Description

‘Life-affirming’ Cailean Steed
‘Completely captivating’ Alice McIlroy
‘One of the best books I’ve read this year’ Joanna Miller

Cassie had an unconventional childhood, growing up with a father who spent all of his time preparing for the apocalypse. Instead of going to school, she had an eccentric curriculum at the kitchen table with her mum, and instead of going out to play, she either snuck off to see her beloved grandparents or went to the family safe space, a garage that had been sealed off and stocked with tinned food and emergency batteries.

Now middle-aged and living alone, Cassie continues the rhythms of preparing for the worst, even though her dad failed to prepare for the slow-motion tragedy that became their family. But when an asteroid is located in the solar system, the chance of impact in northern Europe climbing every day, the worst finally seems to be confirmed. Cassie’s strange dad might just turn out to have been her salvation…

Publisher Review

The Falling is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It is utterly gripping, humane, and thought-provoking. Carole Hailey is an excellent storyteller, and this exceptional novel is going to win her many new fans — Joanna Miller, author of THE EIGHTS Absolutely LOVED this novel from Carole Hailey… Beautifully told, life-affirming, and one that will stay with you — Cailean Steed, author of HOME A stunning work of speculative fiction. Assured, intelligent and completely captivating… through the compassion of her characters, she explores the best parts of humanity. Heartbreaking, yet, ultimately, a celebration of the miracle of life — Alice McIlroy, author of THE GLASS WOMAN The Falling may be the book of the year so far for me… it is so delicate, sad, uplifting and true that I read it in one sitting and was left wrestling with so many feelings that I am still working them out now. My admiration of Hailey knows no bounds and I will be working my way through her other books as soon as humanly possible — Lucy Mangan, author of BOOKWORM: A Memoir of Childhood Reading This is a book brimming with originality, that gently unwraps truths about humanity and what makes individuals’ lives worth living. It’s a heartbreaking parable told with compassion but with the pace of thriller. Compelling and unputdownable — Jo Leevers, author of THE MUSEUM OF SECOND CHANCES The overview effect in a novel. Tender and humane, THE FALLING takes a cosmic perspective on human suffering without losing its intimate focus on trauma, recovery, and connection — Catriona Silvey, author of MEET ME IN ANOTHER LIFE Engrossing and original — Bernardine Evaristo, for THE SILENCE PROJECT Compulsive as hell — Abigail Dean, for SCENES FROM A TRAGEDY Might just be my book of the year. Absolutely phenomenal — Janice Hallett, for SCENES FROM A TRAGEDY An utterly compelling page-turner, you’ll keep thinking about this novel long after you’ve put it down * Glamour, for THE SILENCE PROJECT * I will read anything she writes — Sophie Hannah, for THE SILENCE PROJECT Extraordinary — Jennie Godfrey, for SCENES FROM A TRAGEDY