At first, these disjointed stories of drug and alcohol addicts might seem hard-going. But you get to see the human face behind the statistics and, as the characters find their voice, the tales coalesce and won't let you go. Gradually a picture emerges: the spiral which links the opium grower, the soldier in the killing fields of Afghanistan and the addict. Building to a stunning canvas, it makes for uncomfortable but unforgettable reading.
