Thorpe's tautly structured novel opens with an electrifying scene, the full significance of which becomes clear only towards the end. The narrative proper then begins. It is 1999, and the narrator, Jack Middleton, an up-and-coming composer of so far limited success, travels to Estonia - birthplace of his mentor, Arvo Pärt - in search of inspiration for a work to be performed as part of London's millennium celebrations.

In Tallin, Jack meets Kaja, a beautiful waitress, with whom he enjoys a brief but passionate affair. This is complicated by the fact that Jack is married, and that his wife, Milly, whose wealth has made it possible for him to pursue his career without the pressure of having to work, is expecting their first child. The story moves on six years, and it is all too apparent that Jack and Milly's marriage is under strain - partly because of Jack's failure to fulfil his creative potential. But there are other reasons for bitterness on both sides...

Then Kaja turns up with her young son, and Jack is forced to confront long-buried memories. The question is; which choice will he make now? The edgy atmosphere of London following the 2005 bombings is sharply conveyed as a backdrop to the closing stages of this tale of bad faith and betrayal. Equally convincing - and funny - is the author's rendering of the world of modern classical music, with its petty rivalries and point-scoring.

Between Each Breath by Adam Thorpe
Vintage, £7.99 Buy the book here

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