Changeling, and Other Stories

This modest collection gathers a dozen short pieces that wander from a mythic parliament in ancient Thebes to a quiet ode to a forgotten lady, from a mischievous Irish folk tale to a stark courtroom drama. Byrne’s voice is both erudite and colloquial, letting humor sit beside sober observation without losing the thread of human curiosity. Each story feels like a quiet conversation with a friend, inviting the listener to linger over the details.

The opening tale, set in a January‑dusk‑lit courtroom, follows the trial of Anna Janssen, accused of a shooting that left a wealthy guest dead. The judge, jurors, and a nervous witness populate a drab room that suddenly hums with tension as the prosecutor’s questions clash with the defendant’s unsettling composure. With a golden‑tinged skin and sea‑blue eyes, Janssen appears more myth than murderer, and the listener is left questioning whether the evidence really tells the whole story.