First published 1994
A bailbondsman prowls the streets, tracking down clients who have skipped out on their obligations. His world revolves around human desperation and the thin line between freedom and captivity. In another story, Ashenden confronts his own mortality and the weight of unfulfilled dreams as his life takes an unexpected turn. The third tale follows residents of a condominium as they navigate the complexities of shared living and personal isolation. Each character believes they know what they want, but their quests lead them into territory they never anticipated. Elkin draws these figures with sharp humor and unsparing honesty. The bailbondsman discovers that chasing others means running from himself. Ashenden learns that facing death reshapes everything he thought he understood about living. The condominium dwellers find that proximity to others only amplifies their loneliness. These three interconnected stories reveal how the search for fulfillment often delivers consequences no one sees coming.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: consequences, quests, unfulfilled-dreams
Period: 20th-Century
320 pages · Paperback · David R. Godine, Publisher