The tales in this exquisite collection, set largely in Canada, are expertly paced and finely observed ... Many of MacLeod’s stories turn on a volcanic moment — a family’s brush with a serial killer or a boy’s sexual assault. But the author places much of his trust in the value of detail divorced from plot ... His eye is severe but not unfair, venerating the mingled beauty and horror of entangled existences.
Engrossing ... Populated by family and acquaintances of all stripes, MacLeod’s sly tales find characters reconsidering present assumptions and the unknown expanses of their own futures and those of the worlds they inhabit.
A brilliant collection ... Spot-on characterizations ... Throughout, Macleod offers piercing insights into how his characters see themselves in relation to their families. This is a winner.
Meticulous prose and unpredictable characters collide in these short stories ... MacLeod’s collection features eight stories total, nearly all of which feature a compelling opening sentence ... The payoffs don’t always click, but when they do, the precision is a thing to behold ... MacLeod’s second collection abounds with crystallized moments in time.
