Book Review : The New Collected Short Stories

Author : Jeffrey Archer

This is a collection of short stories, 41 in total. The book is divided into three parts

1. To cut a long story short
2. Cat O' Nine Tales
3. And there by hangs a tale

All the stories are like flowers in a bouquet. Each flower chosen for its own beauty. And as beauty lies in the eyes of beholder (well there is a story on this topic too) so does the interest level in stories will vary from person to person. However i won't do justice, unless i list out the stories whom i liked most.

1. The expert witness
2. The endgame
3. Too many coincidences
4. The grass is always greener...
5. Maestro
6. The wisdom of Solomon
7.  The Commissioner
8. The Queen's birthday telegram
9. Members only
10. The undiplomatic diplomat

Please share your thoughts on this book.

Book Review : The Sins of the Father

Author : Jeffrey Archer

This book is in continuation of "Only Time Will Tell". I am wondering what made author to choose this title. For me an apt title would have been "Love Never Fails". As this is the tale of Emma Barrington who painstakingly searches for her fiance and father of her child.

Story is again well written. However it doesn't keep the suspense and excitement to a level which was found in first book. But i guess that is always with the problem with subsequent parts of a great series. Twists and turns of the events in life of Harry, Giles and Hugo has been described in fascinating details. I couldn't stop reading it and finished it in one go. Author ends this installment at a very exciting end where we are waiting for final verdict on the fate of Harry and Emma.

I am sure that people will have to read this installment when they have read the first one, as one cannot hold himself back from a gripping story.

My rating is 4/5

Other reviews in this series
Only Time Will Tell

Book Review : Only Time Will Tell

This weekend i got an opportunity to catch up on fiction. This time it is the first book on Clifton Chronicles by Jeffery Archer. The book is titled 'Only Time Will Tell.'
On the art of story telling in english fiction, Jeffery Archer and Frederick Forsyth are my favorites. I was introduced to Jeffery Archer by 'The Fourth Estate' in my engineering college days.
Then i read 'Honour Among Thieves'. Both had been a delight.

Now coming back to this current book 'Only Time Will Tell'. This is a story of a family in England during the backdrop of second world war. Although the story is focused on main character 'Harry Clifton', but it is a story containing many stories as is the style of any great book. Ex. 'Godaan' by Premchand. As we progress through the book, the story is being narrated from the viewpoint of all characters starting with 'Harry Clifton' and ending again with 'Harry Clifton' and all other important characters (for example his mother, uncle etc) introduced and described in between. The plot is so gripping that it will be hard for you to put the book down and do anything else as it was with me.

My recommendation is to go for it. Now i am eagerly waiting for the next book in this series ('The Sins of the Father').

Other reviews in this series
The Sins of the Father