The aftermath of Harrison’s attempt to murder Isaac is in many ways even more interesting than the runup. The processes of both men’s feelings are laid out in their complexity and simplicity - a literary balancing act that continues to imbue the novel as a whole with class, integrity and vitality. Garner depicts queer characters and situations that in lesser hands would descend into cliché, but in Isaac he offers something that feels new, fresh and thoughtful. Understanding sexuality and feelings, sex and intimacy, friendship and identity is hard for anyone, but Garner’s depiction of Isaac’s particularly queer experience of them resonates powerfully. The protagonist is frequently unlikable but I’ll miss him.