Ceridwen Dovey is a writer of fiction, creative non-fiction essays and profiles. Her books include Blood Kin, Only the Animals and In the Garden of Fugitives.

I’ve got Ceridwen’s new novel, Life After Truth, for you and it is fantastically entertaining as well as thought provoking and genre defying.

On the eve of their fifteenth reunion five friends return to Harvard University. The school has been formative for the group. As the scene of their fondest memories it has bound them together. Now spread around the world, the excuse of the reunion propels them back towards younger conceptions for themselves.

Unfortunately reunions are never limited to friends and the group must confront old flames, bullies and the ubiquitous jerk, who is now the son of the American President.

Fred Reese is one of the most despised men in the country, second only to his father, but when he winds up dead - did anyone hate him enough to kill him?

Life After Truth leads with the discovery of the dead Fred Reese and seemingly sets up the reader for a detective style mystery as we seek to uncover the truth. Dovey flips these conventions though and propels us back to the beginning of the reunion and into the psyches of the friends;

Mariam and Rowan were married after graduation. They’ve bucked the trend and stayed in love.

Jomo is charismatic and beautiful, and as a celebrity gemologist gets to see the world.

Eloise never left Harvard. As a celebrated professor of hedonics she seems to have an inside scoop on the happy life.

Jules was a star when the group met her and she still lives the life of one of the world’s most famous actresses.

Back in their old dorms the group are ready to celebrate each other but amidst the triumphs no one can help but look on with some envy at the choices they never made.

Life After Truth is an incredibly sophisticated exploration of life and living. Through flashbacks we come to see how the group have grown from their student days, subtly altering themselves at life's various challenges. Thrown into the reunion, however, we see how amongst old acquaintances we remain the sum of our ill-advised youthful moments.

The story opens up the mysteries of time and the seeming impossible leap from adolescence into adulthood. Dovey exposes each and every one of us for our grappling insecurity and desire for support. In a world of fake news she challenges us with the possibility that the greatest falsehood are the lies we tell about ourselves.

Oh, and the dead son of the president?

You’ll have to read on to find out...