Colin Lapsley, aged fifteen, lives in Ward 44, an experimental psychiatric institution run by Dr Parkinson. His best friend is Mango, a slightly older boy who would be relatively normal but for his uncontrollable urges to enfold people in inescapable bear hugs.

Colin does not make fun of Mango, and Mango, in turn, is sympathetic, if not understanding, about the Shiny Guys. The latter have been at the periphery of Colin’s vision since his sister was kidnapped in the park on his watch. Recently though, they have become bolder, so Colin prepares himself for the battle he knows is imminent.

The surreal nature of The Shiny Guys is fitting, given its themes; it presents a distorted mirror of reality. Rather than preaching about mental illness, the book shows us what it means for these particular characters.

Although it is a shift from the humour of Siggy and Amber (2009), MacLeod’s dark humour is still evident, though it presents itself rather differently than in his previous works. His frank and sometimes dark portrayal of Ward 44 neatly frames the quirks of its inmates. The Shiny Guys is well-timed, perceptive, and an entertaining read.