Nathan Filer's The Shock of the Fall is set in contemporary England. The scenes that build the base for Matthew's (the main character's) mental illness have a very dark feel to them that makes you anxious to your bones. Most settings in the book make you feel uncomfortable either by their looks, by the memories Matthew connects with them, or by the people who act within them. This is great, as the settings mirror how Matthew must feel.

Matthew, the novel's main character, turns from a grieving boy into a young man who isn't able to cope with his feelings on his own. Mr Filer manages to create a very believable character and in the end, he supports this believability by showing us one of the reasons for Matthew's problems that most readers, just as his parents, probably haven't noticed all along. And while we're talking about parents, Matthew's mother is another character that holds a lot of potential. She lost one of her sons and now she has to protect the one that is left. But just as things start to get interesting, Mrs Homes disappears form the novel's focus.

The Shock of the Fall gives us insight into the mind of a young man with mental illness as he tells us his story. But Matthew doesn't immediately give away what happened to his brother years ago in that rainy night. This way, Mr Filer is able to maintain a certain level of suspense, although I don't think the story would have needed it. Matthew's routines and his thoughts alone are worth the read. If you are interested in coming-of-age books and books with protagonists that have mental illnesses, this poignant novel is for you.