In this collection, his stories re-center the focus of human drama. An empty-nest couple, separated after years of coexisting, find themselves pulled into the dreams of their silent, gazing rabbit; a mysterious passenger wanders through the caverns of a 1970s LA airport in search of a missing suitcase; a proud great-aunt refuses to apologize as she works to find the right place for everything in her crowded senior's complex. In the adjoining motel room, a serial killer plans his next move; and in a sterile hospital corridor, the physical therapist reaches across the gap, trying to find the right words to describe the most intimate actions of another person's body. A petty argument between two sisters is interrupted by an unexpected visitor.
For MacLeod, the rhythm of our days is continuous, even relentless. Yet, among its beats and measures, across the passing years and seasons, he finds moments of pause, sharp points of inflection, and flashes of clarity that illuminate
"A brilliant collection . . . Macleod offers piercing insights into how his characters see themselves in relation to their families. This is a winner."
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"Meticulous . . . MacLeod's second collection abounds with crystallized moments in time."
Kirkus Reviews
"The tales in this exquisite collection, set largely in Canada, are expertly paced and finely observed . . . [Macleod's] eye is severe but not unfair, venerating the mingled beauty and horror of entangled existences."
