3.5/4

This book is billed as a collection of short stories which, technically it is. However I actually felt that most of the stories felt like the first chapter of a longer text. Or rather I got so interested in the story that I wanted them to carry on. Few of them felt rounded off the way a short story does.

I hope that explains the 3.5-4 rating. I simply wanted more of the stories. It is an art to write a short story and much as I enjoyed the actual writing- which is good - I didn't want more different starts, I wanted Mr Patinkin to carry on what he'd started. If I'm lucky he'll read this review and turn some of the short beginnings into novellas or novels. I can hope.

Thankyou to Netgalley for the advance review copy.