I loved Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers so was delighted to sink into the comforting arms of Shy Creatures by the same author in early September.

This is the story of another affair, between protagonist Helen and her married colleague Gil, who work together at a psychiatric hospital in Croydon. Helen know deep down that the affair is going nowhere, but nevertheless finds herself waiting around for precious weekends with Gil when his wife is away, cooking dinners for him for evenings that get cancelled at the last minute and reflecting that she shouldn’t be putting her life on hold waiting for a divorce that will never come.

Their professional relationship, however, is much more productive, as he tries out unorthodox methods to heal the minds of his patients and she works to draw them out of themselves as their art therapist. This partnership is tested when William Tapping arrives as a patient, aged 37 but mute and childlike, and Helen begins her own sleuthing to find out what happened to him so that she can work out a way to help. William’s story is just as intriguing as Helen’s and as both narratives unfold, William and Helen’s lives will both be positively changed forever.

This was an incredibly enjoyable, interesting and informative read and I’ll definitely be reaching for another Clare Chambers book whenever I want a guaranteed classy novel.