If one would like a flash introduction to Jeffrey Archer, read Unique, the first story in this collection, which he wrote overnight responding to a challenge of writing a hundred word story - exactly.
If one wants a better introduction, try As The Crow Flies, or even better, A Matter Of Honour.
................................................................................................
Confession is set in WWII and does use some of the background but really could have been any background, but for the collaborator bit; the real punch is quite elsewhere.
................................................................................................
VIEW OF AUVERS-SUR-OISE is certainly interesting, piques ones interest, but is more like an introduction to a full fledged novel, or at least a small fraction of a much longer story. As given, it leaves one wondering, was this an answer to another challenge, to write in ten minutes about guys at the next table in the local pub?
A GENTLEMAN AND A SCHOLAR is certainly interesting, and not just due to the exposition on Shakespeare. Wish one knew if the professor is from a real life character, or based on one.
Delightful quote by the professor thrown at the challenger - "‘“I would challenge you to a battle of wits,” Mr Lowell, “but I see you are unarmed.”’"
VIEW OF AUVERS-SUR-OISE is certainly interesting, piques ones interest, but is more like an introduction to a full fledged novel, or at least a small fraction of a much longer story. As given, it leaves one wondering, was this an answer to another challenge, to write in ten minutes about guys at the next table in the local pub?
................................................................................................
A GENTLEMAN AND A SCHOLAR is certainly interesting, and not just due to the exposition on Shakespeare. Wish one knew if the professor is from a real life character, or based on one.
Delightful quote by the professor thrown at the challenger - "‘“I would challenge you to a battle of wits,” Mr Lowell, “but I see you are unarmed.”’"
................................................................................................
ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR brings back the particular sort of delight in Archer's work where virtue triumphs despite all manipulations to the contrary by the manipulating vile.
THE CAR PARK ATTENDANT continues the quintessential Jeffrey Archer brand delight.
ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR brings back the particular sort of delight in Archer's work where virtue triumphs despite all manipulations to the contrary by the manipulating vile.
................................................................................................
THE CAR PARK ATTENDANT continues the quintessential Jeffrey Archer brand delight.
................................................................................................
A WASTED HOUR begins to thrill when one suspects the germ of the story, which is disclosed at the end, as soon as the two quote Steinbeck to each other; but why the title, remains the mystery.
THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS could very well be the best of the lot, beginning as it does about old classmates, memories of school and an excursion. Only, this excursion is from Leeds to Berlin and then Dresden, Munich and Dachau. The finale is quite unexpected, and a good one.
A WASTED HOUR begins to thrill when one suspects the germ of the story, which is disclosed at the end, as soon as the two quote Steinbeck to each other; but why the title, remains the mystery.
................................................................................................
THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS could very well be the best of the lot, beginning as it does about old classmates, memories of school and an excursion. Only, this excursion is from Leeds to Berlin and then Dresden, Munich and Dachau. The finale is quite unexpected, and a good one.
................................................................................................
THE CUCKOLD is as delightful Archer as could be.
THE HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME uses the format he explored much more in Heads You Win, where the author explores several possible scenarios. Here it's a choice of three possible endings, and B is clearly the best - they do get rapped on knuckles and shamed, but it's not tragic.
THE CUCKOLD is as delightful Archer as could be.
................................................................................................
THE HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME uses the format he explored much more in Heads You Win, where the author explores several possible scenarios. Here it's a choice of three possible endings, and B is clearly the best - they do get rapped on knuckles and shamed, but it's not tragic.
................................................................................................
DOUBLE OR QUITS is as unpleasant as a realistic tale about gambling and related tragedies has to be, even when things are very different from the way one expects.
THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT is again a typical, delightful tale by the author, with just the right level of suspense, where no serious physical crime is anywhere near horizon, and eventually the guy triumphs despite being caught. In addition there is the two couples being comfortable and happy, after they almost lost everything. Nice.
DOUBLE OR QUITS is as unpleasant as a realistic tale about gambling and related tragedies has to be, even when things are very different from the way one expects.
................................................................................................
THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT is again a typical, delightful tale by the author, with just the right level of suspense, where no serious physical crime is anywhere near horizon, and eventually the guy triumphs despite being caught. In addition there is the two couples being comfortable and happy, after they almost lost everything. Nice.
................................................................................................
A GOOD TOSS TO LOSE is gentle, has humour, and more, set in Rugby and in trenches of Marne, but a jolt at the end.
"As Ernst stood by the font alongside Oliver’s family, he couldn’t help wondering what would have happened if he had won the toss."
Good question, depending on whether prisoners of war were safe in German custody in WWI. In WWII they certainly weren't.
Usually a title in bold in this book signifies a new story that commences on the next page, but the story here is followed by a page titled POSTSCRIPT, and it isn't clear if that's meant to be a postscript to the one just read, or can be taken as an independent one; it makes the story above a little less painful, reminding one that WWI wasn't over when it was over.
"19 September 1943
"LIEUTENANT HANS OTTO GRUBER was blown up by a landmine while serving on the Western Front. He died three days later.
"6 June 1944
"CAPTAIN ARTHUR OLIVER JACKSON MC was killed while leading his platoon on the beaches of Normandy.
"15 November 1944
"PROFESSOR ERNST HELMUT GRUBER was executed by firing squad in Berlin for the role he played in the failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler at Wolf’s Lair.
"May They Rest in Peace"
WHO KILLED THE MAYOR? Trust Archer to write about an idyllic little village on a remote hilltop in Italy, doing well on its three products par excellence (a wine, olive oil and truffles, but of course) that only top gourmet customers of top restaurants can know about, and then begin the reader chuckle - by having a Johny come lately goon get murdered, local policeman vanish after communicating to Naples and no one in the village speak to the detective sent to investigate the murder of the goon. Why set it in Italy? For a change, one may suppose.
And hilarious it does get, with people confessing to the murder one after another, except they didn't! The second one confessing even asks how the man was murdered, after the detective rises to leave, offering a bottle of his product for value! And so on, until he has well over forty false confessions, an offer of a job and the luxurious residence from the village, on a condition - that he marry the local girl he's courting. Then, another confession.
A GOOD TOSS TO LOSE is gentle, has humour, and more, set in Rugby and in trenches of Marne, but a jolt at the end.
"As Ernst stood by the font alongside Oliver’s family, he couldn’t help wondering what would have happened if he had won the toss."
Good question, depending on whether prisoners of war were safe in German custody in WWI. In WWII they certainly weren't.
Usually a title in bold in this book signifies a new story that commences on the next page, but the story here is followed by a page titled POSTSCRIPT, and it isn't clear if that's meant to be a postscript to the one just read, or can be taken as an independent one; it makes the story above a little less painful, reminding one that WWI wasn't over when it was over.
"19 September 1943
"LIEUTENANT HANS OTTO GRUBER was blown up by a landmine while serving on the Western Front. He died three days later.
"6 June 1944
"CAPTAIN ARTHUR OLIVER JACKSON MC was killed while leading his platoon on the beaches of Normandy.
"15 November 1944
"PROFESSOR ERNST HELMUT GRUBER was executed by firing squad in Berlin for the role he played in the failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler at Wolf’s Lair.
"May They Rest in Peace"
................................................................................................
WHO KILLED THE MAYOR? Trust Archer to write about an idyllic little village on a remote hilltop in Italy, doing well on its three products par excellence (a wine, olive oil and truffles, but of course) that only top gourmet customers of top restaurants can know about, and then begin the reader chuckle - by having a Johny come lately goon get murdered, local policeman vanish after communicating to Naples and no one in the village speak to the detective sent to investigate the murder of the goon. Why set it in Italy? For a change, one may suppose.
And hilarious it does get, with people confessing to the murder one after another, except they didn't! The second one confessing even asks how the man was murdered, after the detective rises to leave, offering a bottle of his product for value! And so on, until he has well over forty false confessions, an offer of a job and the luxurious residence from the village, on a condition - that he marry the local girl he's courting. Then, another confession.
................................................................................................
THE PERFECT MURDER is a grisly, hair-raising final story in the collection. It's also another 100 words story, written in response to a Reader's Digest contest.
THE PERFECT MURDER is a grisly, hair-raising final story in the collection. It's also another 100 words story, written in response to a Reader's Digest contest.
................................................................................................
December 5, 2019.
ISBN 978-1-4472-5232-0
................................................
