Customer Reviews

A Twist in the Tale

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The collection of these simplistic short stories confirms that the author, Jeffrey Archer, caught the exact nerve of common men and their perenial passion for unadulterated entertainment. Jeffrey Archer has accurately depicted each one of these pieces to form a complete and seemingly moralistic episodes. Couple of stories are humourous in themselves while others are quite dramatic and touching. But the driving characteristic of each story is it's amazing climax. Once you realized that the stories have twist in the end, you start guessing the end afterwards and each time you fail. Its only the author who can think of such unbelievable, yet realistic, climax.
Highly recommended for those who don't want to be bothered by involvement of philosophical doses, complexity or mystery.

I am a big fan of Jeffrey Archer. I love his long novels and deep characterizations. This book was a bit different for me. When I first purchased it, I didn't know it was a collection of short stories. After reading the first story, I left it sitting by my beside for several weeks, then picked it up and read the rest in two days. The only reason I set it aside was that it surprised me when the first story ended--that's when I discovered it was a book of short stories. (I enjoy Jeffrey Archer so much that I bought it quickly, just looking at his name on the cover, passing through an airport, not noticing this book was not a novel like all his others.)

Most of these stories can be read in 30 minutes, while the first story might take one hour. The book is very appropriately named, because the very end of each story has a bizarrre "twist" that you don't expect. The twist happens literally in the last sentence or two of each story, and the reader is completely surprised.

Compared to most novels, these stories move incredibly fast. In spite of that, characterization is revealed well, as the stories move. There is quite a variety in the stories presented--in one story, he even writes as a woman. I highly enjoyed this book. Anyone who enjoys either short stories, or loves Jeffrey Archer's novels will enjoy it, too. The only reason I have rated it four stars instead of five, is that I personally enjoy novels much more than short stories-short stories end far too quickly for me.

A Twist in the Tale is the most exciting of Archer's collection of short stories book. The stories simply grip you from the start and you wouldn't guess it right how they would end no matter how hard you try to. They get particularly interesting towards the end. The plots are all too unpredictable and the writing is fast-paced, smooth and rich.. It's simply vintage Archer and with other collections like The Usurper: and Other Stories, Runaway, Ward No. 6 and Other Stories (Barnes & Noble Classics), The Union Moujik (The Union Muzhik), I am in the phase of my life where I am enjoying short fiction the most.

As with all the Jeffrey Archer books I have read so far, an excellent read. I would consider it fairly 'light' reading - ideal to read in bed as you get the whole story in one hit! Yes, a few of the outcomes are fairly predictable but that doesn't detract from the actual read itself.

This book is written by Jeffery Archer. It is a collection of short stroies where the endings are unpredictable and the reader has no idea what is coming. The different stories vary from a story which ends up being about cats to a story about 2 blokes betting over a strange woman. The book isn't expensive and is well worth what it costs. If you have read this book and like it, you may want to read others by the same writter. These are books such as Twelve Red Herrings and A quiver full of arrows. I have read 4 books now and A twist in the tale is my favourite because of it's ability to suprise the reader. However once this book has been read, if read again the element of suprise is lost

I am a big fan of Jeffrey Archer and thoroughly enjoyed this book of self contained short stories. Each story had a good plot and a sharp twist that you do not see coming ! Each story was well written, this book had me gripped to the end and left me wanting more ! This is a light hearted, easy to follow, classic book. Cheap and affordable entertainment, I recommend this book !

As an avid Jeffrey Archer fan I found this book a good choice, the stories were varied and although not mysteries some had surprising endings. A good book for the sunlounger.

i is a very intresting collections of short story witch have top be read to the end to be able to understand it . it is not one of those books that you can predict half way through.

This is a great little book to read in the bath or on a bus or plane.
Stories are interesting and easy to read and are just the right length.

Was far more impressed with this short story collection than some of the other poor attempts I have read