Amanda Craig's 10th novel, High and Low, presents a state-of-the-nation satire set in the fictional north London suburb of Prospect Park. The story unfolds on the 12th day of Christmas, as protesters and counter-protesters gather outside a hotel housing asylum seekers. Nearby, a man has been stabbed, and thugs search for the teenage boy they believe is responsible.
The narrative centres on a book-lined cafe, where regulars—a motley crew of writers—are joined by workers from a neighbouring bakery. Trainee barrister Xan stops in before viewing a flat, and the bleeding boy the thugs are hunting arrives at the back door. The group faces a dilemma: hand him over or stand up to the criminals. Newspaper editor turned thriller writer Ivo dubs it 'the siege of Cross Street'.
Craig revisits characters from her earlier works, including Xan from The Lie of the Land (2017) and Ivo from A Vicious Circle (1996), which High and Low is described as a sequel to. The ensemble cast complains about crumbling infrastructure, soaring rents, riots, and doctors' strikes, while some rage at refugees and others hear racism as a growing 'mosquito whine'.
The novel blends state-of-the-nation commentary, literary satire, and siege drama, focusing on the haves of leafy Prospect Square and the have-nots of the Cross Estate. Smaller crises—wrangles over wildflower planters, potholes, and petty crime—underscore the larger tensions. Patchy mobile service and delayed emergency services force the characters to find shared purpose, building makeshift barricades and rediscovering community ties.
While the novel's slow start and lack of insight into the thugs and rioters are drawbacks, the tension builds effectively towards a concluding standoff that feels somewhat neat. Nonetheless, High and Low offers a flawed but involving portrait of local pride and pragmatism under pressure, showcasing Craig's addictive fascination with the stories we carry.
