It is the summer of 1960-61 and the West Indian cricket team is playing in Australia. The drama and emotion of that particular cricket season, both on and off the field, is an effective backdrop to this compelling story about realising one’s strengths and overcoming one’s weaknesses. Michael and his parents, Vic and Rita, are a fragile family, living in a small community where dreams and secrets are constantly simmering beneath the surface, testing all sense of hope and security. Cricket-obsessed Michael is training to be the ultimate fast-bowler, caught up in the fever of the game even as he begins to discover new feelings for the beguiling Katherine Marsden. Meanwhile, his parents’ relationship strains under the weight of depression and secrecy. When Michael’s dying, guilt-ridden grandmother comes to stay and he also discovers the local factory owner’s secret, Michael’s summer starts to take on new dimensions. If you enjoyed Steven Carroll’s The Art of the Engine Driver this latest offering is a must-read. While readers will recognise some recurring characters, be assured that this is not just a sequel. Carroll’s gift for evocative storytelling reaches new depths here and the result had me captivated.

Kabita Dhara is fiction buyer at Dymocks Melbourne

Tags: steven carroll