The Pier Falls

Reviews

A superb collection of stand-out stories… The Pier Falls is unique in that every story is brilliant… It is, simply, and ultimately, an absolute pleasure to read This is a top-notch collection… It veers into unexpected territory, and the evolving surprises are mesmerizing… 'The Pier Falls' leads the collection. It is a perfectly controlled little masterpiece… So chilling that one imagines its author could carve out a second career as a horror film scriptwriter. Brilliant collection… Seamless prose… It feels as though Haddon is leading you into the deepest underworld of human endeavor and behavior, yet holding your hand gently as he guides you into the labyrinth. Outstanding. The real redemption in these superbly gripping stories comes from their canny human detail, and the vivid, unsettling clarity they bring to our brief lives. He writes with the craft of Julian Barnes or, even, Truman Capote. The title story…is so good and so awful I read it with my hand over my mouth… His global smash hit The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-time...hit the mark. Here, he hits it again, and again and again A knockout. From the breathtaking first piece, The Pier Falls is powerful and emotional. Mark Haddon is a master of haunting detail. This title story is a tour de force and the other eight are diverting reminders of just how transporting a perfectly constructed short story can be. Superb new collection… This impressive collection is both bleak and brilliant and shows a writer at the top of his game. A sustained set of powerfully told stories... It's as if Ian McEwan had never turned nice. Expand reviews