Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. James is on the sleeper train to Edinburgh, where he sends a text to all 158 contacts in his phone , telling them of his intention to end his life, then switches on flight mode. What could be a very sad, depressing book is actually a very uplifting story of how the people in James’ life rally round and support one another through their attempts to find him in time. It’s interesting to realise that everyone touches and impacts on someone else’s life, however fleeting the contact may have been. The characters have depth and warmth to them, I felt a real connection with James and the issues he faced. This is the third Mark Watson book I have read and it was brilliant, well plotted and thought provoking.

Contacts is a brave, original, storyline with a quirky cast of characters and one that will surprise you with its humour. James Chiltern is embarking on his final journey, uncomfortably holed up in a cell like cabin on the London to Edinburgh sleeper train. All that remains to be done is to send a last message to all his 158 contacts in his phone informing them of his intentions to take his own life. With the deed done, his message flying off into the ether, James switches his phone to flight mode to avoid any unwanted replies and begins to mentally prepare himself for his last hours on this planet. Beer and biscuits form his last meal, the calories no longer of any consequence. Yes, ok, I know it sounds grim, not the kind of scenario that lends itself to being funny BUT if you approach this novel with positivity then you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise. The main character James is easy to engage with as our the rest of the cast comprising estranged sister Sal, ex girlfriend Michaela, former best friend Karl, flat mate Steffi, his mum Jean and train stewardess Gina. Edinburgh holds a special place in James’s heart, a place he visited regularly with his father Alan, prior to his death. Recently sacked from his job in the ticket office at Euston station, this former coder is meticulously planning his death. His friendship with fellow techie turned taxi entrepreneur Karl has ended, his girlfriend Michaela has dumped him in favour of Berlin gallery owner Phillip and his once close relationship with sister Sally has long since expired. Over the course of the night James matter of factly replays significant events in his life as his message reaches his nearest and dearest. How they respond to this most dramatic of announcements is up to the reader to discover but I can guarantee it will restore your faith in humanity and friendships and the kindness of strangers. I applaud the author for tackling a traumatic emotive subject, one that people naturally shy away from, without allowing the storyline to become maudlin or mawkish in any way. It will not turn you into a blubbering mess; instead you’ll find yourself chuckling along with these characters as they account for the significant roles they’ve played in this man’s life. As James takes his own trip down memory lane, he materialises into a character shaped by his kindness and his love for his father rather than as an overweight unemployed unlucky in love man with a propensity to sweat! It is a thought provoking narrative sugar coated in humour that dare I say I found enjoyable and highly readable. In my opinion there’s no way of avoiding a moment or two of self reflection as you turn the pages contemplating your own amount of human contact and the value these interactions hold. But what happens when loneliness and isolation become the norm? It’s worth noting that it doesn’t require any one momentous event to bring an individual to the same decision our protagonist James has made. In his own words..”You didn’t need a big grand reason to do it. You just had to have run out of ideas, as a human, and be brave enough to admit it.” This poignant statement, for whatever reason really struck a chord with me, a weary acceptance that he’s come to the end of a long travelled road, all avenues apparently exhausted. Without becoming too deep or analytical this is a storyline about communication on all levels, meaningful or otherwise. It reflects a society where human contact is severely lacking for many, lives instead lived online in a virtual reality, loneliness a common problem. By nature we are social creatures who require human contact for the sake of our mental wellbeing yet we are now living in a climate where we have little control over our ability/desire to nurture our friendships or embark on new relationships. It’s impossible to ignore the paradoxical nature of mobile phones and modern technology that can both increase self inflicted isolation or else provide our only means of communicating with a world that to all intents and purposes has temporarily shut down. The irony is that in this storyline mobile phone technology can be instrumental and invaluable in connecting both loved ones and strangers, across continents, uniting them in a common cause, whilst James himself feels disconnected from his fellow human beings. That they all read James’s last message with concern and alarm, galvanising them into action is the most heartwarming aspect of this novel. I have to say I loved some of these characters with their ability to make me smile and laugh and feel sadness all at the same time. Steffi and her interactions with fellow restaurant colleague Emil are hilarious and Jean is the classic older generation figure struggling to understand how to even text or send an email which very much reminded me of my own mother! Michaela is as quirky a character as her ex but their relationship, until it ends is quite touching, her presence in James’s life a life raft in a sea of uncertainty. Setting aside the serious nature of this novel I think it’s a witty well constructed storyline with a lead character that’s hard to forget. Ending with an unexpected sting in the tail, there was at least one other character I’d have liked to get to know better but that much is still left unresolved is an apt way to conclude this honest journey through one man’s darkest hours. For all the reasons stated above this was a 5 star read and one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This book hits you hard. James sends a text to the 158 contacts in his phone to say goodbye as he travels on an overnight sleeper train to the place he plans to end his life. This is an important, eye opening, emotional story. The premise is so simple but the lasting impact is huge. Suicide is the most common cause of death in males between the ages of 20-49 in the UK. In 2020, the rate has increased to its highest point for over two decades! The story follows the reactions of the recipients and James' journey up North. We follow his best friend (also his ex boss), his ex girlfriend, his flat mate, his sister and his Mum. They are all dealing with their own situations and thinking through how their relationship with James could have led to this point. They all work in their own ways to frantically reach him, each regretting their past behaviour. A number of recipients of the text assume someone "closer to James" will save him. We cannot assume this, all of our interactions with other people are important and we need to be aware of the impact we can have on them. What may be a throwaway remark in our day, could mean we cause someone else anxiety and pain for days, weeks or longer. A popular quote came to me as I was reading (and crying!) at points in this story. "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be Kind. Always." A fantastic read by Mark Watson. Sensitively dealing with a tremendously difficult subject and will hopefully change the behaviour of at least some of those who read it. It has certainly made me more cogniscent of my own behaviour and attitudes. This book was released in the UK on 29th October 2020.

Thank you to the publishers for sending me a proof copy of this book. I really enjoyed this book however as a warning I will say it may contain triggers for some people. A truly honest look at suicide, mental health and the what ifs. I loved how this story unfurled not only from James the protagonist of this tales point of view but from all the characters. Without giving too much away the side stories with two specific characters were vitally important in showing the progression of James’ downward spiral. I thought this was a fantastic read, and touched on very strong issues. Given the author, there was of course a smattering of humour but it was done in a very tasteful way.

A fascinating novel written and read by the author, Mark Watson. James Chiltern, heart of gold, rather overweight, estranged from his sister, jobless, lonely, feeling friendless, finally decides that enough is enough. He sets off on the overnight sleeper to Edinburgh, a city with both happy and sad memories, accompanied only by a picnic of two pork pies, a packet of chocolate digestives and some beer. He sends a group text to all his phone contacts telling them that he is going to end his life. What happens to him and all his contacts is a beautiful novel. It's laugh out loud funny in one breath and deeply poignant in the next. To be honest, when I read the blurb, I wasn't totally convinced that I would enjoy Contacts, but I am so very glad that I chose it, it is a real tale for our times. A real life affirming story and comes very highly recommended.