In the city, hard-working, Jack Penwick learns to his shock and horror that his employers, Hugo and Hugh are selling their company with no warning, so it’s game over. How has he not seen this coming? On the common, reflecting on what to do, an injured fox moves towards him, his eyes pleading for help. Jack rings an animal charity, it’s collected and then ……you’ll have to read it to find out!! This is just the start as within Jack’s family things start to fall apart.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Bobby Palmer is a wordsmith genius, he’s so creative, and what’s more he gets you to buy into whatever his fertile imagination has conjured up. I couldn’t see how he could top the wonderful “Isaac and The Egg” but he has in this touching, moving, emotionally charged second novel. He takes us on a wonderful journey from The City, to The Country, where his parents live in an eccentric tumbledown house “Mole End “ and then into The Wild and what a journey it is. Along the route to the poignant ending, there are sections that are so beautifully lyrical that they are almost poetry. His words have a way of finding their way into your heart, there is such empathy and it’s often tinged with gentle humour.

There are so many elements I could comment on. Some of the most touching parts of the book come from his father Gerry who has an unnamed dementia. How his confused memories and present day thoughts are described is so moving with perfectly apt and appropriate descriptions. These sections especially pierce my heart as my father had Alzheimer’s, and it makes me feel almost as if Gerry and my dad are talking to me helping me to understand.

What of the fox? I love the fox and Jack parts, he really is Fantastic Mr Fox. I will say little about this as it’s magical, symbolic with the joy and sorrow of this best discovered for yourself. We meet a whole range of creatures in this novel which perfectly highlights situations and often signals danger.

As for the characters, they are portrayed with such understanding and sensitivity. You view Gerry, his wife, Hazel when young with their love, hopes, dreams and adventures. You appreciate how different and difficult their relationships are with their children and so you grow to understand why Jack is as he is. These are complex and complicated relationships as understandable facades are built. However, this is about a search for identity, for what is lost, can it be refound and healed??

Wow, what a book. I cannot praise it highly enough and if it’s not a best seller, then they’re truly is no justice in the world. Thank you so much Bobby, I loved it.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Over the course of a few hours, Jack's carefully-built life starts to fall apart. First, Jack loses his job, and with it all sense of who he is as a person; then he encounters a talking fox, surely a sign that he is losing his mind; and, to top it all off, his sister calls to summon him home, a place he has been avoiding for much of the last fifteen years. But instead of coming at the worst possible time, perhaps the call to come home, to the father whose mind is not as clear as it once was, the sister who is tired of waiting for her own life to begin, and the mother who is not there at all, actually comes just when Jack needs it the most.

Much like Bobby Palmer's debut, Isaac and the Egg, which I also loved, Small Hours is so much more than its blurb can contain. Jack is the main character of this book, and his story is a relatable and realistic one, of the boy who grew up desperate to get away from home, and of the man who thought he had his life all planned out, but it is also interwoven with something quite magical. And the book alternates its focus between different characters, giving each the chance to become a vividly created person - the woman who feels motherhood has turned her into someone she doesn't recognise, the man whose own experiences have led him to struggle in fatherhood. Small Hours contains so much within its pages, but it retains a tight focus that means it never becomes bloated or confusing.

Books that play around with structure don't always work for me, but I loved the way Small Hours was written, with some characters' stories being told in slightly different ways. Each style seemed to suit the character perfectly, and I especially loved the way Palmer captured the thoughts slipping through and out of Jack's father's mind. Small Hours is one of those rare books that you want to devour, because the story is so engaging, and to savour, because the writing is so beautiful. I wasn't convinced that Bobby Palmer would be able to live up to his debut, but I am delighted that he has.

I normally end a review of a 5 star book by saying that I would recommend it to everyone. This is not one of those books, this is not for everyone and I think I could understand why some people may not enjoy this (I mean, it has a talking fox and they're definitely not for everyone).

I adored Isaac and the egg and was super keen to read this one and I enjoyed it as much, if not more, than his debut. As someone who had a complex relationship with his father (before he passed) this really hit home with me in a way I didn't envisage.

Loved it and hope you will too.

Oh my goodness this book is truly gorgeous I didn’t think much could be as good as Isaac and the egg but Bobby palmer really has done it again with this lovely book

So I’m nearly into the last month of 2023 reading and here comes a book which shows me precisely how you can never write your list of top 2023 Read’s until the year has actually ended. This book is definitely going to be on it, I really adored it
I loved the book right from the beginning, the talking Fox really got my attention has he really spoken surely not ? I had read and adored the authors previous novel, Isaac and the egg and the author uses the same method of introducing you to the human characters thoughts and feelings by showing you the way they interact with an inanimate, object or animal. In Isaac and the egg It was the egg in this novel It is a feral Fox which appears to be able to talk to 2 of the main characters. They are able to admit their deepest fears and feelings to the Fox. When both characters in reality are men of so few words that they might have been autistic to share their feelings with their family member

The novel by focusing on an elderly man who is gradually losing his memory, to an unnamed dementia, and his son, who is struggling with the world of high finance and city, living allows us to see how both characters issues affect the other ultimately the novel provides a beautifully accurate description of dementia in an elderly person and of its affect on their family .
I found myself in tears at several points as I read the book . Although the subject matter is sad it ends up still feeling, optimistic and hopeful
I love the authors writing style, it’s flows easily and is on occasions deeply poetic .
I would strongly recommend this book to my friends. If you enjoyed Isaac and the eggs, then you would love this one too, if you loved books like Greif is a thing with feathers by Max Porter and a Ellie and the harpmaker by Hazel Prior or a little hope, by Ethan joella then I think you would love this book
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley, UK The novel is published in the UK on the 14th of March 2024 by Headline books Headline review
This review will appear on NetGalley, UK, good reads, and my book blog bionicSarahsbooks.Wordpress.com after publication, it will also appear on Amazon, UK

‘A far smaller, infinitely more massive life.’

Bobby Palmer’s writing has spaces in which to breathe, to slow down, and to appreciate the insights he has into life itself.

This book is even better than his first. It sets aside all the striving that humans do, to concentrate on what lasts, season by season and day by day.

I loved it.

Oh my, what a wonderful story. The story of a father and son unable to connect and a talking fox!
Keep a few tissues near by.

"Small Hours" by Bobby Palmer is a captivating exploration of family dynamics, self-discovery, and the intricate web of connections that shape our lives. Palmer, known for his critically acclaimed debut "Isaac and the Egg," delivers another poignant narrative that skilfully weaves together the complexities of human relationships.

The story unfolds against the backdrop of a wild and mysterious place, where a father, a son, and a fox stand at the heart of a tale that is both emotionally charged and beautifully nuanced. Jack's return from the city sets the stage for a powerful examination of the father-son dynamic, with palpable tension between them. The narrative skilfully navigates the delicate balance between the desire to be different and the persistent echoes of familial influence.

Palmer's prose, exemplified by the evocative description of standing before sunrise in the garden, draws readers into a world where emotions are keenly felt, and every moment is pregnant with meaning. The presence of a fox as a symbolic figure adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, hinting at the untamed and unpredictable nature of the relationships at the story's core.

The characters, particularly Jack and Gerry, are portrayed with depth and authenticity. Their internal struggles and the evolution of their identities create a compelling narrative arc. The exploration of memory and the realization that neither character is exactly as the other remembers adds a layer of mystery, inviting readers to piece together the puzzle of their shared history.

The central theme of connection and belonging resonates throughout the novel, reminding readers of the profound impact that relationships have on our sense of self and place in the world. The small hours become a metaphor for the moments that define us, and the narrative encourages readers to appreciate the beauty and significance of those fleeting moments.

"Small Hours" is not just a story; it's an invitation to reflect on the intricacies of the human experience. Palmer's ability to craft a narrative that is both emotionally rich and intellectually engaging solidifies his place as a master storyteller. This novel is a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the profound truths that shape our lives.