A short story collection where between each story MacLaverty takes a page or two to make pithy asides to his readers. The title story set in Belfast during the troubles has a man routinely at the end of a favorite TV show taking his dog for a walk with the intent of being back in time half an hour later to watch another program. What happens in between is he's picked up at gunpoint by loyalist terrorists posing as IRA gunmen who drive him around with the object of convincing themselves that he belongs to the other (Catholic) side and so would be worthy of execution. Hunched down on the floorboard with a gun to his head he evades and deflects and squirms his way through the interrogation he's subjected to and eventually frustrated the two gunmen drive him back to the lamppost where he's left his dog tied and as luck would have it he makes it home just in time for his show. Many of the stories in this collection refer to the troubles. A policeman on guard watching a football (soccer) match taking place a short distance away on a field of a Catholic high school strikes up a conversation with the goalie when the play is at the other end. This conversation goes on and off throughout the game and there is no problem at all for them to talk about the sport but when the direction of their commentary heads into the religious and political sphere the insults and threats start to fly. MacLaverty is very good at understatement and hardly parochial minded. His writing is fluid, empathetic and compelling. He reminds me a bit of William Trevor who is another very accomplished Irish writer who excels at the short story. Anyway I found it a good read and would encourage others to read it also. ( )