New Years Eve at Toppers House, North Londons most popular suicide spot. And four strangers are about to discover that doing away with yourself isnt quite the private act theyd each expected. Perma-tanned Martin Sharps a disgraced breakfast TV presenter who had it all - the family, the pad, the great career - and wasted it away. Killing himself is Martins logical response to an unlivable life.

Maureen has to do it tonight, because of Matty being in the home. He was never able to do any of the normal things kids do - like walk or talk - and his loving mum cant cope any more. Half-crazed with heartbreak, loneliness, adolescent angst, seven Bacardi Breezers and two Special Brews, Jesss ready to jump, to fly off the roof.

Finally, theres JJ - tall, cool, American, looks like a rock-star -whos weighed down with a heap of problems, and pizza. Four strangers, who moments before were convinced that they were alone and going to end it all that way, share out the pizza and begin to talk… only to find that they have even less in common than first suspected.

Funny, sad and deeply moving, Nick Hornbys A Long Way Down is a novel that asks some of the big questions: about life and death, strangers and friendship, love and pain, and whether a group of losers, and pizza, can really see you through a long, dark night of the soul.