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The Man on the Middle Floor
Lionel Shriver meets Mark Haddon in this break-out debut.
Despite living in the same three-flat house in the suburbs of London, the residents are strangers to one another. The bottom floor is home to Tam, a recent ex-cop who spends his days drowning his sorrows in whisky. On the middle floor is Nick, a young man with Asperger's who likes to stick to his schedules and routines. The top floor belongs to Karen, a doctor and researcher who has spent her life trying to understand the rising rates of autism. They have lived their lives separately, until now, when an unsolved murder and the man on the middle floor connect them all together. Told from three points of view, The Man on the Middle Floor is about disconnection in all its forms; sexual, physical, parental and emotional. It questions whether society is meeting the needs of the fast growing autistic section of society, or exacerbating it.
Thought-provoking and thrilling, The Man on the Middle Floor will leave readers talking.
Despite living in the same three-flat house in the suburbs of London, the residents are strangers to one another. The bottom floor is home to Tam, a recent ex-cop who spends his days drowning his sorrows in whisky. On the middle floor is Nick, a young man with Asperger's who likes to stick to his schedules and routines. The top floor belongs to Karen, a doctor and researcher who has spent her life trying to understand the rising rates of autism. They have lived their lives separately, until now, when an unsolved murder and the man on the middle floor connect them all together. Told from three points of view, The Man on the Middle Floor is about disconnection in all its forms; sexual, physical, parental and emotional. It questions whether society is meeting the needs of the fast growing autistic section of society, or exacerbating it.
Thought-provoking and thrilling, The Man on the Middle Floor will leave readers talking.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
25 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth S. Moore
1 book18 followersElizabeth S. Moore has worked as a journalist since she won the Decanter Young Wine Writer of the Year at seventeen. She has written columns and articles on restaurants, politics, South Africa and all things foodie. She comes from a family that has given her a lot of writing material and is currently finishing her second book, having written the first after completing the Faber Write a Novel course and being approached by fourteen agents after reading an excerpt of her novel to industry professionals. Elizabeth lives in London with her South African husband and has three daughters and a son as well as two lazy Labradors.
Find out more at www.elizabethsmoore.com
Find out more at www.elizabethsmoore.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
January 22, 2019
I have really mixed opinions about this book. I thought the premise sounded really fun, and there was a lot of potential for this book to be great in one of a few different ways. Unfortunately, though, a lot of the book just felt like it was trying too hard.
I had hoped for the subtle threads of each character's story to be deftly woven into a story that was touching and maybe a bit surprising or a bit of a mystery. What I got, though, was a story that introduced three of the most unlikable characters I've read in a long time.
There were brief moments when I almost liked each of the characters, and moments when I wanted to root for them to come out of it all okay. But those moments were far too short-lived and I spent most of the book either not caring about any of them, or else almost perversely hoping they'd all get smucked by a train or something.
A big part of the problem is that the story tried so hard to be shocking, especially in the first third or so of the book, that there were scenes that would be very off-putting to many readers. I don't think all of the shocking events were actually necessary and/or they could have been written in slightly different ways to make them (and the characters involved) less repulsive. Most odd of all, is that for all the shocks throughout, the book ends a bit too neatly, with everything tied up with a pretty bow.
My final verdict is that I didn't hate this book, but I also surely didn't love it. I struggle to think of anyone I would suggest should read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and RedDoor Publishing for providing me with a DRC of this book.
I had hoped for the subtle threads of each character's story to be deftly woven into a story that was touching and maybe a bit surprising or a bit of a mystery. What I got, though, was a story that introduced three of the most unlikable characters I've read in a long time.
There were brief moments when I almost liked each of the characters, and moments when I wanted to root for them to come out of it all okay. But those moments were far too short-lived and I spent most of the book either not caring about any of them, or else almost perversely hoping they'd all get smucked by a train or something.
A big part of the problem is that the story tried so hard to be shocking, especially in the first third or so of the book, that there were scenes that would be very off-putting to many readers. I don't think all of the shocking events were actually necessary and/or they could have been written in slightly different ways to make them (and the characters involved) less repulsive. Most odd of all, is that for all the shocks throughout, the book ends a bit too neatly, with everything tied up with a pretty bow.
My final verdict is that I didn't hate this book, but I also surely didn't love it. I struggle to think of anyone I would suggest should read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and RedDoor Publishing for providing me with a DRC of this book.
January 25, 2019
As of today, this novel by Elizabeth Moore that was recently released this month is the most offensive novel I've read. Nick, one of the characters has Asperger Syndrome and he was described as violent and horny also; being depicted like that is quite displeasing and those who are not aware of AS may be prejudged with those kinds of behaviors. I knew nothing of AS even before I've read this, but thankfully I have a sister who is in the medical field so I was able to ask her if what this novel's portrayal with AS is accurate.
The author should have done thorough research on the subject of AS; it is not only a sensitive issue but some people, who are not open-minded, would only believe what they read; not bothering to explore beyond what they've just read.
The other two characters, Tam and Karen, are both annoying especially the latter. She's a career woman but she neglects her duty and responsibilities as a mother to her three children. Women who still continue to work even if they have children should be applauded but Karen's case is different; she is egoistic and a workaholic that she fails or forgets that she's also a mother. Reading her points of view in the story are quite irksome because she only sees the small picture where she is and not the bigger one where her family is included; a self-centered person that I suppose the least favorite character in this book.
As for Tam, I think his character would be the most likable one among them. Several readers could be able to relate to his predicament in his work but I found his way of dealing with it really bothersome also. Despite that, I still think that he is the most sensible and reasonable character that the author was able to create.
Overall, it is an "okay" book; not good neither that bad. I was contemplating giving this three stars but I remove one star because I thought that this is not that worthy to be read again in the future.
The author should have done thorough research on the subject of AS; it is not only a sensitive issue but some people, who are not open-minded, would only believe what they read; not bothering to explore beyond what they've just read.
The other two characters, Tam and Karen, are both annoying especially the latter. She's a career woman but she neglects her duty and responsibilities as a mother to her three children. Women who still continue to work even if they have children should be applauded but Karen's case is different; she is egoistic and a workaholic that she fails or forgets that she's also a mother. Reading her points of view in the story are quite irksome because she only sees the small picture where she is and not the bigger one where her family is included; a self-centered person that I suppose the least favorite character in this book.
As for Tam, I think his character would be the most likable one among them. Several readers could be able to relate to his predicament in his work but I found his way of dealing with it really bothersome also. Despite that, I still think that he is the most sensible and reasonable character that the author was able to create.
Overall, it is an "okay" book; not good neither that bad. I was contemplating giving this three stars but I remove one star because I thought that this is not that worthy to be read again in the future.
July 14, 2018
The Man on the Middle Floor by Elizabeth S Moore is touted as a psychological thriller. The cast of characters are ready with their mighty woes but the forced story line fails them. The three characters who live on three separate floors of a South London house have problems of autism, dysfunctional family life, job failure and divorce.
Unfortunately stereotypes turn the characters into shallow unbelievable people. A frenetic pace set for the story line creates many inconsistencies. At times the story takes on an almost comedic tone instead of a psychological thriller.
I struggled to write a review of this book because in theory this book had so much potential I found myself wondering why the author relied on too many stereotypes which resulted in shallow and unlikeable characters starring in a low budget story.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley. It did not influence my review of this book.
#netgalley #TheManontheMiddleFloor
Unfortunately stereotypes turn the characters into shallow unbelievable people. A frenetic pace set for the story line creates many inconsistencies. At times the story takes on an almost comedic tone instead of a psychological thriller.
I struggled to write a review of this book because in theory this book had so much potential I found myself wondering why the author relied on too many stereotypes which resulted in shallow and unlikeable characters starring in a low budget story.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley. It did not influence my review of this book.
#netgalley #TheManontheMiddleFloor
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April 23, 2018My opinion only, as with all reviews the words come from the reader, myself.
I’m discussing this in comments and there are some spoilers so please if you don’t want to know things don’t read the discussion until finished.
Please note! Not my final review but these comments won’t fit in the update progress box. I’m halfway through this book that’s really got me geared up. Not to mention upset. There is extreme cruelty inflicted on a kitten in this book that made me feel sick.
I’m so mad. There are multitudes of total inaccuracies all through this book about Aspergers and Autism. I’m making so many notes. As a woman with Aspergers I’m mortified that this book will have those that know no better thinking of adults with Aspergers in such a terribly wrong light.
We’ve campaigned for years for awareness and tearing down of stereotypes and this book just poops all over that. I know the Aspie community I’m part of (I run the largest Facebook group for Aspies in the UK) would be so angry with this book. Expect a long detailed review once finished and I can remove my own emotions from it.
There are scenes in this book that make me want to shout out in public the words “this is not how we are, these facts are incorrect”. If I had been a beta reader I could of helped this author so much with facts. It screams out a lack of research.
I’ve read very good novels where Aspergers adults are portrayed accurately- Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer and The Spider in the Room series by Nikki Owen. I’ve absolutely got to write maybe my most detailed review ever. Why am I fired up? I know the pain in the autistic community when they are stereotyped and portrayed so terribly wrong.
Scenes in this are also very disturbing. I feel sick thinking those that know no Aspie adults would believe we are like the character in this book. Even more annoying is how the so-called expert scientist in Autism quotes completely outdated stats and incorrect details about Aspergers. Stuff that good internet research or discussions with Autism experts or us Aspergians would have corrected. So it’s total fabrication - BUT it could be what a non-aware reader takes away as real.
I’m so sad and somewhat angry. I’ll get my full review done when I’m finished. I’m doing my best to be objective and I’ve praised good books with Aspergers characters but this? I’m speechless.
The autistic community including parents and professionals will cringe at the inaccuracies in this. I’ve got qualifications in Aspergers, have worked within the Autism field, have a son with Aspergers, advocate and run groups for Aspies and I’m a proud 46 year old Aspergers woman. Just so you know I’m not just getting worked up over nothing. This book puts Autism knowledge and understanding back about 40 years.
Please see my reviews of Shtum! The Spider in the Room by Nikki Owen and Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer to see how I positively review books with autistic characters in whom I feel have been portrayed with respect and reflects truth. Oh! And read Stim by Kevin Berry! Awesome novel about a young man with Aspergers and his life and relationships. It’s followed by a sequel featuring his Aspergers girlfriend. I highly recommend! I have a shelf for all books relating to autism I’ve reviewed including non-fiction if anyone is looking for inspiration. If you are autistic and would like to join any of my Facebook groups please message me and I’ll direct you.
I’m discussing this in comments and there are some spoilers so please if you don’t want to know things don’t read the discussion until finished.
Please note! Not my final review but these comments won’t fit in the update progress box. I’m halfway through this book that’s really got me geared up. Not to mention upset. There is extreme cruelty inflicted on a kitten in this book that made me feel sick.
I’m so mad. There are multitudes of total inaccuracies all through this book about Aspergers and Autism. I’m making so many notes. As a woman with Aspergers I’m mortified that this book will have those that know no better thinking of adults with Aspergers in such a terribly wrong light.
We’ve campaigned for years for awareness and tearing down of stereotypes and this book just poops all over that. I know the Aspie community I’m part of (I run the largest Facebook group for Aspies in the UK) would be so angry with this book. Expect a long detailed review once finished and I can remove my own emotions from it.
There are scenes in this book that make me want to shout out in public the words “this is not how we are, these facts are incorrect”. If I had been a beta reader I could of helped this author so much with facts. It screams out a lack of research.
I’ve read very good novels where Aspergers adults are portrayed accurately- Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer and The Spider in the Room series by Nikki Owen. I’ve absolutely got to write maybe my most detailed review ever. Why am I fired up? I know the pain in the autistic community when they are stereotyped and portrayed so terribly wrong.
Scenes in this are also very disturbing. I feel sick thinking those that know no Aspie adults would believe we are like the character in this book. Even more annoying is how the so-called expert scientist in Autism quotes completely outdated stats and incorrect details about Aspergers. Stuff that good internet research or discussions with Autism experts or us Aspergians would have corrected. So it’s total fabrication - BUT it could be what a non-aware reader takes away as real.
I’m so sad and somewhat angry. I’ll get my full review done when I’m finished. I’m doing my best to be objective and I’ve praised good books with Aspergers characters but this? I’m speechless.
The autistic community including parents and professionals will cringe at the inaccuracies in this. I’ve got qualifications in Aspergers, have worked within the Autism field, have a son with Aspergers, advocate and run groups for Aspies and I’m a proud 46 year old Aspergers woman. Just so you know I’m not just getting worked up over nothing. This book puts Autism knowledge and understanding back about 40 years.
Please see my reviews of Shtum! The Spider in the Room by Nikki Owen and Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer to see how I positively review books with autistic characters in whom I feel have been portrayed with respect and reflects truth. Oh! And read Stim by Kevin Berry! Awesome novel about a young man with Aspergers and his life and relationships. It’s followed by a sequel featuring his Aspergers girlfriend. I highly recommend! I have a shelf for all books relating to autism I’ve reviewed including non-fiction if anyone is looking for inspiration. If you are autistic and would like to join any of my Facebook groups please message me and I’ll direct you.
April 13, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
The Man on the Middle Floor is told from the perspective of the three main characters who all live in the same house in London that has been converted into flats.
Nick is a young man who has Asperger’s. He is learning to live independently. He has a weekly schedule that he tries to stick to, and has just gotten his first job working in a hospital morgue. He is afraid of his Grandfather and has sexual urges that he tries to keep at bay.
Karen is a middle-aged woman who lives alone on the top floor of the house. She is a researcher at the hospital looking into the increase in Autism diagnoses. She is career driven, so much so that she left her husband and her three young children to focus on her career.
Tam is a middle-aged man who has very recently became an ex-copper. He was shot in the leg a while back and was hoping to return to active duty but the powers that be didn’t see him fit to be out on the streets anymore, he’s an ‘old school’ police officer and not what the force wants anymore. He has taken a liking to alcohol just to get him through the day.
These three people have all live in the same house for a while, never knowing one another. Their lives were once separate, now they have become intermingled.
The book both interested me and shocked me at the same time. The book isn’t really a thriller as such. Yes, there is a murder, but we know what happened and how. The book is more about the lives of the three main characters, focusing mainly on their flaws.
It covers lots of subjects including many that are dark and taboo – there’s even some form of necrophilia. There is also some swearing and sexual references throughout from all the characters. All the subjects are well written and executed well. I can see some people being uncomfortable with a few of the scenes. But that is what makes this book a good read, it takes you out of your comfort zone.
My only concern is how Nick is preserved. People on the autism spectrum seem to get a lot of flack and are easy targets sometimes. I thought that Nick came across as your stereotypical person with Asperger’s. However, having a teenager on the spectrum, I know a lot of what is written about the condition is not true. I can’t really say it opened my eyes to the world we live in, but if you don’t know anyone on the Autistic Spectrum, then it will open yours.
The book is entertaining and moving in part. I thoroughly enjoy it and I read it in just two sittings. This is going to be one of those books that starts conversations and would be great for a book club to read and discuss.
The Man on the Middle Floor is told from the perspective of the three main characters who all live in the same house in London that has been converted into flats.
Nick is a young man who has Asperger’s. He is learning to live independently. He has a weekly schedule that he tries to stick to, and has just gotten his first job working in a hospital morgue. He is afraid of his Grandfather and has sexual urges that he tries to keep at bay.
Karen is a middle-aged woman who lives alone on the top floor of the house. She is a researcher at the hospital looking into the increase in Autism diagnoses. She is career driven, so much so that she left her husband and her three young children to focus on her career.
Tam is a middle-aged man who has very recently became an ex-copper. He was shot in the leg a while back and was hoping to return to active duty but the powers that be didn’t see him fit to be out on the streets anymore, he’s an ‘old school’ police officer and not what the force wants anymore. He has taken a liking to alcohol just to get him through the day.
These three people have all live in the same house for a while, never knowing one another. Their lives were once separate, now they have become intermingled.
The book both interested me and shocked me at the same time. The book isn’t really a thriller as such. Yes, there is a murder, but we know what happened and how. The book is more about the lives of the three main characters, focusing mainly on their flaws.
It covers lots of subjects including many that are dark and taboo – there’s even some form of necrophilia. There is also some swearing and sexual references throughout from all the characters. All the subjects are well written and executed well. I can see some people being uncomfortable with a few of the scenes. But that is what makes this book a good read, it takes you out of your comfort zone.
My only concern is how Nick is preserved. People on the autism spectrum seem to get a lot of flack and are easy targets sometimes. I thought that Nick came across as your stereotypical person with Asperger’s. However, having a teenager on the spectrum, I know a lot of what is written about the condition is not true. I can’t really say it opened my eyes to the world we live in, but if you don’t know anyone on the Autistic Spectrum, then it will open yours.
The book is entertaining and moving in part. I thoroughly enjoy it and I read it in just two sittings. This is going to be one of those books that starts conversations and would be great for a book club to read and discuss.
April 2, 2018
This debut novel revolves around a house in London, which is divided into three flats. On the bottom floor lives Tam; a policeman, who wants to go back to work after being shot in the leg, but finds there is no place for him anymore. In the middle flat is Nick, a young, autistic man, who lives by a strict set of rules, to give him a sense of order. On the top floor is Karen, a researcher who is trying to understand the rising rates of autism.
Although well written, I struggled with this novel, as the characters were so stereotypical. Tam is the old-fashioned kind of cop, who is not looking for promotion but holds dear the idea that he is there to protect and serve. Nick, afraid of his grandfather, does his best to keep his independence, but is obviously finding it hard to cope. Perhaps worst of all is Karen, who has left her husband and children and harbours dreams of being lauded for her scientific research, but seems to forget she even has three children. One child could be considered an accident, but three children are a family and it is impossible she gave no thought to having them at all. Although, obviously, the author is attempting to make a point about women’s work being important, and the conflict between career and childcare, Karen seems unable to even put petrol in her car or remember her son’s football game and to resent any kind of criticism about how appalling a parent she is.
Although the three various members of the house do not know each other, they gradually become involved in each other’s lives. There is one central event, which occurs, but there are also other ways in which the characters come together. This is a novel about crime, abuse and of living in a city when you are coping with various different challenges. Members of my extended family have autism and I must say that I found this novel difficult to read at times. It is clever, it is often darkly funny, but the author is not subtle at highlighting the various issues she wants to address and I often felt exasperated.
The writing in this debut novel is very assured and the pacing good, but I am afraid that this was not really for me. However, I am sure this will be a success and that this author will have a lot more to offer. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Although well written, I struggled with this novel, as the characters were so stereotypical. Tam is the old-fashioned kind of cop, who is not looking for promotion but holds dear the idea that he is there to protect and serve. Nick, afraid of his grandfather, does his best to keep his independence, but is obviously finding it hard to cope. Perhaps worst of all is Karen, who has left her husband and children and harbours dreams of being lauded for her scientific research, but seems to forget she even has three children. One child could be considered an accident, but three children are a family and it is impossible she gave no thought to having them at all. Although, obviously, the author is attempting to make a point about women’s work being important, and the conflict between career and childcare, Karen seems unable to even put petrol in her car or remember her son’s football game and to resent any kind of criticism about how appalling a parent she is.
Although the three various members of the house do not know each other, they gradually become involved in each other’s lives. There is one central event, which occurs, but there are also other ways in which the characters come together. This is a novel about crime, abuse and of living in a city when you are coping with various different challenges. Members of my extended family have autism and I must say that I found this novel difficult to read at times. It is clever, it is often darkly funny, but the author is not subtle at highlighting the various issues she wants to address and I often felt exasperated.
The writing in this debut novel is very assured and the pacing good, but I am afraid that this was not really for me. However, I am sure this will be a success and that this author will have a lot more to offer. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
April 17, 2018
I was meant to review this for the blog tour, but I only read about the first 16 pages and skimmed to page 68 before giving up. I felt bad about agreeing to the blog tour months and months ago but not even dipping into the book until now, so agreed to feature an extract from the book instead. Initially I enjoyed the first-person voice of Nick, a young man in London who is on the autism spectrum and relies on careful weekly schedules and lists of rules of how the world works to fit in. However, the second section featuring him is ill-advised and damaging, branding ASD people as violent and horny. By this point we’ve met another unlikable character, Tam, a bitter and vaguely racist, homophobic ex-policeman who is described as grossly macho, peeing in the sink and watching porn. He’s Nick’s downstairs neighbor; above lives Dr. Karen Watson, a mother of three and epidemiologist obsessed with the possible causes of autism. I can see where this is going: the policeman and the doctor will investigate a crime and its motives. But it was all really rather unpleasant, and with at least one of the main characters a walking stereotype and the writing undistinguished, I felt no impetus to keep going. The epigraphs are great, though.
January 6, 2019
The Man on the Middle Floor, Elizabeth S. Moore's second novel to date, is a different take on the crime/mystery fiction we hardcore genre readers usually see left, right and centre, as it is not so much of a whodunit but a whydunit - a new and rapidly expanding market niche. Much like The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder, the author tries to create interest by building a main character who is autistic, but that's where the similarities end. Sadly, much like that book this story falls flat and is ultimately a disappointing read. I am a huge backer of the push for more diversity in fiction and kudos to Ms Moore for raising awareness, but I have relatives and friends who are on the spectrum and find that this portrayal is not an accurate depiction of the condition.
It is a nicely written piece with a promising premise, but I can't help but feel that if you plan to use characters with a condition, you owe it to your readers and genuine real-life sufferers to be as accurate as possible; what's the point in highlighting the plight of those people if the book is full of misinformation? It likely does more harm than good. From then on it was a lost cause - it really was a dealbreaker when the incorrect details of an already misunderstood condition kept piling up. Best advice for an author looking to broach a tricky topic - research thoroughly and ensure to the best of your ability that information contained in the story is spot-on. Either that or leave it alone completely. There were some astute observation and social commentary throughout which lends the story credence but by then I had pretty much lost interest.
Many thanks to RedDoor Publishing for an ARC.
It is a nicely written piece with a promising premise, but I can't help but feel that if you plan to use characters with a condition, you owe it to your readers and genuine real-life sufferers to be as accurate as possible; what's the point in highlighting the plight of those people if the book is full of misinformation? It likely does more harm than good. From then on it was a lost cause - it really was a dealbreaker when the incorrect details of an already misunderstood condition kept piling up. Best advice for an author looking to broach a tricky topic - research thoroughly and ensure to the best of your ability that information contained in the story is spot-on. Either that or leave it alone completely. There were some astute observation and social commentary throughout which lends the story credence but by then I had pretty much lost interest.
Many thanks to RedDoor Publishing for an ARC.
April 11, 2018
What an unusual book this was, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it. I tried to think of a book to compare it to and am drawing a blank, so this is definitely a highly original read. I’m not even sure exactly what genre I would say it fits in to, it’s definitely mysterious but it also reads like contemporary fiction at times and there is a ton to dissect and discuss making it a great book club pick.
This follows three people who are neighbors and is told from each of their viewpoints. Tam is a police officer who is disenchanted with life in general and probably my favorite character. Nick is a young man with autism who struggles to live a “normal” life and then finally there is Karen, and quite frankly I loathed this woman. She’s self absorbed, rude and oblivious and I can’t really find any redeeming qualities about her. After a series of events happen in their home, these neighbors who have never really spoken to each other before find their lives entangled in unforeseen ways.
Not only was this an unusual read it was often hard to read, uncomfortable even. It really pushed me outside of my own personal comfort zone, but I do like that occasionally and was really interested in the characters lives and how their stories would end. There is some dark subject matter explored here, but it really isn’t a graphic or gritty read, instead it’s a deeper exploration of dark and sad issues that are sadly, all too common today. The author has an extremely strong and original voice and style of writing, if you’re looking for something different, give this a try.
The Man on the Middle Floor in three words: Unique, Thought-provoking and Discomfiting.
This follows three people who are neighbors and is told from each of their viewpoints. Tam is a police officer who is disenchanted with life in general and probably my favorite character. Nick is a young man with autism who struggles to live a “normal” life and then finally there is Karen, and quite frankly I loathed this woman. She’s self absorbed, rude and oblivious and I can’t really find any redeeming qualities about her. After a series of events happen in their home, these neighbors who have never really spoken to each other before find their lives entangled in unforeseen ways.
Not only was this an unusual read it was often hard to read, uncomfortable even. It really pushed me outside of my own personal comfort zone, but I do like that occasionally and was really interested in the characters lives and how their stories would end. There is some dark subject matter explored here, but it really isn’t a graphic or gritty read, instead it’s a deeper exploration of dark and sad issues that are sadly, all too common today. The author has an extremely strong and original voice and style of writing, if you’re looking for something different, give this a try.
The Man on the Middle Floor in three words: Unique, Thought-provoking and Discomfiting.
dnf-and-or-wnr
June 3, 2018Nope.
August 31, 2018
3-3.5 Stars****
The Man on the Middle Floor is told from different perspectives of three people who live in the same apartment building; Nick, a young man with Asperger's syndrome, Tam, a cop who recently lost his job, and Karen a doctor researching autism.
I do think this book is well written, I liked the different character perspectives, and how the author incorporated each individual's story into the main storyline. However, this book was upsetting and dark. It's not a bad story by any means, but it's heart breaking and tragic. Nick was extremely violent throughout the book and I felt this is an inaccurate portrayal of individuals with Asperger's syndrome and hope that those who read this do not stereotype individuals with Asperger's as being violent.
Special thanks to NetGalley and RedDoor Publishing for allowing me an advance read copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Man on the Middle Floor is told from different perspectives of three people who live in the same apartment building; Nick, a young man with Asperger's syndrome, Tam, a cop who recently lost his job, and Karen a doctor researching autism.
I do think this book is well written, I liked the different character perspectives, and how the author incorporated each individual's story into the main storyline. However, this book was upsetting and dark. It's not a bad story by any means, but it's heart breaking and tragic. Nick was extremely violent throughout the book and I felt this is an inaccurate portrayal of individuals with Asperger's syndrome and hope that those who read this do not stereotype individuals with Asperger's as being violent.
Special thanks to NetGalley and RedDoor Publishing for allowing me an advance read copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2018
Being autistic myself I found this book to be offensive, badly researched (if at all) and using old terms and stereotypes that are hurtful to us. I refuse to keep reading and will not review this.
(I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley but could not read it all)
(I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley but could not read it all)
August 23, 2018
A very hard book to review...
After much consideration the only way I can describe it is as The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime...if Irvine Welsh wrote it!
Quite crude, no messing, straight to the point - and it really works!
A great read 👍🏻📖
After much consideration the only way I can describe it is as The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime...if Irvine Welsh wrote it!
Quite crude, no messing, straight to the point - and it really works!
A great read 👍🏻📖
April 8, 2018
With thanks to Netgalley and RedDoor Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
The Man On the Middle Floor is Elizabeth Moore's debut novel.
This has been a difficult review to write. I did enjoy this book but there were parts I disliked.
Although The Man on the Middle Floor was 288 pages long the author covered Aspergers, child abuse, murder, necrophilia to the more mundane working mums trying to achieve a good work life balance. It was almost like the author could not decide the plot of her book so she wrote a list of social ills mixed them in a bag and that was the plot. The author included stats about children on the Autistic Spectrum with which was unnecessary for a work of fiction.
However I did like Tam, a middle aged cynical copper who resigned because he felt he did not fit in with modern policing. Tam had a nose for trouble and was a great believer in following hunches. I also liked Karen the academics 10 yr old daughter Sarah. A loyal girl who was forced Into the role of surrogate mother of her younger brothers.
This was a very dark and at times disturbing read. If you enjoy psychological thrillers this book will not be for you. However the story was told at a steady pace with interesting characters. I did enjoy this book but I think it will be like Marmite either you will love it or hate it.
The Man On the Middle Floor is Elizabeth Moore's debut novel.
This has been a difficult review to write. I did enjoy this book but there were parts I disliked.
Although The Man on the Middle Floor was 288 pages long the author covered Aspergers, child abuse, murder, necrophilia to the more mundane working mums trying to achieve a good work life balance. It was almost like the author could not decide the plot of her book so she wrote a list of social ills mixed them in a bag and that was the plot. The author included stats about children on the Autistic Spectrum with which was unnecessary for a work of fiction.
However I did like Tam, a middle aged cynical copper who resigned because he felt he did not fit in with modern policing. Tam had a nose for trouble and was a great believer in following hunches. I also liked Karen the academics 10 yr old daughter Sarah. A loyal girl who was forced Into the role of surrogate mother of her younger brothers.
This was a very dark and at times disturbing read. If you enjoy psychological thrillers this book will not be for you. However the story was told at a steady pace with interesting characters. I did enjoy this book but I think it will be like Marmite either you will love it or hate it.
May 25, 2018
I absolutely LOVE that cover! Whoever did it, could you please do mine when I finish my first novel!
I've read enough books to recognize good writing when I see it. However, there's usually A PROBLEM with those books that are so loved by the "industry" or given so much critical acclaim or awards. They're too smart to be engaging because human brain wants endorphins and not only slowly seeping intelligence.
This book has a bit of both worlds, though - it's dense with substance but it also floes with scrutinizing details of a murder from a mentally challenged person's point of view.
Is it a mystery? Not really, not in any ordinary way at least.
Is it twisty? Also, not so much. At least not very unpredictably so.
Is it highly eye-opening about the world we live in as described by someone who's most likely not at all like many of us? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
So there you have it. It's a book with a very bright red cover - that should raise the necessary red flag when it comes to expecting it to be just your average psychological thriller.
All that being said, I found the said narrator Nick to be the only exciting part. The others were so commonly dull and boring with their ongoing inner thoughts that right after the murder took place, I tried to follow the book only from Nick's chapters.
Thank you Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 25, 2018
Absolutely brilliant read.
The novel centres on a house in south London, which is split into three flats occupied by three very different people. Nick, Tam and Karen all lead unconnected lives and the story is told from all three separate points of view in turn. The characters are all struggling. Nick has to face autism and living on his own for the first time, Tam has just resigned from the police force and Karen is determined to submit an award winning research paper on autism.
The characters are brilliantly developed and for me the story line went through unpleasant features to horror to amazing to hilariously funny. At times, I laughed out loud. Underlying it all there were serious issues addressed including living in today’s society with a mental illness, dysfunctional family life, abuse and wanting to keep the old-fashioned methods alive.
If somebody had listed the content of the novel I may well not have read it but it was cleverly written and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, RedDoor Publishing and Elizabeth S Moore for my ARC in return for my honest review.
Excellent Read. Highly recommended.
The novel centres on a house in south London, which is split into three flats occupied by three very different people. Nick, Tam and Karen all lead unconnected lives and the story is told from all three separate points of view in turn. The characters are all struggling. Nick has to face autism and living on his own for the first time, Tam has just resigned from the police force and Karen is determined to submit an award winning research paper on autism.
The characters are brilliantly developed and for me the story line went through unpleasant features to horror to amazing to hilariously funny. At times, I laughed out loud. Underlying it all there were serious issues addressed including living in today’s society with a mental illness, dysfunctional family life, abuse and wanting to keep the old-fashioned methods alive.
If somebody had listed the content of the novel I may well not have read it but it was cleverly written and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, RedDoor Publishing and Elizabeth S Moore for my ARC in return for my honest review.
Excellent Read. Highly recommended.
April 9, 2018
Tam, Nick and Karen live totally separate lives in the same house, but their lives are going to be interwoven in ways they couldn’t possibly imagine.
Well, The Man On The Middle Floor was NOT what I was expecting. I had somehow convinced myself I would be reading a fairly simplistic and entertaining humorous crime thriller. Whilst The Man On The Middle Floor is certainly entertaining, it confounded my expectations completely. I found this book disturbing, compelling and actually quite upsetting in many ways.
Readers can simply enjoy The Man On The Middle Floor as a straightforward narrative and there’s a cracking murder plot that is very satisfying. However, it is Elizabeth Moore’s exploration of who we are, of the norms of society and what places us inside or outside the boundaries of so-called normality that is so brilliantly handled. The debate between nature and nurture, about mental health and its treatment within the pages of The Man On The Middle Floor make for a frequently unsettling and always though-provoking reading.
I think some readers will be shocked and possibly offended by the frequent use of the F-word and by the sexual references, but even whilst they made me occasionally uncomfortable as a reader, I felt they did exactly what was intended. They engendered a reaction and shook me out of my complacency as a reader. In fact, so skilled is the writing that I experienced Nick’s tensions and anxieties as I read and actually loathed Karen, so that even when I understood her I couldn’t bring myself to forgive her. I actually felt the kind of uncontrollable emotions towards Karen that Nick experienced when under stress. The interconnectedness of the three main characters provides an almost claustrophobic feeling that again enhances the quality of the book. Giving Nick a first person narrative is a stroke of genius. It allows the reader to see so clearly into his mind, but also gives status to the most vulnerable and ‘abnormal’ of the characters which felt to me like Elizabeth Moore was illustrating those like Nick in society have at least equal status with everyone else, even though society may wish to treat them differently.
My heart went out to Nick completely. He reminded me of Lennie in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and by the end of the novel I felt quite emotional about him and his life.
I’m not sure if I enjoyed reading The Man On The Middle Floor as it made me feel quite voyeuristic and troubled. Elisabeth Moore took me well out of my comfort zone and that is a very good thing. I was forced to confront my own perceptions of mental health and so-called normality. Would I recommend The Man On The Middle Floor? Absolutely. Without hesitation. I think The Man On The Middle Floor is a book we should all read and talk about.
Well, The Man On The Middle Floor was NOT what I was expecting. I had somehow convinced myself I would be reading a fairly simplistic and entertaining humorous crime thriller. Whilst The Man On The Middle Floor is certainly entertaining, it confounded my expectations completely. I found this book disturbing, compelling and actually quite upsetting in many ways.
Readers can simply enjoy The Man On The Middle Floor as a straightforward narrative and there’s a cracking murder plot that is very satisfying. However, it is Elizabeth Moore’s exploration of who we are, of the norms of society and what places us inside or outside the boundaries of so-called normality that is so brilliantly handled. The debate between nature and nurture, about mental health and its treatment within the pages of The Man On The Middle Floor make for a frequently unsettling and always though-provoking reading.
I think some readers will be shocked and possibly offended by the frequent use of the F-word and by the sexual references, but even whilst they made me occasionally uncomfortable as a reader, I felt they did exactly what was intended. They engendered a reaction and shook me out of my complacency as a reader. In fact, so skilled is the writing that I experienced Nick’s tensions and anxieties as I read and actually loathed Karen, so that even when I understood her I couldn’t bring myself to forgive her. I actually felt the kind of uncontrollable emotions towards Karen that Nick experienced when under stress. The interconnectedness of the three main characters provides an almost claustrophobic feeling that again enhances the quality of the book. Giving Nick a first person narrative is a stroke of genius. It allows the reader to see so clearly into his mind, but also gives status to the most vulnerable and ‘abnormal’ of the characters which felt to me like Elizabeth Moore was illustrating those like Nick in society have at least equal status with everyone else, even though society may wish to treat them differently.
My heart went out to Nick completely. He reminded me of Lennie in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and by the end of the novel I felt quite emotional about him and his life.
I’m not sure if I enjoyed reading The Man On The Middle Floor as it made me feel quite voyeuristic and troubled. Elisabeth Moore took me well out of my comfort zone and that is a very good thing. I was forced to confront my own perceptions of mental health and so-called normality. Would I recommend The Man On The Middle Floor? Absolutely. Without hesitation. I think The Man On The Middle Floor is a book we should all read and talk about.
May 15, 2018
Karen is a doctor and researcher who studies the rising rates in autism and lives by herself in the top floor of a house of flats. Her life revolves around her work and despite her ex-husband's frustration and her children's care, she is determined to keep working towards a breakthrough. And when she does, she will have the respect she deserves. Her work is her priority, it consumes all hours of her life. If she isn't sat in front of her laptop typing, she's thinking about it, even at her daughter's birthday outing. Karen was a difficult character to like. She's very selfish and cold. Her ex-husband is at his wits end and her children are almost like strangers to her. It was quite disheartening seeing how her behaviour affected them.
Tam lives on the top floor, nursing his woes and drowning in alcohol and misery. After losing his job as a police officer, the meaning to life has slipped away from him. He started out as a young man who genuinely wanted to help and protect people. And for years, he worked hard, fuelled by passion and kindness. Now he keeps to his flat, depressed and lonely. Tam was my favourite character. I really enjoyed his chapters because I connected with him the most.
Nick is a young man with Asperger's syndrome who lives on the middle floor. He plans out his days with a strict thoroughness and makes lists for every day of the week that somewhat ease his struggles. He lives independently but has regular visits from his mother and grandpa, who persuade him to do things out of his comfort zone. Nick's chapters addressed some quite emotional issues that made for some surprising reading.
The Man on the Middle Floor is quite an unusual book, at times intriguing and touching, others incredibly shocking. I haven't read anything like this before so it was fantastic to have something very unique and different to get stuck into. It will definitely stir up opinions and leave readers talking.
Surprising. Original. Thought-provoking
Tam lives on the top floor, nursing his woes and drowning in alcohol and misery. After losing his job as a police officer, the meaning to life has slipped away from him. He started out as a young man who genuinely wanted to help and protect people. And for years, he worked hard, fuelled by passion and kindness. Now he keeps to his flat, depressed and lonely. Tam was my favourite character. I really enjoyed his chapters because I connected with him the most.
Nick is a young man with Asperger's syndrome who lives on the middle floor. He plans out his days with a strict thoroughness and makes lists for every day of the week that somewhat ease his struggles. He lives independently but has regular visits from his mother and grandpa, who persuade him to do things out of his comfort zone. Nick's chapters addressed some quite emotional issues that made for some surprising reading.
The Man on the Middle Floor is quite an unusual book, at times intriguing and touching, others incredibly shocking. I haven't read anything like this before so it was fantastic to have something very unique and different to get stuck into. It will definitely stir up opinions and leave readers talking.
Surprising. Original. Thought-provoking
April 16, 2018
The man on the middle floor is a dark and rather disturbing novel about several dysfunctional people who live in flats on the 3 floors of a converted London townhouse who become unwittingly involved in a spate of deaths which occur close by.
Although the subject matter is dissimilar the writing style reminded me rather of early Hilary Mantel in particular her novel Beyond black. Although there is no hint of the supernatural in this tale of murder and mayhem and folk who just don’t fit the mould, there is the same sense of bleakness and desperation and cleverly constructed characters, shaped by their own pasts.
The Victorian townhouse in question, overlooks a park and each floor has a lone, single occupant, each ensconced in their own little world, practically unaware of the other residents apart from the odd door slamming or a glimpse through the window as people come and go.
On the ground floor is Karen, middle aged, divorced Mother of 3, devoted to her career as a medical researcher writing a paper on people with autism and aspergers she is sure will change the world. She puts her work before everyone, her colleagues, her family, her friends and neighbours and even herself. But is she absorbed and dedicated as she lurches from mishap to crisis, or so obsessed she misses what’s going on right under her own nose?
On the middle floor is Nick, a young man unused to living alone yet desperately seeking solitude. He battles his inner demons and his autism means he keeps everyone at bay, creating a haven of order and trying to live by the rules he struggles to make sense of. He wants to fit in but can he?
Up on the top floor lives Tam, a recently retired police officer, he is lonely and feels useless without the job he has called his life for so long. He seeks solace at the bottom of a whisky bottle but can he find what is missing from his life in the arms of a passionate woman?
Three individuals, 3 separate lives playing out within a small space. Unsurprisingly eventually all three characters paths cross. Will they be each others salvation or damnation?
I found this book much darker than I expected, there is a distinctly distasteful aspect and the fact that a cute kitten accompanies a very dead young woman on the admittedly very intriguing and eyecatching book cover should have warned me that all was not going to go well within these pages. Yet I quickly became engrossed in the events and it made for a very entertaining and thought provoking read.
There is a character whom the author possibly intended the reader to feel some kind of sympathy for, but I didn’t, I disliked them intensely, as their actions appalled me. But it is a book about failed relationships, disorder and discontinuity which made it difficult to relate to any of the deeply flawed characters so that shouldn’t surprise me.
There is a lot of dark humour in the morbid scenes which play out and a grim reminder that nobody is quite what they seem to be on the surface, nor how they perceive themselves.
Something about the book reminded me somewhat of Hilary Mantel's early work - Beyond Black with a similar feel to the writing and the same darkness buried in everyday lives.
A very well written absorbing novel which entertained throughout, kept me reading and ended up leaving quite an impression on me. What more can one ask of a book?
Although the subject matter is dissimilar the writing style reminded me rather of early Hilary Mantel in particular her novel Beyond black. Although there is no hint of the supernatural in this tale of murder and mayhem and folk who just don’t fit the mould, there is the same sense of bleakness and desperation and cleverly constructed characters, shaped by their own pasts.
The Victorian townhouse in question, overlooks a park and each floor has a lone, single occupant, each ensconced in their own little world, practically unaware of the other residents apart from the odd door slamming or a glimpse through the window as people come and go.
On the ground floor is Karen, middle aged, divorced Mother of 3, devoted to her career as a medical researcher writing a paper on people with autism and aspergers she is sure will change the world. She puts her work before everyone, her colleagues, her family, her friends and neighbours and even herself. But is she absorbed and dedicated as she lurches from mishap to crisis, or so obsessed she misses what’s going on right under her own nose?
On the middle floor is Nick, a young man unused to living alone yet desperately seeking solitude. He battles his inner demons and his autism means he keeps everyone at bay, creating a haven of order and trying to live by the rules he struggles to make sense of. He wants to fit in but can he?
Up on the top floor lives Tam, a recently retired police officer, he is lonely and feels useless without the job he has called his life for so long. He seeks solace at the bottom of a whisky bottle but can he find what is missing from his life in the arms of a passionate woman?
Three individuals, 3 separate lives playing out within a small space. Unsurprisingly eventually all three characters paths cross. Will they be each others salvation or damnation?
I found this book much darker than I expected, there is a distinctly distasteful aspect and the fact that a cute kitten accompanies a very dead young woman on the admittedly very intriguing and eyecatching book cover should have warned me that all was not going to go well within these pages. Yet I quickly became engrossed in the events and it made for a very entertaining and thought provoking read.
There is a character whom the author possibly intended the reader to feel some kind of sympathy for, but I didn’t, I disliked them intensely, as their actions appalled me. But it is a book about failed relationships, disorder and discontinuity which made it difficult to relate to any of the deeply flawed characters so that shouldn’t surprise me.
There is a lot of dark humour in the morbid scenes which play out and a grim reminder that nobody is quite what they seem to be on the surface, nor how they perceive themselves.
Something about the book reminded me somewhat of Hilary Mantel's early work - Beyond Black with a similar feel to the writing and the same darkness buried in everyday lives.
A very well written absorbing novel which entertained throughout, kept me reading and ended up leaving quite an impression on me. What more can one ask of a book?
April 15, 2018
**RATING 3.5**
THE MAN ON THE MIDDLE FLOOR by Elizabeth S. Moore was NOTHING like what I expected and is a tough one to categorise as it really is very different.
In a three flat house in London lives three strangers who never see or know each other until a murder forces them all out of their comfort zones and into each others company. Tam is an old-school cop who suddenly finds himself retired because he just doesn't fit in any longer. Nick is a sensitive man who has Asperger's and who needs his routines and structures to function. And then there is Karen, a doctor who walks away from everything in the hopes of making history through her research.
As the story is told from each character's point of view, the reader really gets an insight into the characters which is not always a good thing. Dealing with sensitive topics such as autism and abuse the author doesn't hold back and it can make for very uncomfortable reading at times but I think that is what the writer is looking for - discussion, disagreement over how issues are handled, how our society functions and lets down so many, and this novel will guarantee that a conversation is actually happening.
THE MAN ON THE MIDDLE FLOOR by Elizabeth S. Moore is not an easy-read crime fiction novel but an in-depth, often disturbing look at modern life with plenty of opinions that will get you talking and keep you interested to the very end.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
THE MAN ON THE MIDDLE FLOOR by Elizabeth S. Moore was NOTHING like what I expected and is a tough one to categorise as it really is very different.
In a three flat house in London lives three strangers who never see or know each other until a murder forces them all out of their comfort zones and into each others company. Tam is an old-school cop who suddenly finds himself retired because he just doesn't fit in any longer. Nick is a sensitive man who has Asperger's and who needs his routines and structures to function. And then there is Karen, a doctor who walks away from everything in the hopes of making history through her research.
As the story is told from each character's point of view, the reader really gets an insight into the characters which is not always a good thing. Dealing with sensitive topics such as autism and abuse the author doesn't hold back and it can make for very uncomfortable reading at times but I think that is what the writer is looking for - discussion, disagreement over how issues are handled, how our society functions and lets down so many, and this novel will guarantee that a conversation is actually happening.
THE MAN ON THE MIDDLE FLOOR by Elizabeth S. Moore is not an easy-read crime fiction novel but an in-depth, often disturbing look at modern life with plenty of opinions that will get you talking and keep you interested to the very end.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
April 6, 2018
The Man on the Middle Floor opens up the character, Nick, telling us about that tomorrow is Tuesday and on Tuesday his laundry comes. As he proceeds to tell us more about his schedule and his routines, it is clear that Nick has Asperger’s and is somewhere on the autism spectrum. Nick is telling his story in first person.
The next chapter begins the story about Tam. Tam is a detective who gets let go from his job. He has been with the police force for years and has no idea what he is going to do now. As he is heading back to his apartment, he finds someone in his way. It’s a man, in his twenties, who is jumping the cracks on the sidewalk.
We bounce back to Nick again and the story takes a very dark turn.
Then we meet the third main character Karen. Karen is a driven professional, working on autism research. So driven that she has practically removed herself entirely from her children’s lives. Even though she shares custody with her husband, her time with the children is an obvious imposition.
Nick, Tam and Karen all live in the same apartment building.
Nick’s life continues to spiral out of control. Tam deals with the drespresion of losing his job with alcohol and women. Karen sacrifices her life and the lives of those around her for her research.
It is hard to tell what happens in this book without giving away spoilers. It reads like a thriller, though we know who is doing what to whom. The major characters and minor characters are very well developed. I felt sympathy for Nick and Tam and disliked Karen.
Dark and troubling and I couldn’t put it down.
I received an ARC of the book.
The next chapter begins the story about Tam. Tam is a detective who gets let go from his job. He has been with the police force for years and has no idea what he is going to do now. As he is heading back to his apartment, he finds someone in his way. It’s a man, in his twenties, who is jumping the cracks on the sidewalk.
We bounce back to Nick again and the story takes a very dark turn.
Then we meet the third main character Karen. Karen is a driven professional, working on autism research. So driven that she has practically removed herself entirely from her children’s lives. Even though she shares custody with her husband, her time with the children is an obvious imposition.
Nick, Tam and Karen all live in the same apartment building.
Nick’s life continues to spiral out of control. Tam deals with the drespresion of losing his job with alcohol and women. Karen sacrifices her life and the lives of those around her for her research.
It is hard to tell what happens in this book without giving away spoilers. It reads like a thriller, though we know who is doing what to whom. The major characters and minor characters are very well developed. I felt sympathy for Nick and Tam and disliked Karen.
Dark and troubling and I couldn’t put it down.
I received an ARC of the book.
May 4, 2018
Very well written book.. However, I cannot say I liked it. It was sad, tragic, frightening, disgusting, and nauseating at many times throughout the book. If you stop reading early you won't get the full effect that the author is delivering. I almost stopped reading many times because the story was so painful. I would not recommend this to anyone who is overly sensitive as there are some taboo subjects touched upon and this book really messed up my mind for the time I was reading it. The three main characters live in the same building and all three have obstacles to over come. Karen, the most unlikeable of them all, she actually made me ill sometimes when I would read her sections of the book and has to live with her messed up choices. She chose to have children but her actions in the book make her the least likely to win mother of the year with the despicable way she treats her own kids. Nick, the man in the middle, is a very misunderstood and troubled young man. His tragic story and the consequences he faces are foisted on him by a nasty grandpa and a sadly clueless mother. He was born on the autistic spectrum and due to no fault of his own suffers traumatic experiences that shape him into what he becomes and it is heartbreaking. Finally, Tam, the old school cop who makes some questionable choices with women but he has some grasp of reality and he ends up acting admirably and making his own mark on this story. The writing was taut and the story flowed quickly --it just is a very horrible story indeed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.
June 3, 2018
It seem to be in vogue to write unpleasant books about unpleasant people – fortunately some of them work and whilst you don’t like the characters, the story is compelling and well-written. Unfortunately The Man on the Middle Floor is not one of those.
Where to start?
The offensive representation of Asperger syndrome?
The totally unnecessary scene of animal cruelty?
The “jaded” police officer who is either drunk / hungover / having sex / thinking about having sex?
The self-absorbed overachieving mother who actually managed to have three children?
I only got halfway through the book and that was too much.
Definitely not one I would recommend to animal lovers or those with family/friends with Asperger’s or Autism….actually I don’t recommend this book to anyone.
Where to start?
The offensive representation of Asperger syndrome?
The totally unnecessary scene of animal cruelty?
The “jaded” police officer who is either drunk / hungover / having sex / thinking about having sex?
The self-absorbed overachieving mother who actually managed to have three children?
I only got halfway through the book and that was too much.
Definitely not one I would recommend to animal lovers or those with family/friends with Asperger’s or Autism….actually I don’t recommend this book to anyone.
Read
May 31, 2018I can't bring myself to continue reading this, it makes me feel physically sick.
The misrepresentation of people on the autistic spectrum is tiresome and extremely damaging - to people with ASD and also to the perception of people with ASD in society.
It's 2018, I'm really disappointed that people still buy into this shit.
The misrepresentation of people on the autistic spectrum is tiresome and extremely damaging - to people with ASD and also to the perception of people with ASD in society.
It's 2018, I'm really disappointed that people still buy into this shit.
July 14, 2018
The premise of this debut novel focusing on the three tenants of a converted townhouse in a suburb of North London and their increasing interaction and involvement in each other’s lives proved too tempting to resist, given one of the characters has Asperger’s Syndrome. Despite being only three hundred pages in length, The Man on the Middle Floor has to be one of the most grossly unpleasant, offensive and frustrating novels I can remember. All three of the lead protagonists are the stuff of formulaic stereotypes with Nick, the twenty-four-year-old man with Asperger’s portrayed rather misguidedly as a sexually deviant and violent individual who owes his inspiration less to Don Tillman of The Rosie Project and more to the psychopaths in Hammer horror films! Throw in the authors seeming fixation on adding a sexual component to every chapter and a set of very contrived circumstances which bring these three characters together and the novel never quite gels into a cohesive mass.
The three individuals who reside in the flats of one house and occupy a single floor each are strangers to one another on outset, despite having spent years living within close proximity. On the bottom floor is Tam, an old-fashioned copper still full of idealistic dreams about ‘making a difference’ and suspicious of the new politically correct and touchy-feely brand of policing that has overtaken the Met. Keen to return to work after taking a bullet to the leg but unwilling to adapt to a changing world, Tam resigns in a fit of temper and returns home to wallow in whiskey, porn and takeaway dinners. On the middle floor lives Nick Peters, a high-functioning autistic man whose life is one of routine and familiarity who interprets things literally and dislikes social interaction. Nick has been permitted to life independently from his mother and overbearing grandpa but not without frequent visits and lessons on how to accommodate the feelings of others from his bullying and belittling eldest relation.
On the top floor resides Dr Karen Watson, a career obsessed university researcher who is intent on producing a definitive paper on how to maximise the potential of autistic people in society and work situations. A thoroughly deluded individual, Karen seemingly believes that she is above the minutiae of daily life, including any concern or involvement in the lives of her three children, who she has walked out on frustrated by the demands of combining motherhood with a career. (Why a person who prizes their career and ‘life’s work’ so highly and is convinced that she is doing something of such monumental importance to society decides to have three children is beyond me, but no doubt this is supposed to highlight the difficulty of ‘having it all’!)
In a highly contrived series of circumstances (Tam takes a bag of clothes from the bin as ‘forensic evidence’, Nick puts up a notice seeking part-time work in entrance hall of the house and Karen finds a ‘guinea pig’ for her study living right underneath her), all three individuals collide with irrevocable consequences. Tam has a nose for crime and a hunch that he follows up on, desperately wanting to prove that he can still do an authentic job for the police and convinced that the answers to the park murder lies in understanding people’s motivations. Karen needs a perfect case study and Nick is a young man trying to function normally in an increasingly chaotic and confusing world and shows little of the high IQ which is regarded as being an intrinsic aspect of the syndrome.
SPOILERS BELOW:
The tone is set early on with an encounter by Nick when he stumbles upon an amorous couple engaged in a very public tryst in Richmond Park and outraged and flustered, dispatches both in no short order and masturbates three times all by page forty. It is this event and how it impringes on Nick’s ordered world that marks the start of his routines and schedules spinning out of his control and with no one to guide him the consequences are devastating. Comprising three narratives which present a snapshot into the lives, preoccupations and day to day functioning of all three tenants, I found Nick’s voice arduous reading and for far too long the story reads like three separate strands all caught up in their own very particular worlds. What isn’t made apparent about Nick on outset is that he isn’t a run of the mill Asperger’s case and the more I read of his narrative it became all too clear that his mental health issues owe more to a dark childhood and are not merely high-functioning autism. As Karen suspects, what started out as Asperger’s has been exacerbated by a psychotic break or early trauma.
For a doctor, Karen seems to have more than a swathe of her own issues, driven to self-sacrifice her own life and family for her ‘higher calling’ and by incorporating Nick as the guinea pig in her own study and engineering him employment at the hospital morgue, she foists her close scrutiny and her continued presence in his life upon him and assuages her guilt by regarding it as necessary in ordinary to benefit society and a greater good. After helping to derail the life of Nick and her abrupt dismissal of Tam after several sexual encounters, Karen then turns to her own family for further lives to ruin. She then learns that the concerns of her husband and daughter which she has refused to listen to were simply flagging up her own youngest son as a high-functioning autistic child but, given her scant attention to her family to date, she has ostracised him in the process. It therefore comes as some relief that a year after the events of the story, Karen has decided to alter the direction of her research and remains apart from her children!
I would be loathe to recommend this novel to anyone in doubt or in two minds about reading as it is neither pleasant or particularly insightful in my opinion and many will find it unpalatable.
The three individuals who reside in the flats of one house and occupy a single floor each are strangers to one another on outset, despite having spent years living within close proximity. On the bottom floor is Tam, an old-fashioned copper still full of idealistic dreams about ‘making a difference’ and suspicious of the new politically correct and touchy-feely brand of policing that has overtaken the Met. Keen to return to work after taking a bullet to the leg but unwilling to adapt to a changing world, Tam resigns in a fit of temper and returns home to wallow in whiskey, porn and takeaway dinners. On the middle floor lives Nick Peters, a high-functioning autistic man whose life is one of routine and familiarity who interprets things literally and dislikes social interaction. Nick has been permitted to life independently from his mother and overbearing grandpa but not without frequent visits and lessons on how to accommodate the feelings of others from his bullying and belittling eldest relation.
On the top floor resides Dr Karen Watson, a career obsessed university researcher who is intent on producing a definitive paper on how to maximise the potential of autistic people in society and work situations. A thoroughly deluded individual, Karen seemingly believes that she is above the minutiae of daily life, including any concern or involvement in the lives of her three children, who she has walked out on frustrated by the demands of combining motherhood with a career. (Why a person who prizes their career and ‘life’s work’ so highly and is convinced that she is doing something of such monumental importance to society decides to have three children is beyond me, but no doubt this is supposed to highlight the difficulty of ‘having it all’!)
In a highly contrived series of circumstances (Tam takes a bag of clothes from the bin as ‘forensic evidence’, Nick puts up a notice seeking part-time work in entrance hall of the house and Karen finds a ‘guinea pig’ for her study living right underneath her), all three individuals collide with irrevocable consequences. Tam has a nose for crime and a hunch that he follows up on, desperately wanting to prove that he can still do an authentic job for the police and convinced that the answers to the park murder lies in understanding people’s motivations. Karen needs a perfect case study and Nick is a young man trying to function normally in an increasingly chaotic and confusing world and shows little of the high IQ which is regarded as being an intrinsic aspect of the syndrome.
SPOILERS BELOW:
The tone is set early on with an encounter by Nick when he stumbles upon an amorous couple engaged in a very public tryst in Richmond Park and outraged and flustered, dispatches both in no short order and masturbates three times all by page forty. It is this event and how it impringes on Nick’s ordered world that marks the start of his routines and schedules spinning out of his control and with no one to guide him the consequences are devastating. Comprising three narratives which present a snapshot into the lives, preoccupations and day to day functioning of all three tenants, I found Nick’s voice arduous reading and for far too long the story reads like three separate strands all caught up in their own very particular worlds. What isn’t made apparent about Nick on outset is that he isn’t a run of the mill Asperger’s case and the more I read of his narrative it became all too clear that his mental health issues owe more to a dark childhood and are not merely high-functioning autism. As Karen suspects, what started out as Asperger’s has been exacerbated by a psychotic break or early trauma.
For a doctor, Karen seems to have more than a swathe of her own issues, driven to self-sacrifice her own life and family for her ‘higher calling’ and by incorporating Nick as the guinea pig in her own study and engineering him employment at the hospital morgue, she foists her close scrutiny and her continued presence in his life upon him and assuages her guilt by regarding it as necessary in ordinary to benefit society and a greater good. After helping to derail the life of Nick and her abrupt dismissal of Tam after several sexual encounters, Karen then turns to her own family for further lives to ruin. She then learns that the concerns of her husband and daughter which she has refused to listen to were simply flagging up her own youngest son as a high-functioning autistic child but, given her scant attention to her family to date, she has ostracised him in the process. It therefore comes as some relief that a year after the events of the story, Karen has decided to alter the direction of her research and remains apart from her children!
I would be loathe to recommend this novel to anyone in doubt or in two minds about reading as it is neither pleasant or particularly insightful in my opinion and many will find it unpalatable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2018
There have been a number of recent-ish novels with non-neurotypical main characters, but I don’t think you will have read one quite like this before...
The plot centres around three people who inhabit, separately, the same London house. On the top floor, Karen, a doctor working on what she hopes will be ground-breaking research into how people with autism can lead fulfilling and productive lives. On the ground floor, Tam, a policeman, previously injured in the line of duty, who now finds there is no place for him in a modern police force, or at least no place he wants to inhabit. And the man on the middle floor: Nick.
It’s an interesting, unsettling read with some unusual and often challenging themes. We get inside the head of Nick, a troubled young man with Asperger’s, and it’s not a comfortable place to be.
Karen is obsessed by her work and able to think of little else; she’s incapable of remembering to perform basic functions of everyday life (putting petrol in her car, picking up her children at an agreed time.) Separated from her husband and children, the visits from the children feel like an imposition and she counts the minutes till they leave and she can get back to work. Since Karen seems to have always been pretty much like this, why she chose to have three children in the first place is a mystery.
Karen herself seems somewhat disconnected from the usual emotions and it makes a kind of sense that she’s chosen to work in the field of autism.
The blokey Tam, dealing with the loss of his career through booze and sex, is the most obviously “normal” and to me, at least initially, perhaps the least interesting of the three. However Tam definitely goes on a journey over the course of the story and by the end is, if not a different person, one who has broadened his horizons and outlook.
And then there’s Nick. His sections of the story are written in first person, and it’s hard reading at times. Life is a struggle for Nick; not only because of his Asperger’s, but there is clearly something dark in his family history , particularly in his relationship with his grandfather. He is a very troubled and damaged young man, failed by those around him and beset by feelings he cannot understand or deal with about sexuality, violence and death. He clings to his routines and when these are disrupted, all hell breaks loose - almost literally.
The Man on the Middle Floor is a very well written and thought provoking debut. The author clearly has a lot to say on certain subjects and does so in a very effective way. Some dreadful things happen in this book (it’s very dark and disturbing at times) and it’s clear there can be no easy resolutions for the characters - Nick, in particular - but the ending is quite satisfying, though can feel a little heavy on the exposition at times as the author fills in the gaps. There’s a great courtroom scene too.
While reading I wasn’t always sure that I liked the book, but I was always interested and challenged.
I was intrigued to learn more about the author after finishing the book, and found this interesting post on her website in which she discusses the book and some of the reactions to it - worth checking out.
https://elizabethsmoore.com/ramblings...
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
The plot centres around three people who inhabit, separately, the same London house. On the top floor, Karen, a doctor working on what she hopes will be ground-breaking research into how people with autism can lead fulfilling and productive lives. On the ground floor, Tam, a policeman, previously injured in the line of duty, who now finds there is no place for him in a modern police force, or at least no place he wants to inhabit. And the man on the middle floor: Nick.
It’s an interesting, unsettling read with some unusual and often challenging themes. We get inside the head of Nick, a troubled young man with Asperger’s, and it’s not a comfortable place to be.
Karen is obsessed by her work and able to think of little else; she’s incapable of remembering to perform basic functions of everyday life (putting petrol in her car, picking up her children at an agreed time.) Separated from her husband and children, the visits from the children feel like an imposition and she counts the minutes till they leave and she can get back to work. Since Karen seems to have always been pretty much like this, why she chose to have three children in the first place is a mystery.
Karen herself seems somewhat disconnected from the usual emotions and it makes a kind of sense that she’s chosen to work in the field of autism.
The blokey Tam, dealing with the loss of his career through booze and sex, is the most obviously “normal” and to me, at least initially, perhaps the least interesting of the three. However Tam definitely goes on a journey over the course of the story and by the end is, if not a different person, one who has broadened his horizons and outlook.
And then there’s Nick. His sections of the story are written in first person, and it’s hard reading at times. Life is a struggle for Nick; not only because of his Asperger’s, but there is clearly something dark in his family history , particularly in his relationship with his grandfather. He is a very troubled and damaged young man, failed by those around him and beset by feelings he cannot understand or deal with about sexuality, violence and death. He clings to his routines and when these are disrupted, all hell breaks loose - almost literally.
The Man on the Middle Floor is a very well written and thought provoking debut. The author clearly has a lot to say on certain subjects and does so in a very effective way. Some dreadful things happen in this book (it’s very dark and disturbing at times) and it’s clear there can be no easy resolutions for the characters - Nick, in particular - but the ending is quite satisfying, though can feel a little heavy on the exposition at times as the author fills in the gaps. There’s a great courtroom scene too.
While reading I wasn’t always sure that I liked the book, but I was always interested and challenged.
I was intrigued to learn more about the author after finishing the book, and found this interesting post on her website in which she discusses the book and some of the reactions to it - worth checking out.
https://elizabethsmoore.com/ramblings...
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
April 23, 2018
It is never easy to review books that are a little 'out there' in subject matter and content, but I will give it a go!! And I know this book won't be for everyone with its' quirky nature, its often blunt approach and the things discussed - but for me I found it fascinating and thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the lives of these three fascinating and extreme characters, as their paths crossed and some rather unfortunate events follow!
It centres around a house that contains 3 flats. In each of these flats live some complex characters - Karen lives on the top floor, Nick on the middle floor, and Tam on the ground level. All 3 extremely different characters personality wise, but in their outlook on life they all end up being quite similar as they often feel disconnected from the world they find themselves living in.
Nick starts the story off and the book from his viewpoint is very stark. He suffers from Autism so he has his routines, things often upset him and he enjoys being alone. But he's trying to challenge himself and break free from these chains. His first job at the local hospital morgue seems to be the perfect job for him - the solitude, the routine, the cleanliness...
Tam is a police officer - well he was! He returns after time off after being injured to find they want to move him to a desk job, as his attitudes don't fit with the modern way of policing. He retreats to a world of drink and sex, and investigating what he sees going on around him... his police training comes in very handy as events unfold!
And Karen is a Doctor at the local hospital researching the rise of Autism amongst. She lives alone, preferring her work to her 3 children who are with their father. When she is called on to be 'mum' she doesn't seem to have a maternal bone in her body, and the kids know it and cannot wait to be back with their father. She gets Nick the job at the hospital and sees him as the perfect study for her research... at what cost?
This is an often crude book but I think these characters and the situations they find themselves in need and demand that! They have very extreme personalities which works well in getting the points across that I think the author is trying to make, about how society judges and treats different people. I felt a number of emotions whilst reading this book - shock, empathy, revulsion to name but a few - and I love how a book can have that impact on a reader. I never knew what was just around the corner and that kept me intrigued throughout.
I'd highly recommend this book if you are looking for something just that little bit different, that is a little challenging and doesn't stop making you think! Can't wait to see what Elizabeth Moore writes next!!
My thanks to the author and publisher for the advanced readers copy in return for a fair and honest review
It centres around a house that contains 3 flats. In each of these flats live some complex characters - Karen lives on the top floor, Nick on the middle floor, and Tam on the ground level. All 3 extremely different characters personality wise, but in their outlook on life they all end up being quite similar as they often feel disconnected from the world they find themselves living in.
Nick starts the story off and the book from his viewpoint is very stark. He suffers from Autism so he has his routines, things often upset him and he enjoys being alone. But he's trying to challenge himself and break free from these chains. His first job at the local hospital morgue seems to be the perfect job for him - the solitude, the routine, the cleanliness...
Tam is a police officer - well he was! He returns after time off after being injured to find they want to move him to a desk job, as his attitudes don't fit with the modern way of policing. He retreats to a world of drink and sex, and investigating what he sees going on around him... his police training comes in very handy as events unfold!
And Karen is a Doctor at the local hospital researching the rise of Autism amongst. She lives alone, preferring her work to her 3 children who are with their father. When she is called on to be 'mum' she doesn't seem to have a maternal bone in her body, and the kids know it and cannot wait to be back with their father. She gets Nick the job at the hospital and sees him as the perfect study for her research... at what cost?
This is an often crude book but I think these characters and the situations they find themselves in need and demand that! They have very extreme personalities which works well in getting the points across that I think the author is trying to make, about how society judges and treats different people. I felt a number of emotions whilst reading this book - shock, empathy, revulsion to name but a few - and I love how a book can have that impact on a reader. I never knew what was just around the corner and that kept me intrigued throughout.
I'd highly recommend this book if you are looking for something just that little bit different, that is a little challenging and doesn't stop making you think! Can't wait to see what Elizabeth Moore writes next!!
My thanks to the author and publisher for the advanced readers copy in return for a fair and honest review
April 6, 2018
When portrayed well, flawed characters lead to good, sometimes great works of fiction. This book has it's share of flawed characters; a hard-ass British police officer, a intolerant and unloving mother and an abused autistic young adult all living on separate floors in a 3 story home. Unfortunately those characters did not deliver a great (or even good) story. The pace was good; the narrative was well told but I found the story nearly pointless, much too over dramatic, very unnecessarily uncomfortable (necrophilia, child abuse, horrible parenting practices) and rather uninteresting. Only the enlightened turnaround in character by the police officer saved this from a 1 star rating. I got this book as part of a Net Galley giveaway but it didn't live up to its promise -- Failing grade all around.
March 26, 2018
I picked up The Man on the Middle Floor because I was intrigued by the description. I was not impressed. Nick’s violence, anger and sexuality were difficult to face. I know these are issues with autistic adults but Elizabeth S Moore repeatedly pushes these aspects to the reader. It makes him impossible to identify with. Equally disturbing is Karen, who is so obsessed with her research that she is guilty of child neglect. Her selfishness and her inability to connect with or empathize with others make her a figure who it is easier to simply dislike than to understand. While she functions, it is impossible to say that she functions well, and her subsequent decay seems almost like justice. The third player, Tam is the most human of the three characters. His detachment is not born of mental illness or obsession, but rather an environment that is changing faster than he is. Of the three, he is the only character concerned about others and what they are going through.
The Man on the Middle Floor is intended as an instructive novel, but Elizabeth Moore uses her prose as a hammer, simultaneously bludgeoning the inclusion movement and reiterating that readers don’t have the ability to understand. Equally it attacks intellectualism (in the form of Karen). The Man on the Middle Floor is not a comfortable read. At the same time, it isn’t particularly edifying.
The Man on the Middle Floor will not appeal to the majority of readers, particularly those looking for escapism. It may be of more interest to readers interested in portrayals of autism and mental illness. I cannot recommend it to a general audience.
3 / 5
I received a copy of The Man on the Middle Floor from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
-- Crittermom
The Man on the Middle Floor is intended as an instructive novel, but Elizabeth Moore uses her prose as a hammer, simultaneously bludgeoning the inclusion movement and reiterating that readers don’t have the ability to understand. Equally it attacks intellectualism (in the form of Karen). The Man on the Middle Floor is not a comfortable read. At the same time, it isn’t particularly edifying.
The Man on the Middle Floor will not appeal to the majority of readers, particularly those looking for escapism. It may be of more interest to readers interested in portrayals of autism and mental illness. I cannot recommend it to a general audience.
3 / 5
I received a copy of The Man on the Middle Floor from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
-- Crittermom
March 17, 2018
Out April 12th, 2018. I received a digital copy of this book from #netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Three neighbors live in a flat. They don't know each other very well, but in a short amount of time they will know each other very well. Through a series of events, their lives become intertwined in the most unimaginable way.
While the premise of this story sounded intriguing, I felt a little disappointed by the follow through. There was a good attempt at setting up this interweaving web between the characters, but I found at least two of the three main characters to be really unlikable. While I love unlikable characters who are well written, this was not the case. There's a dark undercurrent belying much of these characters motivations, and unfortunately this mixture doesn't earn it any points.
There is an overall theme of metal health awareness among a number of other things, but the story often finds itself bashing you over the head with it. Sometimes it's nice to trust the reader to interpret themes as they see fit, and sometimes you have to bash them over the head with it.
It's a quick read and has some interesting moments.
Three neighbors live in a flat. They don't know each other very well, but in a short amount of time they will know each other very well. Through a series of events, their lives become intertwined in the most unimaginable way.
While the premise of this story sounded intriguing, I felt a little disappointed by the follow through. There was a good attempt at setting up this interweaving web between the characters, but I found at least two of the three main characters to be really unlikable. While I love unlikable characters who are well written, this was not the case. There's a dark undercurrent belying much of these characters motivations, and unfortunately this mixture doesn't earn it any points.
There is an overall theme of metal health awareness among a number of other things, but the story often finds itself bashing you over the head with it. Sometimes it's nice to trust the reader to interpret themes as they see fit, and sometimes you have to bash them over the head with it.
It's a quick read and has some interesting moments.
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