We all know that Mark Haddon's debut book was a stunner, so it is hard to write this without comparing them.

Angela and Richard are middle aged siblings who recently buried their mother. Richard is a hospital consultant with a new wife and stepdaughter, 'all sheen and sneer'. Angela lives with her husband Dominick, who has casual jobs and a casual affair, and their children - Alex, Daisy and Benjy. Unable to afford a holiday, they accept Richard's offer of a week in a holiday cottage near Hay-on-Wye.

Angela is bitter and resentful that Richard has more money and paid for their mothers care, but left her with most of the care. Daisy is having a crisis, which leads to flirtation with religion, Alex is obsessed with violent books and girls and Benjy is only eight and simply aware of the unhappiness around him. During the week it would have been the eighteenth birthday of Angela's first child - a daughter who was stillborn. Meanwhile, Richard has issues at work, Louisa is struggling with her daughter and Melissa has been accused of bullying and is a vicious and unkind girl - aware of what she is becoming and unable to stop herself.

This book has very little plot, much middle class angst and really doesn't seem to resolve very much. I have to say it was a disappointing read, but might offer reading groups lots of discussion points.