These short stories are dark, jagged, and very raw, as gripping as they are deeply unsettling. I love finding authors who lead me to and through places my instincts otherwise tell me to avoid, but I go willingly because I trust that they aren’t writing to exploit anyone or anything. Thus the experiences are rich and challenging and thought-provoking, challenging without leaving me feeling violated. It also helped that this book was recommended by an implicitly trusted friend. Now I’m hooked on Maryse Meijer.