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'An utterly compelling set of shorts filled with fascinating characters and cleverly cultured plots. Highly recommended!' The Wishing Shelf

REVIEW
I happen to be a BIG fan of the 'short story'. But I'm picky. You see, a good short story needs a number of elements for it to work. Firstly, it needs strong characters, the sort you remember; that stick in your mind. Secondly, it needs to be clever, with thought-provoking plots. And, thirdly, it needs to 'get going from the off' and finish with a twist. I'm happy to inform all of you that this book ticks almost every box. From the very sweet opening story (Sweat) of a woman remembering the man she loved and lost, to All Knowledge, about a man who's addicted to books, this fascinating set of shorts offers readers enthralling plots, interesting characters, and a host of tantalising dilemmas.
There were a number of aspects to Elizabeth Bruce's writing I particularly enjoyed. For a start, there's a good flow to her prose; it's never overly complex, and she's excellent at showing off her characters' odd and memorable ways. I also enjoyed the way every story started with 'a dollar'. I liked the way this connected the shorts, grounding them in the reality of what a dollar can mean to different people. Finally, I liked how the book was multi-themed: poverty, loss, ethics, love to name just four.
So, if you happen to be on the hunt for a book of shorts that is always insightful, and often rather witty too, this is for you. I suspect most readers will enjoy getting to know (if only for a page or two) this wonderful array of characters, and they'll be avidly turning the page to see what happens to them.