TheeighttalesinthiscollectionbyNancyEtchemendyweavegreatsuspensewithinterestingplotsandunusualcharacters."LunchatEtienne's"isastorynarratedbyawomanwhoissurroundedbydeathbutdoesn'tseemtorealizeit."CatinGlass"isaboutamysterious,malevolentsculptedcatthatcommitsgruesomemurdersandistoldfromthepointofviewofthesculpture'sfrightenedandbewilderedowner.Thereisalso"TheSailor'sBargain",acaptivatingstoryaboutanorphanwhosehauntingdreamsleadtoastarkrevelationofanotherlife,and"TheLilyandtheWeaver'sHeart",inwhichaone-eyedJacinthdarestotakeherplaceinacruelworldbyriskingajourneythatisusuallyreservedforthemostable-bodiedmenoftheculture.