The Window

by Kevin Wignall

A hired killer is sent to Vienna just before Christmas. The job is simple, to kill a man and get out of town immediately. Why would he stay? He hates Christmas, and hanging around after the crime could be dangerous, but a stranger's compassion forces him to question everything he's always believed, tempting him to stay just another day longer... First published in the Christmas edition of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (Jan, 2004), this story was subsequently reviewed in Mystery Scene, which described it as "bordering on the magnificent". (Please note - this is a short story of approximately 45 Kindle pages.)

Genres: Fiction

45 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2012

About the author

Army Child till age nine.

Settled back in a small town in the west of England.

Lancaster University - degree in Politics &
International Relations.

Writer.

Also writes as K.J. Wignall

Email: kevin@kevinwignall.com

Reviews

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry Christmas!

Bailey Scott is spending his Christmas in Vienna. Not for a holiday, but on an assignment.

He is a hired killer and he is contracted to kill a drug dealer.

Will he complete the job or will he let the holiday season get him to back away from the contract?

Four stars. 💫💫💫💫

[Stacey B · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
Second short book of 45 pages.
The book was predictable- an assassin falls in love on assignment, and risks the orders he was given.
Deciding on one more.

[Dan Blanchette]

Good But Too Short

Kevin, sometimes you surprise me. This was a tale something like two ships about to pass in the night, but instead left me with nothing but expectation. It's natural to feel that way here, to want more in this chance meeting. Maybe you could take this kind of story beyond in a novel?

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used to love reading short stories and then I went to 1,000 page books. Now settled down to much shorter than 1,000 pages but haven't gotten back to short story form until today. Forgot how satisfying it is to read a good fully fleshed out story in a half an hour.

[Mark Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Brief

Excellent. I was swept away from the start and left hanging from finger tips. Oh, what a pity. Ten hours more, no twenty....

[Bill Werts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another favorite author. Read most of his works all excellent.

[Scott Reas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Novella

Wonderful short Storry to lose yourself in for a half-hour or so. If we’re lucky Mr Wignall may someday give us more!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas story........

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful short story of the magic of Christmas. Bailey is a contract killer, a hit man on a simple mission, a quick kill and out of the country before the body is even cold.
Walking through the streets and the Christmas market he is overcome by the lack of depth to the celebrations, visitors just ticking off the experience but without any thought or substance.
Contrast, walking away from the act, the shock of the crowd witnessing a sudden death and one woman's reaction. He is compelled to act; it goes against his instructions but he turns around and walks back.
His heart melts in the process; he sees the magic of the city through her eyes and celebrates Christmas, but can their relationship last ?
Love the depth of Kevin's writing even though many are just short stories. He brings his characters to life and through relationships and incidents he narrates your opinions move and question the status quo. You feel the coldness of Vienna and see how evil rests in a man's soul but is there still room for love and forgiveness especially during the season of goodwill?

[Bill Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and to the point, The Window tells the story of a hired killer in Vienna in the middle of a Christmas flurry of tourists. After his job is done and his target is gone, he is captivated by a young woman and he puts himself at risk to have dinner with this beautiful stranger.

There is a nice feeling of gloom surrounding the killer as he looks for some light in his new relationship.

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as intriguing as I expected it to be, but good, short and too the point.

[Jo Faith Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short

A second short story, I'll read all I downloaded this morning. KW is good at short stories, 3 more words, Google going goog