Tom Bale has gone and done it again, another breath taking story that had me totally gripped from page one.

How can an ordinary family barbeque end up so un ordinary? Well in All Fall Down we find out and its roller coaster of a ride. Mr Bale has a way of writing a story that feels so real, we have an ordinary family who have flaws and secrets and their life is turned completely upside down. Each character feels real, and well described and are easy to get to know quite quickly. Unlike See How They Run who were a family with a baby the Turners in All Fall Down have older children which gave this book a different pace.

Opening with a bang I found the story slowed down a bit and gradually built up keeping me intrigued and it really was a guessing game all the way through which I loved. I’d say the first half of the book we are getting to know the characters, a piecing together if you like and the second half is a close your eyes and hold on for your life kind of read.

I often wonder how an author will fair with a second book when the first is such a big success but Tom Bale has produced another cracker of a read. It’s suspenseful, realistic, breath taking and just blooming brilliant.