Books › To Cut a Long Story Short
To Cut a Long Story Short
First published 2000 · 418 pages
A brisk, entertaining collection of clever vignettes that rely on sharp observations and satisfyingly unpredictable twists.
What it feels like
Reading this collection feels like sitting in a comfortable leather chair at a London club while a charismatic raconteur spins a series of highly entertaining yarns. The pace is brisk and propulsive, designed to pull you effortlessly from one clever setup to the next. There is a distinctively urbane, wry mood that permeates these vignettes, balancing lighthearted observation with the darker realities of human folly, greed, and deception. The prose is unfussy and direct, stepping out of the way to let the intricate plotting shine. It is a deeply satisfying experience for readers who appreciate the architecture of a perfect twist ending, offering the quick, delightful gratification of poetic justice served cold and clever.
- Mood
- intriguing
- urbane
- suspenseful
- satisfying
- Tone
- wry
- observant
- clever
- conversational
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- poetic justice · human folly · deception and trickery · twists of fate · ambition and greed
- The writing
- Direct, unfussy, and highly readable, prioritizing narrative momentum and clever setups over lyrical flourish.
- The arc
- Begins with casual curiosity and builds through mounting intrigue to the sharp, satisfying click of a well-earned twist.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love the quick gratification of a cleverly plotted vignette with a sting in its tail.
Content notes
- deception
- infidelity
- mild violence
- financial ruin
About the book
Originally published: London: HarperCollins.
Electronic version of ed. published: New York, NY: HarperLargePrint, c2000.
Description from Open Library.
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