Portraits of Murder: 47 Short Stories Chosen by the Master of Suspense

Hitchcock Fiction Anthologies

by Alfred Hitchcock (Editor)

The master of suspense presents 47 spine-tingling tales of murder most foul, taken from the annals of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. Profit, revenge, or whatever the motive, these stories feature all the twists, turns, and terror mystery lovers long for. Meet the acrostic puzzle maker who foretells the fate of her enemies, the chess player who makes some unusual moves against his opponents, and the lifeguard who wants to save only the "worthy." See what happens to the mother-daughter team on the prowl for rich husbands, and the gangland mediator who makes sure his decisions are final... very final. So, prepare yourself for a harrowing lesson in the deadliest of crimes...and blood-curdling chills in the grand Hitchcock tradition.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Fiction, Suspense, Anthologies

503 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (1899-1980) was an iconic and highly influential film director and producer, who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres.

Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.

Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.

Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.

Reviews

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Portraits of Murder: 47 Short Stories Chosen by the Master of Deadly Suspense

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, *****

Merged review:

4.1 stars

Shattered Rainbow by Edward D. Hoch ***
Wonderful, Wonderful Violence by Donald Honig ****
the Most Unusual Snatch by Lawrence Block ****
A Murder is Arranged by Nedra Tyre ****
the Poisoned Prawn by Henry Slesar ****
the Lifesaver by Don Tothe **** (should be an episode of Criminal Minds)
What Frightened You, Fred? by Jack Ritchie ****
Doctor's Dilemma by Harold Q. Masur ****
Money to Burn by Clark Howard *****
the House Guest by Babs H. Deal ****
the Man in the Lobby by William Link ****
Family Code by Lawrence Treat ****
To Kill an Angel by William Bankier *****
That Monday Night by Pauline C. Smith ****
the Waiting Room by Charles W. Runyon ***
the Keeper by Clark Howard ****
the Jade Figurine by Bill Pronzini *****
the Volunteers by Reynold Junker ***
Arbiter of Uncertainties by Edward D. Hoch ****
Variations on an Episode by Fletcher Flora *****
Finders-Killers by Ed Lacy ****
the Pearls of Li Pong by W.E. Dan Ross *****
Who? by Michael Collins *****
A Quiet Backwater by Stanley Abbott ****
Murder, Anyone? by Phil Davis ****
the Island by William Jeffrey ***
Room to Let by Hal Ellson ***
the One Who Got Away by Al Nussbaum *****
Unidentified and Dead by Bryce Walton ***
the Lure and the Clue by Edwin P. Hicks ****
the Big Bajoor by Borden Deal ****
the Operator by Jack Ritchie *****
the Souvenir by Donald OlsonDonald Olson *****
Speak Well for the Dead by Nancy Schachterle *****
the Girl in the Gold by Jonathan Craig ****
Minutes of Terror by Donald Honig ***
Puddle by Arthur Porges ****
When This Man Dies by Lawrence Block ***
Public Office by Elijah Ellis ****
the Beast Within by Margaret B. Maron *****
Murder in Mind by C.B. Gilford ****
the Invisible Tomb by Arthur Porges ****
Just Curious by James H. Schmitz *****
the Girl Who Found Things by Henry Slesar ***
Death Trance by Clayton Matthews *****
the Healer by George C. Chesbro *****
Murder by Dream by Patrick O'Keeffe ****

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these collections of short stories compiled under Alfred Hitchcock's editorial selection--but of the dozen or so volumes that I've read, this is the weakest I've come across. I was thinking with PORTRAITS OF MURDER on the cover that these stories would be murder orientated, but a pretty big chunk of these stories have absolutely nothing to do with that--standard diamond heist or bank robbery tales. And except for a couple memorable stories, the quality felt a bit off too in comparison with the others in this series.

[Glinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner of 47 short stories all very interesting

[Joshua J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somebody needs to make "The Girl who Finds Things" into a movie. Most stories were good, some blah, and some fantastic. Overall, I love Hitchcock and stories like his.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

#31 of 120 books pledged to read during 2018

[Sarah Browe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved almost all of the stories in this book. It was a great collection of stories that kept me guessing til the end of each one. I loved the little twists in a lot of the stories.

[J. Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

This compilation has so many gripping stories, and several incredible gems. I highly recommend this one for any suspense fans! This was my fourth Hitchcock collection that I've read, and like the other three, this is chock-full of entertainment.

[Sivasubramanyan M.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absorbing ....gripping....true suspense...a must read for suspense and thriller lovers!

[R. David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little better than the average collection