Barry Pearce (2)

Absolutely terrific short stories, with believable characters inhabiting the gritty neighborhoods of Chicago. No Magnificent Mile tourism here, Barry Pearce knows the real city and draws its inhabitants with pathos and sincerity. I appreciated how he never inserts himself, as the author, leaving plenty of room for the characters to win us over, despite their delusions and falsehoods. I devoured every story and re-read them as well. Highly recommend.