I may have picked out my five books of the year a little early. Daddy's is a collection of 23 jagged little micro-fictions set in the rural south. They're dark as hell, even within the context of the genre. Hunter's spare, sharp prose doesn't so much grab you as hold you down and give you a kicking. It's tough stuff about folk so far down on their luck they've long since lost hope of ever hauling it back. Packaged up like a bait box, it tempts you in deeper even though you know you don't really want to. Stand-outs are Food Luck, Finding There and in particular the shockingly unforgettable final story - Marie Noe - Talks To You About Her Kids. I feel a little guilty only handing out four stars. There were just two or three I didn't feel quite hit the mark. And I just reckon her next stuff might be even better.