The Cry by Helen FitzGerald

This is a story of grief and guilt – as well as power, manipulation and deceit in relationships – told from the perspective of the two women in Special political Advisor Alistair's life: Joanna and Alexandra.

This is a bleak story on the face of it but what saves it from being unbearably sad is the vein of very black but very funny humour which runs through this book, particularly from acerbic but likeable Alexandra, the spurned ex of Alistair.

This is where the book is notably superior to the BBC TV version. It is Helen FitzGerald’s sharp, witty and often very profane voice that really brings this book alive and makes you want turn the pages. The story is also a bit more linear in the book than the TV version, though I found the TV adaption pretty faithful to the book in all the most important ways (except at the very end). But the TV version, though well acted by the main cast (esp. the eye-openingly good Jemma Coleman in an admirably restrained performance) it suffers from the lack of caustic and downright funny wit that the novel displays throughout.

Now, it may sound ridiculous or even extremely bad taste to praise the humour – however black – in what is an excruciatingly dark and upsetting plot (no spoilers here!). But, trust me, this book is full of it: from foul-mouthed character assassinations to painfully true, razor-sharp analysis on the power games men and women in relationships play with each other.

So, on balance, even if you’ve seen the TV series (which concluded tonight) and enjoyed it, or if you’d like to spend more time with these embattled characters, pick up the book, you’ll really enjoy it. I know I did!

4/5