Fifty stories that find the extraordinary in the everyday. Quietly humorous and deeply human. From northern piers and quiet city benches to kitchens humming with memory, these tales travel through love, loss, friendship and chance. A girl inherits a time machine hidden in a cellar. A man rides the Saltburn cliff tram until he finds his purpose. Two strangers share a winter morning with York Minster glowing before them. Sometimes funny, sometimes bittersweet, always full of feeling, these are stories that linger. A hand-drawn illustration that captures its mood and setting accompanies each story, from seaside fairgrounds and busy race days to the quiet corners of small-town life. Written with wit, compassion and a craftsman’s ear for language, this collection will appeal to readers of Alan Bennett, William Trevor and Julian Barnes. Start reading today and rediscover the quiet power of a well-told story. ★★★★★ “A delightful set of short stories showing how extraordinary the most ordinary day can be. A Wishing Shelf 5-star ‘recommended’ read!” ★★★★★ A delightful set of short stories, showing how extraordinary the most ordinary day can be, and a Wishing Shelf 5-star 'recommended' read! I was delighted to settle down with this book which has everything I enjoy in a good read: wit, wonderful characters, and rich settings from a writer who's a talented storyteller. I'm going to focus on a particular story in the book entitled (simply) Hotel. It's the story of a man with military skills from serving in Bosnia who's on holiday; the sort of place you will find lots of old people - or, as the author so poetically puts it: a forest of walking sticks. The story is about his day there, unexpected events, and a darts match. It's simply wonderful. I particularly loved how the protagonist diffused the simmering anger in the pub. This is the sort of story I enjoy - a story with humanity and wit, with an underlying suspense, and of not knowing what's going to happen but wanting to know SO badly. I'm 100% delighted to recommend this book to readers who enjoy richly drawn characters doing what we all do; what we CAN all do - with the odd surprise thrown in. The author, BT McCusker, is a sublime writer; so much so, I'm going to check out his other book, Two Camps: Marshmallows & Gannets and the inexorable will to live. Hopefully, it's just as good. A 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review