This collection of prize-winning short stories opens up worlds of small, finely observed detail, which resonate in the reader’s mind long after the story is finished. From the awkward strain of dissolving relationships to the revealing vagaries of chance occurrences upon ordinary people, the voices that inhabit these worlds speak eloquently of the hidden motivations that propel us all to act. Often without realising it, these characters hold in their hands both the consequences of small decisions and — sometimes — the power of life and death.

Cate Kennedy is one of the best practitioners of the short story in Australia today. In just a few pages, she captures whole lives — the regrets, the successes, the unintended ironies. She reveals how relationships can break down either slowly through the accumulation of grievances, or suddenly, in a rush, with one false step. But she can also show how the love for a partner or child can save us. By turns heart-breaking and richly comic, Dark Roots showcases Kennedy’s many talents.