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Cheque-Mate & Other Tales of the Unexpected
 
 

Cheque-Mate & Other Tales of the Unexpected [Kindle Edition]

Anne Coates
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Product Description

Ellie and Gemma had always wanted to start their own business together. They were fed up with working for other people and wanted to take control of their own lives.

There is just one problem.

Bank managers won't lend money to young women with no collateral.

Then Gemma meets Damien. Good-looking, charming and successful, with a string of successful companies, he offers to help them out.

But Damien is not what he appears to be.

And Gemma soon discovers that in business only the ruthless succeed.

Cheque-Mate is the first in this stunning collection of short stories with a twist by Anne Coates.

From murder to infidelity to betrayal, these modern tales of the unexpected are packed with memorable characters and nail-biting twists.

Anne Coates is the founder of the Parenting Without Tears website and has contributed articles on family and parenting issues to an array of newspapers including The Guardian and The Scotsman, as well as consumer magazines like Bella and Practical Parenting.

Anne is the author of five books: Teenscene Pregnancy, Women & Sport, Your Only Child, Applying to University the Essential Guide and University Survival Guide. She is a regular guest on BBC Asian Network and gives talks to schools.

Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher.

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 131 KB
  • Print Length: 37 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B008G1FI5M
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #73,813 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars short story collection - in the classic tradition 16 July 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Absolutely how short stories should be - you don't see the twist coming.

Some of the stories cover what you think will be the familiar theme of infidelity - but others deal with other kinds of relationships and other betrayals equally powerfully.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The strange thing was that the stories weren't so strange and that in itself was rather unexpected. In bringing the reader these curiously normal tales, the book lives up to its title of being `unexpected'. The book, made up of a collection of ten stories, is a thrilling concoction of disturbing yet enthralling, terrifying yet exciting and ridiculous yet captivating but at the same time it places the reader in an everyday situation; thus doling out a huge dollop of ordinary with a side of sinister. I read about an average woman who struggled with her career and who was treated badly by her lover (who hasn't been there?) but who overcomes the worst of it with a best friend in tow, a successful business and humorous consequences (who doesn't hope to get there?). Maybe the reader isn't going to judge this book by its cover, but it will definitely be judged by its title, which is enough to pique anyone's curiosity. The opening story gives the reader a flavour of what is to come; stories with an ironic tone and a `serves you right' kind of twist at the end of the tales.

The stories read like someone telling you about real life experiences rather than a complex work of fiction, with easy-to-follow plots and relatable characters. Anne Coates' tales ooze the same appeal as any news item or real-life article in a magazine; she is able to draw the reader in with a simple and clever combination of I-can't-believe-this-is-happening yet it-could-happen-to-anyone type of story-telling. The reader wants to be absorbed in the text and this is the perfect way to keep you hooked. The characters are the epitome of humanity; strong-willed but vulnerable. They are flawed because they are human and this is one of the most attractive characteristics of protagonists in any good read.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Eminently readable 24 July 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This collection of stories, all with a twist at the end, were a delight to read. Anne Coates' style is eminently readable and the stories just pull you along. Each story was a satisfying read. Can recommend.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Some good tales 4 Dec 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
A collection of 10 short stories which often, but not always involve murder. I tried to assign each story a mark out of 10 and ended with a total of 63 out of 100, but of course this is very subjective. The best one for me (already mentioned by another reviewer) was "Out of Sight". I won't spoil the plot, but I gave it a 9 -easily in the Roald Dahl / Jeffrey Archer league for short stories. The book is short enough to read completely in a couple of hours, so I'm surprised at the £1.99 price (it was free when I got it). I'd have thought a 77p tag would be more appropriate - not because it's not a good read, but the 10 very short stories make a very short book. One reviewer has commented on typos. Not too many (maybe it's been edited since?), but there were several annoying US spellings (somber, neighbor, misdemeanor...) and a few obvious typos, but not too bad. I note this is Anne Coates' first fiction offering. I look forward to more.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A devilishly clever collection 25 Sep 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The title of this collection of short stories grabbed my attention, because it is reminiscent of the glorious collections by Roald Dahl. I found that in these devilishly clever tales Anne Coates draws you in, teases you, then delivers a neat little twist in each story. Some of the tales made me smile and others sent a shiver down the spine. The thing is that you never know which way the story is going to go, which is why they are so engaging. She understands all of the requirements of the short story and she writes beautifully. An ideal collection for the train, the waiting room or a quiet spell in the easy chair. I will certainly be looking out for the next collection.
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2.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly poorly edited 10 Aug 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am not sure how the other reviewers have arrived at their 5 star ratings as this book did nothing for me. I didn't hate it (hence 2 stars rather than 1 - see Amazon annotations when awarding stars), but the stories contained in this book were (to me) unoriginal and repetative. Now under normal cirumstances I would have said the work was OK (3 stars at a push), but the whole book was full of simple mistakes where the wrong word was used, and I am not talking about a difference of opinion regarding the use of language, I am talking about WRONG words. Illustrative example (not from text) 'the women had bright bed hair' (should obviously be red), or ' he eat the sandwich' (should obviously be ate)

The pages were riddled with these mistakes and this clear lack of proof reading by the author should have been picked up by an editor - Endevour Press being those responsible for bring this work to market.

I would usually advise caution about buying this book due to its predictable, repetative nature(wait for a special offer or borrow it if your really curious), but the lack of editing screams DO NOT BUY!
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An unsettling collection 29 July 2012
By Antonia
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
These short stories successfully blend the everyday and familiar with unexpected plot twists. This collection was the perfect length, kept fast paced and entertaining through the cast of complex and unpredictable characters from stalkers, murderers to the more benign nosey neighbours. It is this contrast of the mundane, everyday and glimpses of real evil that create such a menacing and unsettling tone which pervades the collection. I hadn't read any fiction from Anne Coates before but her skilful and enthralling writing has left me wanting more.
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