THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NIGHT BY ADAM HAMDY
Hardback published by Macmillan 15th September 2022
ISBN 9781529088137
Pages 352
When you open your mind, the possibilities are endless.
This is what established and clever novelist Adam Hamdy has done with this ambitious and ground-breaking new novel, which explores our place in the universe, life-changing and life-affirming concepts and guarantees to leave you thinking and wondering on the possibilities of love and sacrifice.
What would you give for one moment with someone you love?
This is David Asha’s story, and that of his son, his wife and also, his best friend.
You may think you know what this story is, but it is more, much more.
It is a story of love and loss, lies and suspicion, secrets and history.
A story about loving family torn apart by tragedy, which leaves a child completely alone and the repercussions of actions which haunt the past and present, but also the future.
Which echoes of Matt Haig and other genre–defying novelist, Adam Hamdy takes us on an exploration of love, sacrifice and endless possibilities.
What the story is about
David Asha wants to tell you a story about three people:
Elliott Asha, his son, broken by a loss that will redeem him.
Ben Elmys, a surrogate father and David’s trusted friend, a man who might also be a murderer.
Harriet Kealty, a retired detective searching for answers to three mysterious deaths, while also investigating a man who might turn out to be the love of her life.
Every word David tells you is true, but you will think it fiction . .
MY THOUGHTS
I absolutely love fiction books that have a court case hearing set within the story. I was amazed at how author Adam Hamdy have everything right within this court case, specially in how when one QC objects to how a question is being asked by another QC.
Extract from the court report of RV. Elmys
ROGER SUMPION QC for the Crown Prosecution Service
Ms Hardcastle, you run Sunshine Start, is that correct?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
Yes.
ROGER SUMPION QC
Could you describe what you do?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
We provide temporary care for children until they can be placed with a foster family or adopted.
ROGER SUMPTION QC
Can you explain how you first encountered the defendant?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
Mr Elmys was going to adopt Elliott Asha. Well he did, but when I first met him, he was still going through legal formalities.
ROGER SUMPTION QC
I believe you told the police there was something odd about Mr Elmys’s behaviour on the day he came to collect Elliott.
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
Yes.
ROGER SUMPTION QC
can you elaborate? Tell us about it for the benefit of the jury.
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
It was August. I remember because we were planning our annual sunshine holiday. It’s a little treat we give the children at the end of every summer, sort of to make up for them not going away like they might if they were with family. I was sad Elliott was leaving us and missing it, but pleased he had a new home. Well, an old home.
ROGER SUMPTION QC
Can you explain?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
David and Elizabeth Asha made Mr Elmys trustee of their estate and Elliott’s guardian. Elliott was going back to the family home to live with Mr Elmys.
ROGER SUMPTION QC
And how did he seem to you that day?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
Elliott? He was sad. At least to begin with.
ROGER SUMPTION QC
And Mr Elmays?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
I, well we met in my office. I like to give new guardians the opportunity to ask questions while I’m doing final checks.
ROGER SUMPTION QC
Did Mr Elmys ask any questions?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE No. He just watched me going over the paperwork. He seemed distracted.
GRACE OYEWOLE QC for the defendant
My Lord, as someone might be if they were suddenly responsible for a child.
HIS HONOUR JUDGE THOMAS Indeed.
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
That’s true. A lot of people who adopt struggle with the responsibility. But this was very different. Am I, I mean, I hope it’s not untoward or anything, but Mr Elmys seemed troubled.
GRACE OYEWOLE QC for the defendant
My Lord.
JUDGE THOMAS
Please keep your recollection of events, Mrs Hardcastle. You’re not qualified to give options on Mr Elmys frame of mind.
ROGER SUMPTION QC
What happened then?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
I asked Mr Elmys to stay in the welcome room. It’s a play space we use to acclimatize children to their new families. I left him there and went to fetch Elliott, who was with Stephanie Cliffe, one of our counsellors. She was observing him interact with other children. Or rather not interact. His parents deaths had hit him hard. Is it ok to say that? I mean it’s my opinion, but it’s based on decades of working with children.
He was sitting apart, like he did every day, staring out of the window at the old oak tree that grows just beside the residential wing. Whenever I’d ask him what he was doing, why he was daydreaming rather than playing, he’d say he was counting souls. Each leaf was a person. One day they’d start to fall, and by winter they’d all be gone. I thought it was a very strange way for a ten-year-old child to look at the world.
Anyway I found him by the window, and Steph and I took him to the welcome room. It was very distressing.
ROGER SUMPION QC
Why?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
He was crying. Fighting with us both. We don’t use physical restraint at Sunshine, but this was as close as I’d ever come to having to do so.
ROGER SUMPION QC
Would you say he was afraid of Mr Elmys?
GRACE OYEWOLE QC
I hesitate to rise, but my learned friend knows the rules. Can I ask that he sticks to them so that I do not have to address My Lord further?
ROGER SUMPION QC
Then I will ask a different question. Did you get Elliott to the welcome room?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
Yes.
ROGER SUMPION QC
What happened then?
ELAINE HARDCASTLE
He ran away from us and went into the corner. He was very upset. He sat with his back to us, but I think he was crying. I asked him to come and say hello to Mr Elmys, but he ignored me. I reminded him Mr Elmys was one of his parent’s oldest friends. ‘They wouldn’t have left you in this care if they didn’t think he was a good man,’ I told him, but he stayed put.
ROGER SUMPTION QC
What did you do?
About author Adam Hamdy
I’m a Sunday Times and international bestselling author and screenwriter.
I write topical, thought-provoking novels that aim to entertain, and I love lived research, so the events in my books are often inspired by real events.
Before I became a professional writer I was a strategy consultant and advised global businesses in a variety of sectors. I co-founded Capital Crime and am now on the advisory board. I’m also on the board of ITW. I enjoy rock climbing, skiing, sailing and competitive shooting.
I live in Mauritius with my wife and our three children.
Website
Bookread2day 
I like a good court scene in a book!
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