It seems, at first, like an enjoyably innocuous road trip. In a nostalgic echo of previous family holidays, a son is taking his father across the Channel in a battered 80s VW camper van. But quickly, queues for the ferry take on unbearable significance. Is this time wasted or, indeed, time gained? For Louis is driving his terminally ill father to Dignitas.
Let Go My Hand is something of a companion piece to Docx’s Booker-longlisted Self Help, an engaging family drama which took place in the aftermath of a mother’s death. Here, the father becomes the device by which three brothers can explore their own fractured stories and relationships. It feels like a more balanced novel because of it, the poignancy and truthfulness of family life set against some scabrously funny one-liners and quippy conversation. Intelligent and accessible, it’s Docx’s finest achievement thus far.
• Let Go My Hand by Edward Docx is published by Macmillan (£16.99). To order a copy for £12.74 go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99
