Silverback

Set in contemporary Belfast, Silverback opens with the trial of Robert Rusting, accused of murdering his father, a former loyalist hardman who, once that line of business was over, had taken to cross dressing and performing as his female alter ego in local nightclubs.

James Fechner, a surgeon, is on the jury, and finds himself drawn to Rusting, who is acquitted but perhaps not innocent. After the trial, he inserts himself - in another guise - into Rusting''s life, and the two form a close, ambiguous and dark relationship.

Silverback is a powerful portrayal of toxic masculinity. The voice is unforgettable - plain, bold, sometimes even playful. The conclusion is as devastating as it is unexpected.