This is a collection of twelve varied but thought-provoking pieces of short fiction, written over a long period of time. The intriguingly titled A Quiet Afternoon in the Museum of Torture is a subtle story about our vulnerability through our children. Civil Rights takes a wry look at youthful naivety and dangerous politics, while Lip Reading is an unnerving account of what it's like to be an immigrant in a hostile land. For fans of the supernatural, Stained Glass and the Penny Execution are intriguing and disquieting, while the title story, A Bad Year for Trees, written and first published many years ago, seems to have become more relevant rather than less as the years have gone by. These are stories of love and disillusionment, of mature reflection and the small pleasures and cruelties of everyday life. Catherine Czerkawska is an extensively published writer of highly praised fiction (novels and short stories) non fiction and award winning plays for theatre, BBC radio and television.