Border Crossing

Out walking with his wife, Lauren, beside the river Tyne, Tom Seymour instinctively risks his life to save a young man who they happen to notice just before he jumps into the icy current. Tom's spontaneous act saves the life of someone whose past, as well as his future, he feels a sense of responsibility towards. Recently released from prison, and living under an assumed name, Danny Miller was tried for murder as a ten-year-old on the basis of Tom's testimony, and assessment of him as a psychologist and an expert witness. When Danny asks Tom to help him sort out his lifebeginning with his pastTom is drawn into a lonely, soul-searching reinvestigation of the child murderer's case. An unflinching novel on the nature of evil from the Booker Prize-winning and Women's Prize-shortlisted author of The Silence of the Girls ' Rich, surprising, breathtaking' The Times 'A tremendous piece of writing, sad and terrifying. It keeps you reading, exhausted and blurry-eyed, until 2am ' Independent on Sunday 'Barker probes not only the mysteries of 'evil' but society's horrified and incoherent response to it' Guardian 'Brilliantly crafted. Unflinching yet sensitive, this is a dark story expertly told' Daily Mail When Tom Seymour, a child psychologist, plunges into a river to save a young man from drowning, he unwittingly reopens a chapter from his past he'd hoped to forget. For Tom already knows Danny Miller. When Danny was ten Tom helped imprison him for the killing of an old woman. Now out of prison with a new identity, Danny has some questions - questions he thinks only Tom can answer. Reluctantly, Tom is drawn back into Danny's world - a place where the border between good and evil, innocence and guilt is blurred and confused. But when Danny's demands on Tom become extreme, Tom wonders whether he has crossed a line of his own - and in crossing it, can he ever go back? Border Crossing Is Pat Barker's Unflinching Novel Of Darkness, Evil And Society. When Tom Seymour, A Child Psychologist, Plunges Into A River To Save A Young Man From Drowning, He Unwittingly Reopens A Chapter From His Past He'd Hoped To Forget. For Tom Already Knows Danny Miller. When Danny Was Ten Tom Helped Imprison Him For The Killing Of An Old Woman. Now Out Of Prison With A New Identity, Danny Has Some Questions - Questions He Thinks Only Tom Can Answer. Reluctantly, Tom Is Drawn Back Into Danny's World - A Place Where The Border Between Good And Evil, Innocence And Guilt Is Blurred And Confused. But When Danny's Demands On Tom Become Extreme, Tom Wonders Whether He Has Crossed A Line Of His Own - And In Crossing It, Can He Ever Go Back? 'brilliantly Crafted. Unflinching Yet Sensitive, This Is A Dark Story Expertly Told' Daily Mail 'a Tremendous Piece Of Writing, Sad And Terrifying. It Keeps You Reading, Exhausted And Blurry-eyed, Until 2am' Independent On Sunday 'resolutely Unsensational But Disquieting . . . Barker Probes Not Only The Mysteries Of 'evil' But Society's Horrified And Incoherent Response To It' Guardian 'rich, Challenging, Surprising, Breathtaking' The Times Tom Seymour is a child psychiatrist who has worked in the north of England for many years. One day, while walking by the river, he rescues a young man from drowning, and realizes it's a child murderer at whose trial he gave flawed evidence