In this collection of short stories, Kevin Barry places his characters on the brink of despair, playfully dangling them over the edge for the reader's pleasure. The acclaimed author of City of Bohane packs his narratives with wit and surreal imagery: a disco to distract from a fatal flood; a terrorist goth.

Barry's writing is frequently disparaging. Poking fun at his characters and, at times, his readers, he passes judgment on everyone with the same cynical eye. But that is not to say his stories are monotonous. From love, loss, regret and desire, the Irish author combines the real, the bizarre, and the mundane. His fluid style escorts the reader through a world that is funny, tragic, relentless, endearing and, well, very similar to this one. His profound understanding of western society is married to dialect-heavy prose to produce a startlingly unique voice. Ultimately, these skilfully crafted narratives leave you questioning your own estimations of the human condition.