In Extremis

Tim Park, Harvill Secker, £16.99

In Extremis follows the troubled meanderings of linguistics professor Thomas Saunders’ mind as he makes his way to his mother’s deathbed. What was the meaning of her last enigmatic words to him?

This book is by turns poignant, funny, and thought-provoking. Emotionally intelligent, superbly controlled and structured with subtle intricacy, this is a book to love.