Fall, Leaves, Fall by Mike Driver

The book begins with a very emotional  prologue dated October 1978, where the protagonist Bridge is running through the park, out of breath and panic-stricken, fearing to be late..  We understand that something dreadful is going to happen but the prologue is over. What has happened? It turns out that Bridge’s friend disappeared that autumn day, and it seems like he feels guilty for it. Although at the beginning of the book he says that his heart already doesn’t stand still when he sees a newspaper announcement about children missing, later in the book it becomes clear that Bridge hasn’t become indifferent and cold-hearted after what has happened to him.  A 12-year old boy’s endured too much, and the memories of that day never let him go, haunting him in his dreams. Perhaps that episode of his childhood left an imprint on his character, made him timid and afraid of speaking up for himself.
The author knows how to hold the reader’s attention and he skillfully uses imagery and different descriptions to convey the feelings and the atmosphere. As you carry on reading the novel, you forget about everything happening around you and engrossed in the book. You feel fear, desperation; you imagine the dull life of the small provincial town and experience every shade of emotions the main character experiences.
It’s a really good read, although some motives of Bridge are not clear to me even after I’ve read the book. Still, it deserves a place on your book shelf!