It's become a cliché among many of the kinds of people who comment on these kinds of things that Rupert Thomson's novels are all wildly different, underrated and/or unjustly ignored. Perhaps the attention-grabbing title of How to Make a Bomb is an attempt to counter this. Although better than the unhelpful US title (Dartmouth Park), it's also rather misleading, as this is a characteristically subtle, thoughtful book, which brings together something resembling a mid-life crisis with the wider crises we face as a species and a planet. Like many of Thomson's novels it travels well, from Norway to London via Cádiz and Crete, as the central figure, Philip Notman (the name is significant) attempts to make sense of the sudden, and literal, nausea ("civilisation sickness" as it is known in Japan) which he feels at the world. As ever with Thomson, there is wisdom, humour and insight here and the form of the novel - made up of fairly short sentences separated into paragraphs without full stops - reflects and powerfully conveys Philip's disorientation and hesitations. Another very good novel from Thomson, which ought to receive the attention and praise all his work deserves.

First published in the US under the title Dartmouth Park, it has been given a much more provocative title here in the UK. Rupert Thomson has been working for a long time now - this is his 14th novel - and though he has been on my radar for some time, this is my first taste of his work.

Written in the style of an epic poem - with shades of Nobel Laureate of 2023 Jon Fosse's style in his Septology (I read that work a month before this so the echoes may be more pronounced in my mind). It is a distinct style that you have to accept and settle in with if you're to get along with this book. This is not a criticism, and shouldn't be taken as off-putting, because it isn't, it's just a little more unique.

I read the novel over two sittings, and found it very immersive, fascinating and brilliant at times. It is the story of a mid-life crisis of an academic - Philip Notman - and the things that happen to him, distract him and send him off into the world. The story then isn't unique, we've read this a dozen or more times before - but it is in the presentation, and Thomson's style here is what makes the novel bring dividends.

It is also a novel which has made me keen to try more of his back catalogue, so I would call this a success.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.