![]() If this is true, I think we have crimes to relieve every possible suppressed desire-or at least all the normal ones. There are those who say that the reading of a mystery or suspense story has a therapeutic value cleansing one of his homicidal tendencies and allowing him to enjoy those crimes he has always wanted to commit but didn't because he lacked the get-up-and-go. I don't think I'm giving away any secrets when I tell you that in most of these stories somebody does do it So don't say you haven't been warned. It might better be called a When's-he-gonna-do-it. After all, this is a highly toxic book.Ī suspense story is not simply a Who-done-it. If you want to sample another, help yourself, but be careful. Now turn out all the lights you possibly can, look over the stories and take one before retiring. The book is full of suggestions of how this can be accomplished. If there are people there, get rid of them. (My final parenthetical remark: the only things I know of that actually like to curl up with a good book are the silverfish in my basement.) When you begin reading, may I suggest you choose a time when you are alone in the house. I much prefer that you feel that this dinner guest to whom you are opening your home is a complete stranger and that there is no policeman within screaming distance.Īnd now, if you are anxious to curl up with a good book, perhaps we should be getting on. I believe it was Henry James who observed, when speaking of prefatory pieces such as this, that when a work of creative literature is introduced to the reader at great length, when fiction is too carefully interpreted, explained and annotated, it is like having a dinner guest brought to the house by a policeman. I don't wish to spend too much time introducing these tales. ![]() I am confident that several of these cheerful little stories will put an end to the loose talk about truth being stranger than fiction. Furthermore there are a number of cases which defy classification since the characters meet their ends in highly original ways, having little or no known precedent. You will find mentioned herein: a knifing or two, suffocation, cremation, bludgeoning, one or two stranglings, a few drownings and some shootings. ![]() If this is true, I think we have crimes to relieve every possible suppressed desire - or at least all the normal ones. I don't think I'm giving away any secrets when I tell you that in most of these stories somebody does do it. I very much hope that you will too.Ī suspense story is not simply a Who-done-it. The stories in this volume have only one reason for being here and that is explained in the title. Most prefaces soon become defensive, disintegrate into lengthy explanations of why certain stories have been chosen, and the anthologists quickly become apologists. Of course I don't believe my friend charges for the books he sends, but no matter. Recently it occurred to me that through television I have spent many Sunday evenings in your homes yet I have never thanked you properly.
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