A collection of twenty-four stories that are variously exciting, moving, funny, sad, intriguing and satisfying. Some stories are politically correct; most are not. Many of the stories are about people to be admired for how they cope in extremis, or for going above and beyond their duty thus becoming heroes and heroines, friends or lovers in the process. There are stories involving unsavoury and deluded men and women who reveal just as much about humanity as their heroic counterparts, albeit exhibiting less admirable aspects of human behaviour. Each story goes some way towards 'Closing the Gap' that exists between men and women, the lost and lonely, rich and poor, ambitious and disillusioned. If writing forces honesty upon the writer it also makes that honesty evident to the reader and it is to those elements we all recognise and identify with that will bring you the most pleasure when you engage with John Mack's tales.