I read this over two days as it was fairly un-put-down-able. Most of the stories are linked by the characters of Bette, whose home of many years is condemned after the Christchurch earthquake of 2011, her daughter Bronwyn, her granddaughter, Flick and some other relatives.

There are also some stand alone stories. But they all focus on the long lasting damage that the earthquakes created, both physically and mentally.