Anthony’s friendship with Darren remains the most constant thing in his life, although it is severely tested when Darren is sent back to prison. But the bond between these two jailbirds grows stronger, and the conclusion of the story is one of great optimism.
Wendy Perriam has created a compelling story which doesn’t rely on high drama to highlight issues such as social injustice. She has a remarkable talent for writing conversation, which helps the story flow effortlessly. It’s a novel which engages the reader from the first page.