From literary icon Joyce Carol Oates comes a collection of darkly compelling tales.

From Joyce Carol Oates, literary icon and author of Blonde, now a major motion picture, comes a collection of darkly compelling tales. A young professor is convinced she's being followed, but when she confronts her shadow all is not as it seems. A promising student attempts to save her brother from his descent into madness, but finds there may be more to his world than hers. An elderly nun is found dead in her care home, but was it old age or dark secrets that killed her? These biting and beautiful stories force us to confront, one by one, the demons within. Reviews for Joyce Carol Oates: 'A writer of extraordinary strengths.' Guardian 'Oates chillingly depicts the darkness lurking within the everyday.' Sunday Express 'Both haunting and sublime.' Literary Review 'Splendidly chilling.' Financial Times 'Visceral, psychologically involving, and socially astute.' Booklist

"These "tales of darkness and dread" won't put you to sleep, but they'll give you more interesting nightmares" - New York Review of Books

"Oates perfectly captures the atmosphere of fear and well-meaning misunderstanding" - The Times

"A writer of extraordinary strengths" - Guardian

"Extremely compelling... We cannot look away, no matter how gruesome the sight" - Spectator

"Oates chillingly depicts the darkness lurking within the everyday" - Sunday Express