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Der var engang et mord
MURDERERS TO REMEMBER
Greedy husbands, hen-pecking wives, fickle bachelors, nosey spinsters, grumbling servants, wronged maidens, crooked executives, jealous siblings--these are the unsung heroes and heroines of crime. Where professionals rarely execute an inspirational murder, these mere amateurs persecute and kill with passionate ingenuity. But, alas, too often the brilliance of their acts has to be admired by them alone. For a perfect crime, by definition, must go undetected.
In this volume you are given a rare opportunity to observe, with their reluctant permission, these dedicated masters of murder at their ingenious best. It is an experience you are likely never to forget.
Greedy husbands, hen-pecking wives, fickle bachelors, nosey spinsters, grumbling servants, wronged maidens, crooked executives, jealous siblings--these are the unsung heroes and heroines of crime. Where professionals rarely execute an inspirational murder, these mere amateurs persecute and kill with passionate ingenuity. But, alas, too often the brilliance of their acts has to be admired by them alone. For a perfect crime, by definition, must go undetected.
In this volume you are given a rare opportunity to observe, with their reluctant permission, these dedicated masters of murder at their ingenious best. It is an experience you are likely never to forget.
179 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1964
63 people want to read
About the author
Alfred Hitchcock
1,145 books774 followersSir 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 25, 2022
Not the strongest of Hitchcock's anthologies, but there were a handful of above-average stories and a few standouts. In particular, Robert Bloch and Lawrence Block don't fail to disappoint with a dash of folly in "A Home Away From Home" and "If This Be Madness", and the prize for nastiest ending goes to Hal Ellson's "Antiques". Donald E. Westlake's "Anatomy of an Anatomy" is a gruesome read but lacked impact at the end. The contributions from the likes of Robert Colby, Tom McPherson, and Richard Hardwick are solid crime short stories.
December 29, 2013
This one came out in ’64, and has stories ranging from ’58 to ’63. A LOT of great names this time, so no surprise that it’s one of the best of these Hitchcock anthologies.
In Gilbert Ralston’s “A Little Push from Cappy Fleers”, a loyal handyman makes sure his famous actor boss’s marriage stays intact, by any means required. “The Safe Street”, by Paul Eiden, has two corrupt businessmen finding the perfect way to dispose of the man who can expose their crimes.
From Robert Arthur (the secret editor of this and many other Hitchcock anthologies) comes “No One on the Line”, in which a jealous husband plots to kill his wife’s lover—but does he even have the right man? In “Antiques”, from Hal Ellson, we learn why it’s a bad idea to steal from old ladies with dementia.
In “Suspicion is Not Enough”, a wily sheriff manages to trip up a crazy crab trapper suspected of murdering someone. Talmadge Powells “A Family Affair” is about a family adept at working together to kill a nasty stepfather.
In “Granny’s Birthday”, from the one-of-a-kind Fredric Brown, we find out why it’s unfortunate to the be the only non-family member present when someone is accidentally killed. In Philip Ketchum’s “Third Party in the Case”, a life-long rivalry between two criminals turns murderous when one of them marries their mutual dream-girl.
“Hill Justice”, by John Faulkner (yep, Williams’ brother) is about a weak-willed murderer who tries to assume the identity of his nearly-identical cousin, only to find his cousin isn’t particularly innocent either.
I’d read Lawrence Block’s “If This Be Madness” before in his collection ENOUGH ROPE. It stands up well to another reading because, well, Block is a master. A man suffers a series of nervous breakdowns that keep landing him in a mental hospital, leading to a murderous climax.
The next tale is by another master, the brilliant Donald Westlake. It’s called “Anatomy of an Anatomy”—a lady can’t convince the police that she keeps seeing body parts being disposed of down her building’s garbage incinerator shoot, and so takes matters into her own hands.
“A Cold Swim on a Hot Day” is by one of my favorite short story writers, Fletcher Flora. It’s kind of a surreal tale about a man lost in the labyrinth of his own guilty mind after seemingly murdering his wife.
In Tom MacPherson’s fun story “Bodies Just Won’t Stay Put”, a man who killed his wife is forced to hide the body over and over again in different places as police begin to suspect him.
“The Dangerfield Saga”, by C.B. Gilford, is about a young couple trying to keep their rich, mean aunt alive, because if she dies they will be accused of killing her
Finally, “Number One Suspect”, by Richard Deming, is a fun and clever story of a timid grocer who murders his shrewish wife and has to scramble to cover his tracks when evidence against him surfaces from the sewer.
Stand out stories: “A Little Push from Cappy Fleers”, “If This Be Madness”, “Anatomy of an Anatomy”, “Granny’s Birthday”, and “Number One Suspect”.
In Gilbert Ralston’s “A Little Push from Cappy Fleers”, a loyal handyman makes sure his famous actor boss’s marriage stays intact, by any means required. “The Safe Street”, by Paul Eiden, has two corrupt businessmen finding the perfect way to dispose of the man who can expose their crimes.
From Robert Arthur (the secret editor of this and many other Hitchcock anthologies) comes “No One on the Line”, in which a jealous husband plots to kill his wife’s lover—but does he even have the right man? In “Antiques”, from Hal Ellson, we learn why it’s a bad idea to steal from old ladies with dementia.
In “Suspicion is Not Enough”, a wily sheriff manages to trip up a crazy crab trapper suspected of murdering someone. Talmadge Powells “A Family Affair” is about a family adept at working together to kill a nasty stepfather.
In “Granny’s Birthday”, from the one-of-a-kind Fredric Brown, we find out why it’s unfortunate to the be the only non-family member present when someone is accidentally killed. In Philip Ketchum’s “Third Party in the Case”, a life-long rivalry between two criminals turns murderous when one of them marries their mutual dream-girl.
“Hill Justice”, by John Faulkner (yep, Williams’ brother) is about a weak-willed murderer who tries to assume the identity of his nearly-identical cousin, only to find his cousin isn’t particularly innocent either.
I’d read Lawrence Block’s “If This Be Madness” before in his collection ENOUGH ROPE. It stands up well to another reading because, well, Block is a master. A man suffers a series of nervous breakdowns that keep landing him in a mental hospital, leading to a murderous climax.
The next tale is by another master, the brilliant Donald Westlake. It’s called “Anatomy of an Anatomy”—a lady can’t convince the police that she keeps seeing body parts being disposed of down her building’s garbage incinerator shoot, and so takes matters into her own hands.
“A Cold Swim on a Hot Day” is by one of my favorite short story writers, Fletcher Flora. It’s kind of a surreal tale about a man lost in the labyrinth of his own guilty mind after seemingly murdering his wife.
In Tom MacPherson’s fun story “Bodies Just Won’t Stay Put”, a man who killed his wife is forced to hide the body over and over again in different places as police begin to suspect him.
“The Dangerfield Saga”, by C.B. Gilford, is about a young couple trying to keep their rich, mean aunt alive, because if she dies they will be accused of killing her
Finally, “Number One Suspect”, by Richard Deming, is a fun and clever story of a timid grocer who murders his shrewish wife and has to scramble to cover his tracks when evidence against him surfaces from the sewer.
Stand out stories: “A Little Push from Cappy Fleers”, “If This Be Madness”, “Anatomy of an Anatomy”, “Granny’s Birthday”, and “Number One Suspect”.
July 1, 2022
To be fair I didn’t finish all of the stories. I will go back to read the few stories fellow reviewer Cameron rated as the best ones. I read half of them and was disappointed, so I didn’t continue. I found them to be okay stories, not really entertaining and predictable. Part of it may be that I hoped they would be scary or suspenseful, but this anthology was just crime stories.
December 5, 2023
Another solid collection of tales from a great stable of writers. Really only a couple of the stories were just ok, really enjoyed the other 14. With writers like Lawrence Block, Richard Deming, Donald Westlake, Fredric Brown, and other Hitchcock regulars it would be hard to have a bad collection.
Highly recommended, so far haven't read a bad collection from the Hitchcock books.
Highly recommended, so far haven't read a bad collection from the Hitchcock books.
July 12, 2022
A mix of finely written and drab mysteries. Worth a read for Number One Suspect (Richard Deming), The Dangerfield Saga (C.B. Gilford), If This Be Madness (Lawrence Block), Hill Justice (John Faulkner), No One On the Line (Robert Arthur Jr.), and A Little Push from Cappy Fleers (Gilbert Ralston).
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November 16, 2016read during school year of 1965-66, possibly early 1966
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews