A collection of long short stories, exploring the ways people are burned by emotion. The collection begins with stories set back in colonial times, working forward to contemporary pieces. While mourning for her dead baby, Annie finds solace in burning off the old stubble. An early Premier takes an interest in a Maori child who is lost, but his interest leaves his wife distraught. A couple have a passionate affair, until they are found out. And a strange light in the sky makes Simon’s heart freeze. The stories, written by one of New Zealand’s foremost writers, are subtle and beautifully crafted, intriguing and evocative.