Reckless, by William Nicholson

I have had a reading jag of William Nicholson recently. Blame it on insomnia and the fatal ease of the daily deal on Kindle.

There is something so seductive about buying a book in seconds at 3am while snuggled up in bed. There is no doubt the debtors' prison may loom large in my life soon if I do not stop.

Reckless is a follow up to Motherland - and, like a fool, I read them out of order. But it does not matter at all.

I resolved to buy them after hearing him speak at the fantastic First Fictions festival at West Dean College in Chichester. He was in conversation with Lizzie Enfield (another fantastic Brighton author, of which we are blessed by a disproportionate amount). He had been on my wish list for a long time and I am so glad I got around to reading him.

Christine Keeler, The Bay of Pigs, Kennedy, and Mountbatten are all slipped in with such ease that you really believe that you are there, listening in on the secrets and whispers.

William Nicholson is concerned with the details of daily lives, and he gets it so right. The spies and rumours spreading around at that time are made only too real.

He was nominated for the infamous Bad Sex Awards for Motherland. But, honestly, I have read a lot worse! Go ahead - and judge for yourselves.