"Full of mystery and surprise, this debut collection distinguishes Madeline Sonik as one of Canada's most versatile and imaginative up-and-coming writers."
-Susan Musgrave

Alarming - edgy, often disturbing, and superbly written - these short stories illuminate the dark, troubled heart of human existence.

A young girl escapes the bonds of her abusive adopted mother. A woman does not leave her rotting apartment for over a month. A widower passes through his wife's garden for the first time. A cosmetician slowly destroys her family. Dark and compelling, Drying the Bones deftly explores the emotional lives of its characters with electrifying concision.

These stories need not rely on a trend or a label for their success: startling and cleverly crafted, they distinguish Sonik as one of Canada's finest up-and-coming writers in any category. She brandishes a unique ability to handle a surprisingly broad range of characters and settings, all with the same power to send shivers up your spine.