Cat O' Nine Tales: And Other Stories

by Jeffrey Archer

Book Overview

An English lord requires one more chess piece to complete a set that would be worth a fortune. Another man, an accountant, realizes he's achieved nothing in his life--and sets out to make a fortune before he retires. And then there is the author's own favorite, "In the Eye of the Beholder," about a star athlete who has a fateful run-in with a three-hundred-pound woman. Some of these twelve stories were inspired by the two years Jeffrey Archer spent in prison, including "Don't Drink the Water," the tale of a company chairman who tries to poison his wife while on a trip to St. Petersburg--with unexpected consequences. Witty, suspenseful, sad, surprising, and unforgettable, Cat O'Nine Tales is Jeffrey Archer at his best.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312949227
• ISBN13: 9780312949228
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 341 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Jeffry Archer

Cat O'Nine Tales (And Other Stories) (Large Print) Archer is a master at writing. I always enjoy his books. Look forward to more in the future.

The Light in Jeffrey Archers Attic

Jailed in 2001 after having been found guilty of perjury, "Lord" Jeffrey Archer spent much of his time while incarcerated listening to the stories of his fellow inmates, and after adding his own embellishment to each, committing them to paper. The resulting "Cat O'Nine Tales is a delightful collection of another twelve adroitly plotted short stories guaranteed to keep you amused with their portrayal of characters who are shrewd, resourceful, creative, inventive, and wily. These same adjectives might be said to apply to Lord Archer himself whose "tales of unexpected conclusions" always bear witness to his pre-eminent talent as a story-teller. His previous short story collections like A Twist In The Tale - Twelve Short Stories and Twelve Red Herrings as well as his novels (my personal favorite being Kane and Able)have always provided this reader with much pleasure. As for this smorgasbord of morality (or if you prefer...immorality) tales, I once again find myself drawn to certain stories. "Don't Drink the Water" is a cautionary tale which shows us that even a seemingly infallible solution to ones marital problems can have dire consequences while "Charity Begins at Home" deliciously explores one mans ingenious solution to achieving tax free financial security. Adding to the appeal of this book are the amusing and engaging illustrations of Ronald Searle. They possess a guileless charm reminiscent of Shel SilversteinA Light in the Attic (20th Anniversary Edition Book & CD). The unerring simplicity of Searles' drawings coupled with Archers versatility and veracity are sure fire winners.

Not a weak one among the bunch

Archer's short story collection here is perfect. Each story is interesting and has that trademark twist that keeps us coming back for more. The incredible thing is the lack of any weak stories among the bunch. Granted, some move faster than others, while a few seem to take a long time getting where they're going, but they all pay off in the end for the patient reader. Stand out stories include "Maestro" and "The Red King". While some of the stories seem similar in theme (prison), it's understood why and makes sense. A wonderful way to pass the time.

A delectable collection from a master storyteller

I've been a long-time fan of Jeffrey Archer's works, be it his novels [Kane & Abel, First Among Equals, As The Crow Flies] or his short stories. Cat O' Nine Tales marks his fifth collection of short stories, the others being A Quiver Full of Arrows, A Twist in the Tale, Twelve Red Herrings [all three of which have also been compiled into 36: The Collected Short Stories]. The first three collections truly showcase Archer's talents as a craftsman of short stories. The fourth collection To Cut a Long Story Short, while entertaining, seemed, in my opinion, weaker than the earlier three. This current compilation of short stories is quite well-done, though still not in the class of the earlier three. Partly based on ideas Archer obtained whilst incarcerated, e.g. The Man Who Robbed His Own Post Office & Maestro [about an Italian businessman who lands in trouble with the authorities for tax evasion], there are others that revolve around criminal motives ["The Alibi"], deception ["The Commissioner"], romance ["In the Eye of the Beholder"], and also the melancholic "Charity Begins at Home". As is his style, Jeffrey Archer delivers these stories with a dose of wit and doesn't fail to entertain. A light and engaging read.

excellent crime caper anthology

These excellent tales will be on everyone short list for crime caper anthology of the year. Jeffrey Archer says that nine of the original stories were based on contributions from cell mates while the other three came after the author's release from prison. All twelve tales are strong entries especially since the reader does not know until finishing the story whether crime pays in ill gotten gains or with prison time. Ronald Searle's drawings enhance the stories, but it is clearly the writing "Maestro" who makes this a winning short story collection with several especially the fascinating "It Can't Be October Already" deserving consideration for Nebulas. Harriet Klausner