Set in Bombay or Mumbai, the seven stories in this collection are subtle and evocative, and draw a cast of characters that captivates and unnerves. Precise, energetic prose transports the reader into the city's crowded chawls and posh residences, fancy restaurants and roadside tea stalls, and to beaches, clubs, cinemas, and train stations. Taken together, the stories create a literary portrait of a city that is familiar yet confounding.