Somewhere Beneath Those Waves

Monette’s lyrical tales vacillate between despair and hope in this powerful collection. The 25 short stories touch on such weighty topics as the substantial consequences of saving the world, or how ghosts eventually out their killers with frightening results for those who hear and see the revelations. While the tales may be carried by their unusual environments and dilemmas, Monette displays an equally strong gift for characterization. The pair of paranormal investigators in “A Night in Electric Squidland” and “Impostors” are such strong characters that they merit their own, larger work; the gender-bending spy of “Amante Dorée” is a heartbreakingly compelling protagonist. Though the tales vary in theme and tone, there is not a weak note in the collection, and both fans and new readers will be drawn into Monette’s strange and imaginative worlds. (Jan.)