Enviable prose, minimal frights.
First and foremost, this is a literary fiction collection that explores relationships. Within these relationships, masculinity is on trial and closely observed. The horror or supernatural elements in these stories are ancillary to the literary storytelling or even absent from the main plot.

I first read Ballingrud’s Wounds collection which was much more focused on horror and the fantastical. It was a fun collection. This one was less fun for me as I expected typical stories in horror fashion. Instead, one gets a number of stories with gorgeous prose and despicable, everyday characters. I think his aim was to show there can be a monster within anyone, in regular people.

Standout stories for me were Sunbleached, The Way Station, and The Good Husband. Go for a read if you really enjoy literary writing with subtle horror.