Hmm. And I don't normally hmm at Ian McEwan books, normally I love them. Clean, crisp writing; good stories. But The Children Act was just too dry, too many explanations of the law's processes, which felt like they were repeated. I just didn't engage with Fiona or the state of her marriage, or even the boy in hospital.

And one plot point that I have an issue with or don't understand, is why would Sherwood Runcie give Fiona the news (which I won't say here), just as she was about to go on and give her concert? I can only presume that he hates her, wants her to be distressed enough to make a fool of herself on stage, but unless I've missed something, I didn't get the impression that he hates her. But if he does, why does he?