I Saw A Man

This book is a fascinating read from start to finish, it did never let me out of its grip.
The main character Michael is a writer, who landed a success with a non-fiction book about two street kids in New York with the title “Brotherhoods”. He had to do extensive research for it,which was close to living with the brothers. Although the book is a success, it does not change the brothers lives in the way that Michael anticipated and he chooses to leave New York and extricate himself from contact with the brothers after publication. He then lives in London, where he encounters Caroline, a savvy journalist, who has lived in multiple war torn countries of the Middle East and knows how to attract men. They first meet during a journalists gathering and Caroline proceeds to conquer Michael. Their chemistry works instantly and they become a couple, even get married soon.
However not long after they have moved to Wales together, Caroline starts becoming restless and applies to be involved in reporting about events in Pakistan involving English teenagers, but also a well known terrorist. Michael did not feel comfortable in her travelling into the area and his concerns are valid, as Caroline does get killed in the mission.
This brings a further character into play, the American Soldier who conducted this drone attack.
Whilst Michael has to cope with his grief over his wife’s loss, the soldier gets dismissed from the army due to post traumatic stress disorder, he also separates from his wife and children in order to spare them witnessing his distress.
He copes by travelling away and doing hard physical labour.Later he writes to the husband of his victim, Michael, and starts a letter-exchange.
Michael also moves, back to London, into a flat in Hampstead belonging to Peter,Caroline’s journalist colleague, who informed Michael about her death. This flat is not only in prime location right next to the ponds of Hampstead Heath,but also in direct neighbourhood to a well off couple, Samantha andJosh, who engage in an increasingly familiar friendship with Michael. He gets invited to their parties, interacts with their daughters Rachel and Lucy (7 and4), meets the Nelson family soon almost on a daily basis and becomes familiar with Josh’s banker profession and Samantha’s photography career.
This however leads to the next tragedy in the novel:
One day, Michael enters the Nelson’s House but finds the back door open. He suspects an intruder and finds himself drawn to inspecting different rooms, even upstairs, where he has never been before. In going upstairs, he experiences a strong sensation from his deceased wife and later finds a scent in the bathroom reminiscent of Caroline. Suddenly though, there is a sound on the landing and he sees Lucy, the four year old daughter standing there. When she become aware of him, she starts-and Falls down the stairs to her death.
Michael flees the scene instead of calling emergency services.
We then learn that Lucys mother-was on a Spa weekend, her sister on a play date, and the father was out of the house engaged in an affair with a friends wife.
Following this second tragedy, the Nelson family breaks down, the father moves out but becomes suspicious of Michael.
Michael reasons that confessing reality to the police would not help anyone and his penance should be helping Samantha and Rachel, which he tries to do. Samantha surprisingly develops her artistic side and seems to pick up new life following the collapse of her marriage.
The novel ends with confrontation between Michael and Josh,who both feel guilty for not having protected Lucy and-for lying to the police.They settle on Michael leaving Europe instantly and never contacting Josh’s family again-with Michael then returning to New York and writing a long letter to Samantha,which remains unsent.

Very convincing is the inner monologue of Michael, which carries the reader forward.
I found the second death of Lucy a little far fetched, as it was so clearly designed to turn Michael from the bereaved victim only to the also-guilty person who has caused a death.This latter fact however was useful,as no one should just feel superior to guilt.
I missed a bit of guilt feeling in Lucys. Mother, who just blamed the father but was away herself unnecessarily, not minding Lucy.I also doubted that a mother would have such a successful artistic coming-out so short after loosing her daughter, this seemed cold hearted.
Clever,y made was the juxtaposition of Michael andJosh, both being untruthful in different ways.
Overriding in the main characters striving in life is the telling of true stories, also in Caroline’s life.
This book certainly tells a number of very convincing stories, half-truthful or not, and is worth being read, and read all over again !
(Small extra-Plus for me was the location some of the book is set in, as I had the privilege to live in Hampstead and walk on the Heath for a full year of my life)

Such a bad book, absolutely awful. The story took so so long to develop, the 'big event' that happens doesn't happen until OVER half way through the book! And when it did it was just a let down. I'm so disappointed I wasted my money and time on such a bad book.

Very poor story - started off good, but carried on to be drivel, too descriptive. Real coincidence how things happened, absolute rubbish!!
Would not recommend it to anyone