Crikey, I don't know whether it was personal resonances or just bloody good writing, but this had me welling up. And I am not one who is usually emotionally affected by books. This was especially unexpected because I am used to this author's "Ethelred and Elsie" series of detective novels being light-hearted fun. That's not to say this was without humour - there were plenty of witty bits - but the central psychological and existential rollercoaster of our hero Chris was quite powerful. ( )