The Plan of Chicago

In this trenchant debut story collection from ghostwriter Pearce, Chicagoans pluck at the fraying bonds of their relationships. In “Enumerator,” Margaret Cieslak-Jablonski, a Polish immigrant, is abandoned by her husband, Jason, after she built up his painting business. In response, she sneaks into his new apartment when he’s away and rearranges things. “Chief O’Neill’s” follows one of the inept Jason’s disgruntled employees, Tommy O’Sullivan, who impulsively quits. Now on his own, Tommy hires expert finisher Patrick Gallagher, who is Black, to help him land higher-end jobs. When he brings Patrick to the bar where he’s a regular, he’s forced to confront the racism in his Irish American social circle. The impressive “Lost and Found” toggles between the perspectives of Somali cab driver Dakhil Ben-Ali and his fare, Candace Pound. A series of misunderstandings ensue after Candace accidentally leaves her purse in Dakhil’s car, and the story builds to a tragic conclusion. Pearce’s prose exudes a solid sense of place, but the author’s real power lies in his ability to trace the emotional toll of his characters’ seemingly small but consequential decisions. It’s an accomplished and assured first outing. (Nov.)