Will has been all around the world, yet has never left home, such is the creative parenting of his single mother, Diane, whose paralyzing agoraphobia keeps them trapped Inside.   “If I Fall, If I Die” reminiscent of “Room” by Emma Donoghue, examines the life of a mother and son trapped in isolation, although in Christie’s version, the prison is self made.

As in “Room”, it is the child who first crosses the threshold to the Outside world, and here is where the similarities end.  Will’s encounter with the outer world is revolutionary – explosive, controversial, and dangerous.

Micheal Christie has weaved together a tale of mystery, family secrets, and the legacy of mental illness.  Set in Thunder Bay, Ontario readers will relate to the demise of a once thriving industrial town, now devastated by shutdowns.

When cold corruption meets the naive curiosity of youth, who will prevail? Read and find out.