Cat O Nine Tales

Cat o'Nine Tales is a captivating collection of short stories by Jeffrey Archer, showcasing his masterful storytelling and signature twist endings. With twelve ingeniously plotted tales, this collection also features thirteen delightful illustrations by renowned artist Ronald Searle.

Drawing from his own experiences during his two-year imprisonment, some of the stories in this collection offer intriguing glimpses into Archer's time behind bars. One such story follows a company chairman who attempts to poison his wife during a trip to St. Petersburg, only to face unforeseen consequences. Another story, titled he Red King, revolves around a con man who discovers that an English lord is in need of a rare chess piece to complete a valuable set.

Deception takes center stage in "The Commissioner," where a Bombay con artist meets an unfortunate fate after using the police chief as bait in his latest scheme. In The Perfect Murder, a convict orchestrates the elimination of an old enemy from within the confines of a jail cell, cleverly framing two prison officers as his alibi. Charity Begins at Home follows an accountant who realizes his lack of achievements and embarks on a quest to amass a fortune before retirement.

Among Archer's favorites in the collection is In the Eye of the Beholder, a tale of love that transcends societal expectations. It tells the story of a handsome star athlete who falls for a woman weighing three hundred pounds, only to discover that she is the ninth-richest woman in Italy.

With his unparalleled ability to captivate readers, Jeffrey Archer demonstrates his versatility as an author who has achieved international bestseller status with his fiction, nonfiction, and short stories. Cat o'Nine Tales showcases Archer's wit, poignancy, sadness, surprises, and unforgettable narratives, making it a must-read for fans of his work and anyone who appreciates well-crafted storytelling.