In this collection of short tales born in a creative writing group, Susan Widdicombe portrays the vicissitudes of an eclectic group of characters as they struggle to overcome life’s many problems. A dog’s fidelity to his mistress is put to the test in ‘Taking Sides’ while the joys and compromises of old age are highlighted in ‘A Walk in the Park’ and ‘Sex and Love’. Some of the stories are set in Southern Africa while others take us to France, Italy or Spain. Some celebrate the comedy of the human experience while others highlight its tragedy. But all invite us to reflect on our options and on the consequences of our choices as we navigate through the changing kaleidoscope of our individual lives on Planet Earth and elsewhere. Tales of Inner Turmoil I offers us a set of quirky short stories as entertaining as they are thought-provoking.