'The dangerous potential of leaping to conclusions is the backbone of Ross Watkins’ ambitious and deceptively clever debut novel for adults, The Apology. Using a cool, clear style, Watkins has created a suspenseful narrative in which the reader’s expectations are slowly chiseled away as the plot explodes anticipated versions of reality. The novel begins with a brief, untitled and anonymously voiced first page. This opening describes the titular apology and drip-feeds enough context so that, before the narrative even begins, we, as readers, have made various assumptions. The wily ambiguity of this introductory text is only evident as the plot accelerates towards the climax and the reader recognises their initial interpretations to have been dangerously simplistic.' (Introduction)