THE FARM by Tom Rob Smith

Daniel has never confided to his parents that he is gay and it’s been easy enough to keep them in the dark. But it never occurs to Daniel that his parents might have secrets of their own and he is shocked when he learns they lost a lot of money in the GFC and are practically broke. That was why they moved to Sweden (his mother’s native country) – it was cheaper than London. But after Daniel receives a series of frantic phone calls, first from his father, and then his mother, it begins to seem as though he knows nothing meaningful about his parents at all. His father claims his mother is suffering delusions and needs to be institutionalised. His mother claims his father is embroiled in a complicated conspiracy involving dodgy property deals, sexual misconduct and murder! Who should Daniel believe? As both parents fly to London to convince their son that their version of events is the truth, Daniel is also faced with having to explain his live-in boyfriend to them.

Tom Rob Smith is best known for his Child 44 crime trilogy and his profile is set to soar in 2014 with the release of its film adaptation. Smith gained a great deal of attention for Child 44 as it was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize 2008 – an almost unheard of feat for a crime novel. The Farm is a compelling and very well-written crime novel, with the set-up particularly inspired and intriguing. The Swedish background is also extremely well-evoked and adds enormous atmosphere and depth to the narrative. Smith is the son of a Swedish mother, just like his main character, although he is openly gay – something Daniel needs to work through, and does, by the end of the novel.

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