"All sorts of faggotry on display around here today. It seems one of the owner’s boyfriends was beaten to death in the park last night, and now everyone is of course blaming us. By “us” I naturally mean anyone straight, male and under thirty. . . ."

Whether it’s a middle-aged man travelling to Mexico in search of a troubled sister or a thirty-something restaurant manager trying desperately to hold her life together, this stunning debut collection of interconnected stories unerringly charts the emotional journeys of a wonderful cast of characters, none more charming, interesting or endearing than the woman who lends her name to its title. Filled with compassion, humour and eloquence, A Clap for Cadence signals the arrival of a talented young writer of uncommon dexterity and maturity of voice, whose wholly original creations are as real and as recognizable as ourselves.