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The Perfect Murder
In that dim corner of the cafe was planned the perfect murder. Paul had long since realized that the affair was not so easy of accomplishment as he had so airily suggested. For the thing must be done without violence, without clues, without trace.Is the perfect murder ever possible? Find out, in this collection of stories where plenty of mysterious and strange crimes occur. Featuring some of the best writers of this genre, from Arthur Conan Doyle and Wilkie Collins to Edgar Allen Poe and Ruskin Bond, these stories will keep the reader hooked as they try to guess the motives, alibis and identity of the murderer. Baffling and exciting, this book is for those who enjoy pitting brains against some of the most accomplished writers of mystery stories.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
1721 people are currently reading
1999 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
634 books3,556 followersRuskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
March 1, 2019
Firstly the title is a bit misleading (though the blurb is accurate) - this isn't a book authored by Ruskin Bond or even a set of stories by Ruskin Bond. It has one short story by Ruskin Bond, and 7 other tales which he has picked out.
Secondly - it's a bit more annoying because some of them aren't even related to murder (a fact Bond alludes to in his short opening note) so why choose to name the book this way? A more accurate title would be 'A Perfect Murder and other short stories' or 'Ruskin Bond's favorite crime stories' etc.
Thirdly some of these stories are available in the public domain since their copyright has expired while others like the Sherlock Holmes one and the Ruskin Bond one are quite common and likely to have been read by most readers so to pay for them in a weirdly packaged collection of is even...weirder.
To now look at the stories themselves - purely objectively while ignoring the packaging - we have a mixed bag with five which I found quite interesting while the other three felt like total duds. The good thing is they're all short and you're introduced to a new set of (short story) writers which is always wonderful and my main motivation behind reading any anthology. They're all of similar length - i found them perfect to read during my daily commute.
The good :
- The Perfect Murder (Stacy Aumonier) : 2 brothers try plan the perfect murder of their aunt in Paris
- The Interruption (WW Jacobs) : A man achieves the perfect murder of his wife, but realises he'll now need to murder his house help as well. This story had an excellent mahaul with a bit of anti-climatic denouement.
- The Lodger (Marie Belloc Lowndes) : A Jack-the-ripper era tale which was later also converted into a full length novel. Also excellent mahaul and disappointing denouement.
- He Said it with Arsenic (Ruskin Bond) : Classic-clean-matter-of-factly Ruskin Bond story told in the first person. You don't always need mahaul.
- The Red Headed League (Arthur Conan Doyle) : Standard Holmes & Watson caper so always threshold fun. No idea why it's a part of this collection given there isn't even any murder.
The not-so-good:
- When Al Capone was ambushed : I have no idea what this was or why it was included. The title is the summary
- The Duel : a guy is goaded into a duel and accidentally kills his opponent. Didn't make a lot of sense and Google tells me it's a part of longer tale so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- The Cask of Amontillado : I hope this is not representative of all Edgar Allan Poe who I've always wanted to read because it was cliched, contrived and disappointing...
Secondly - it's a bit more annoying because some of them aren't even related to murder (a fact Bond alludes to in his short opening note) so why choose to name the book this way? A more accurate title would be 'A Perfect Murder and other short stories' or 'Ruskin Bond's favorite crime stories' etc.
Thirdly some of these stories are available in the public domain since their copyright has expired while others like the Sherlock Holmes one and the Ruskin Bond one are quite common and likely to have been read by most readers so to pay for them in a weirdly packaged collection of is even...weirder.
To now look at the stories themselves - purely objectively while ignoring the packaging - we have a mixed bag with five which I found quite interesting while the other three felt like total duds. The good thing is they're all short and you're introduced to a new set of (short story) writers which is always wonderful and my main motivation behind reading any anthology. They're all of similar length - i found them perfect to read during my daily commute.
The good :
- The Perfect Murder (Stacy Aumonier) : 2 brothers try plan the perfect murder of their aunt in Paris
- The Interruption (WW Jacobs) : A man achieves the perfect murder of his wife, but realises he'll now need to murder his house help as well. This story had an excellent mahaul with a bit of anti-climatic denouement.
- The Lodger (Marie Belloc Lowndes) : A Jack-the-ripper era tale which was later also converted into a full length novel. Also excellent mahaul and disappointing denouement.
- He Said it with Arsenic (Ruskin Bond) : Classic-clean-matter-of-factly Ruskin Bond story told in the first person. You don't always need mahaul.
- The Red Headed League (Arthur Conan Doyle) : Standard Holmes & Watson caper so always threshold fun. No idea why it's a part of this collection given there isn't even any murder.
The not-so-good:
- When Al Capone was ambushed : I have no idea what this was or why it was included. The title is the summary
- The Duel : a guy is goaded into a duel and accidentally kills his opponent. Didn't make a lot of sense and Google tells me it's a part of longer tale so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- The Cask of Amontillado : I hope this is not representative of all Edgar Allan Poe who I've always wanted to read because it was cliched, contrived and disappointing...
March 24, 2018
Introduction:
This book was on my kindle from a long time and I finally I managed to finish it. Before this, I have read ‘The Penguin books of Indian Ghost stories’ which is edited by Ruskin Bond. Hence, I picked this book and had a great expectation. Other than this, the title and blurb are catchy. Read further to know how I find this book.
You may read more such reviews on my blog http://www.haloofbooks.com
Summary:
This is a collection of eight mysteries, thriller short stories.
The first story, ‘The Perfect Murder’ by Stacy Aumonier is the best story in this book. Two brothers want to siphon money from their distant old aunt and they made a foolproof plan but does perfect murder have ever existed?
‘The Red-headed League’ by Arthur Conan Doyle is a story where a man gets high paying job of copying encyclopedia just because he has red hair. Sherlock Holmes finds it strange and decides to do find the answers. This is one of the best mystery story written by Arthur Conan Doyle. I have read this story before thus this story didn’t impress me here.
Another best story in this book is by Ruskin Bond, ‘He said it with arsenic’. In this story, the author talks about his uncle who is famous to kill silently by putting arsenic. This story has an unthinkable twist.
‘The interruption’ by W.W. Jacobs is a story where a man has a dreadful secret. His cook knows what it is and she always makes him know that she knows what he is hiding. By this, she asks larger return. In the end, the man decides to get rid of her. But now the question is who is going to be a victim?
‘When Al Capone was ambushed’ by Jack Bilbo is a story written from the POV of his newly appointed bodyguard and how they survived when Al Capone was attacked.
Next story is ‘The Lodger’ by Marie Belloc Lowndes. In this, Mr. and Mrs. Bunting runs a lodging house. They are going through a financial crisis. At this time, Mr. Sleuth comes to stay. He paid a good amount. Meanwhile, many killings are happening in the city and no one knows who the killer is. This story has a good suspense.
‘The Duel’ by Wilkie Collins is a story of a man whose problem of nervous shock makes him do unthinkable.
The last story is ‘The cask of Amontillado’ by Edgar Allan Poe is also an interesting story where a man plotted against his enemy and killed him in a very scary way.
My perception:
The choice of stories was amazing however this book didn’t meet my expectation. But I am introduced to some of the great classic mysteries and their author. Each story is different from others, the backdrops are different but the mystery was there. First, third, fifth and last stories are my favorite. If you are a mystery lover, then you shouldn’t miss these classic stories.
August 2, 2019
What happens when one of your all time favorite Author not only writes a murder mystery but also compiles some of his favorite Writer's stories in one concise book :) - what you get out of this kind of a situation is basically a sleepless Saturday night. It so happened last Saturday that we had an impromptu slumber party at my nephew's place who is not much of a reader anyways (how some people spoil my name I tell you) even when I have given him a few easy to read books and all. Since the night out wasn't planned I was neither carrying any book nor my laptop so was totally clueless as how to spend the night once the party got over. Surprisingly he had this gem of a small book lying on his center table which he picked up few months back as he had heard of the legendary name from me only (guess to impress me maybe). I gladly picked up the book and gorged on it and was done next morning by breakfast before moving back to our place. Imagine a book having not only a terrific story from Ruskin Bond but also from the likes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Allan Edgar Poe, Wilkie Collins etc :). I must confess that at least two of the stories were so mind-blowing that I had to go back a few pages to catch up again to come to a conclusion as how that happened. I tell you these guys are not at all easy on their readers.
I don't want to give away anything as you have to read this book and the amazing stories but I must say that the title story was my favorite. If you look at the beautiful cover, and read it, it is sure to put a smile on my face as how two brothers dependent on their widowed aunt for their day to day affairs. How she sits on the their uncles money and they get the meager cut till she survives. The amicable planning of a perfect murder, jealousy between the brothers and the final outcome was totally mind-blowing. The way story goes forward stretches to an unbelievable extent and the final blow which I can guarantee that none will be able to predict. And then there is Ruskin Bond's own superb story which he gives out so easily even with no murder involved it brought my heart to my mouth by the audacity of the murderer and the victim :) and again (can't control myself) the ending. And how can I not love a story told by Mr. Watson of his much loved friend Mr. Holmes :) who is always at-least ten steps ahead of a criminal he is going after. I must sadly confess that I have hardly read anything by Allan Edgar Poe and Wilkie Collins in a long long time and this book helped me correct that mistake to an extent.
I so much wished that this had a Christie story too :) that would have made this a super perfect book. Have you read a book with collection of murder mysteries? or which one is your favorite Murder mystery? And if you haven't read this collection, you must not miss it at any cost.
I don't want to give away anything as you have to read this book and the amazing stories but I must say that the title story was my favorite. If you look at the beautiful cover, and read it, it is sure to put a smile on my face as how two brothers dependent on their widowed aunt for their day to day affairs. How she sits on the their uncles money and they get the meager cut till she survives. The amicable planning of a perfect murder, jealousy between the brothers and the final outcome was totally mind-blowing. The way story goes forward stretches to an unbelievable extent and the final blow which I can guarantee that none will be able to predict. And then there is Ruskin Bond's own superb story which he gives out so easily even with no murder involved it brought my heart to my mouth by the audacity of the murderer and the victim :) and again (can't control myself) the ending. And how can I not love a story told by Mr. Watson of his much loved friend Mr. Holmes :) who is always at-least ten steps ahead of a criminal he is going after. I must sadly confess that I have hardly read anything by Allan Edgar Poe and Wilkie Collins in a long long time and this book helped me correct that mistake to an extent.
I so much wished that this had a Christie story too :) that would have made this a super perfect book. Have you read a book with collection of murder mysteries? or which one is your favorite Murder mystery? And if you haven't read this collection, you must not miss it at any cost.
December 10, 2025
With Ruskin Bond. The Man who gave me so much,,,,
This is a compact, sharp, and entertaining collection of mystery stories that demonstrate Ruskin Bond’s flair for suspense and dark humour.
While Bond is best known for his heartwarming tales and Himalayan nostalgia, this book reveals another side of his storytelling: his ability to craft intrigue, build atmosphere, and play with human psychology.
The title story, “The Perfect Murder”, immediately establishes Bond’s playful approach to crime fiction.
Rather than writing grim, gritty thrillers, Bond offers something subtler—stories that combine suspense with humour, irony, and unexpected twists.
The murder in question is less about bloodshed and more about the folly of human intentions. Bond explores the gap between what people plan and what actually happens—a gap where chaos, comedy, and truth collide.
The other stories in the collection follow a similar pattern. They involve ordinary people pushed into extraordinary circumstances.
A man trying to escape his past, a ghost who refuses to leave quietly, a lover seeking revenge—Bond uses these characters not to shock but to reveal human quirks.
His mysteries are less about solving crimes and more about understanding the personalities behind them.
What sets Bond’s crime stories apart is his ability to build atmosphere with elegant simplicity. His settings—quiet hill towns, lonely roads, colonial-era bungalows—carry a natural eeriness.
Bond never needs elaborate descriptions or violent scenes; a whisper in a corridor or a shadow in a lamplit room is enough to unsettle the reader. His mastery lies in understatement.
Humour plays a significant role as well. Bond injects irony into even the darkest moments. Characters who believe they have planned flawless crimes inevitably stumble due to their own foolishness, vanity, or emotion.
The humour is gentle, never mocking, and often reveals deeper truths about human nature.
Another layer at work in these stories is Bond’s relationship with the supernatural. Ghosts appear intermittently—not as horror elements but as mischievous presences that complicate human affairs.
Bond treats them with the same empathy he grants his human characters, creating a narrative world where the line between the living and the dead is playful and permeable.
The pacing of the stories is brisk, but each one carries emotional weight. Bond’s skill lies in his economy—he crafts fully realised characters within a few pages.
Even minor figures linger in the reader’s memory because they feel real, flawed, and distinctive.
At its core, The Perfect Murder examines the impulses that drive us: jealousy, greed, desire, fear, and regret.
But Bond delivers these themes with lightness, ensuring the reader is entertained rather than weighed down. His wit is razor-sharp, and his timing impeccable.
For readers accustomed to Bond’s nostalgic essays and gentle tales, this book offers a surprising yet thoroughly enjoyable shift.
It highlights the versatility of a writer who can move effortlessly from childlike innocence to adult complexities.
The Perfect Murder is not simply a mystery collection—it is a celebration of storytelling, a showcase of Bond’s ability to weave suspense with humanity and humour.
It proves that crime fiction, in Bond’s hands, can be both thrilling and heartwarming, both eerie and endlessly entertaining.
Most recommended.
This is a compact, sharp, and entertaining collection of mystery stories that demonstrate Ruskin Bond’s flair for suspense and dark humour.
While Bond is best known for his heartwarming tales and Himalayan nostalgia, this book reveals another side of his storytelling: his ability to craft intrigue, build atmosphere, and play with human psychology.
The title story, “The Perfect Murder”, immediately establishes Bond’s playful approach to crime fiction.
Rather than writing grim, gritty thrillers, Bond offers something subtler—stories that combine suspense with humour, irony, and unexpected twists.
The murder in question is less about bloodshed and more about the folly of human intentions. Bond explores the gap between what people plan and what actually happens—a gap where chaos, comedy, and truth collide.
The other stories in the collection follow a similar pattern. They involve ordinary people pushed into extraordinary circumstances.
A man trying to escape his past, a ghost who refuses to leave quietly, a lover seeking revenge—Bond uses these characters not to shock but to reveal human quirks.
His mysteries are less about solving crimes and more about understanding the personalities behind them.
What sets Bond’s crime stories apart is his ability to build atmosphere with elegant simplicity. His settings—quiet hill towns, lonely roads, colonial-era bungalows—carry a natural eeriness.
Bond never needs elaborate descriptions or violent scenes; a whisper in a corridor or a shadow in a lamplit room is enough to unsettle the reader. His mastery lies in understatement.
Humour plays a significant role as well. Bond injects irony into even the darkest moments. Characters who believe they have planned flawless crimes inevitably stumble due to their own foolishness, vanity, or emotion.
The humour is gentle, never mocking, and often reveals deeper truths about human nature.
Another layer at work in these stories is Bond’s relationship with the supernatural. Ghosts appear intermittently—not as horror elements but as mischievous presences that complicate human affairs.
Bond treats them with the same empathy he grants his human characters, creating a narrative world where the line between the living and the dead is playful and permeable.
The pacing of the stories is brisk, but each one carries emotional weight. Bond’s skill lies in his economy—he crafts fully realised characters within a few pages.
Even minor figures linger in the reader’s memory because they feel real, flawed, and distinctive.
At its core, The Perfect Murder examines the impulses that drive us: jealousy, greed, desire, fear, and regret.
But Bond delivers these themes with lightness, ensuring the reader is entertained rather than weighed down. His wit is razor-sharp, and his timing impeccable.
For readers accustomed to Bond’s nostalgic essays and gentle tales, this book offers a surprising yet thoroughly enjoyable shift.
It highlights the versatility of a writer who can move effortlessly from childlike innocence to adult complexities.
The Perfect Murder is not simply a mystery collection—it is a celebration of storytelling, a showcase of Bond’s ability to weave suspense with humanity and humour.
It proves that crime fiction, in Bond’s hands, can be both thrilling and heartwarming, both eerie and endlessly entertaining.
Most recommended.
July 13, 2019
Not a Perfect Book Either!
Collection of stories by Various Authors . Only one by Ruskin.
There is not much to appreciate about this one.
2 and half stars actually., that makes this book neither bad nor a good read!
Collection of stories by Various Authors . Only one by Ruskin.
There is not much to appreciate about this one.
2 and half stars actually., that makes this book neither bad nor a good read!
January 31, 2022
A good collection of mystery stories. The Lodger was the story I liked most.
November 28, 2023
Intricately woven suspense and wit into captivating short stories that keep you guessing till the very end.
October 9, 2017
A collection of short stories, rather murder mysteries that are authored by Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allan Poe, Ruskin Bond and several other talented authors- What else can a mystery lover can ask for. Writing a murder mystery is a step by step process. First the characters and the circumstances need to be established. Next the murder scenario need to be explained. Next the suspense element to be sustained. Next a perfect climax need to be crafted. Delivering all these in a short story is not an easy job. A group of extremely talented writers proved that impossible is nothing.
While I started the book, I was curious to see how it is possible to craft murder mysteries in such an abstract format but I was surprised to see that each stories were synonyms of excellence. While the title story is the attempt of two brothers to execute a perfect murder. The anti-climax is tragic yet funny.
The stories cannot be tagged as brain-racking since, by the time we rack our brains the tales would be over. The book can be completed in a day or two. They are short yet not easy reads since establishing the crimes require out uncompromising attention. The books cannot be based on whether we were able to guess the culprit or whether the supense is complicated. It need not be forgotten these stories were written by authors who were born before independence and we should keep in mind that they pulled off these plots in that era. The authors whom we follow now would have surely taken inspiration from them.
Hence read this book as a collection of classics.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
November 15, 2017
The Perfect Murder is a collection of delectable short stories/ murder mysteries/ dark thrillers by a range of authors, who are the best in the business. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allan Poe, Jack Bilbo and our own Ruskin Bond grace the pages of this little sparkling gem. Stacy Aumonier comes up with the title story, with its wonderful twist, wherein the hunter becomes the hunted. The Interruption by WW Jacobs is another beautiful plot, but almost on the similar lines. He Said It with Arsenic is the redoubtable Ruskin Bond’s take on the pathological fixation of his own uncle to play with Arsenic, thereby leading to quite a few intended “natural deaths”.
The genre of short stories, especially when authored by the masters, makes wonderful reading. The beauty of the genre is in the fact that most of the endings are unpredictable and does exercise the grey cells of the reader to no mean extent. The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes, manages to elicit the sweet tingling sensation at the base of the spine, without so much as indulging in any kind of overt dramatisation in the flow of the story and the narration. The Red Headed League is one for the connoisseurs of vintage Sherlock Holmes. One does realize as to where Sir Conan Doyle is getting to in the story, but the style of narration makes it a riveting read.
This collection of stories is a sparkling gem and is definitely a no miss for all connoisseurs of vintage murder mysteries.
The genre of short stories, especially when authored by the masters, makes wonderful reading. The beauty of the genre is in the fact that most of the endings are unpredictable and does exercise the grey cells of the reader to no mean extent. The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes, manages to elicit the sweet tingling sensation at the base of the spine, without so much as indulging in any kind of overt dramatisation in the flow of the story and the narration. The Red Headed League is one for the connoisseurs of vintage Sherlock Holmes. One does realize as to where Sir Conan Doyle is getting to in the story, but the style of narration makes it a riveting read.
This collection of stories is a sparkling gem and is definitely a no miss for all connoisseurs of vintage murder mysteries.
October 5, 2020
Hit or miss. Enjoyed some stories. I don't generally enjoy short stories and this didn't change my mind or anything.
July 4, 2020
Collection of 8 stories by the authors Stacy Aumonier, Arthur Conan Doyle, Ruskin Bond, WW Jacobs, Jack Bilblo, Mary Belloc Lowndes, Wilkie Collins and Edgar Allan Poe. The stories are selected and compiled by Ruskin Bond. As the title suggests stories include murder mysteries.
September 19, 2019
Uh - an abrupt ending.
May 20, 2022
The Perfect Murder is a collection of eight classic short stories by the best of the writers in the genre of thriller, like Arthur Conan Doyle, M Belloc Lowndes and so on, curated by Ruskin Bond.
The theme os the stories are somewhat similar as each has its twisted endings but I can say each one is different from the other in its tone.
One of the story I had read before, The Cask of Amontillado by Poe, which has a gothic streak to it. Otherwise, my favourite is The Lodger by M B Lowndes, which has been adapted by Hitchcock. The story is the retelling of the period in London at the time of horrors of Jack The Reaper. The next favourite is the title story which gave me a punch in the gut! Of course, there's a story by Ruskin Bond which is anything but drab. His words are too pulpy and the story just has its own rhythm, I almost read a few portion aloud as the prose is too lustrous.
I have read one story a day (which is my usual pattern to read short stories) and I can say it's a really good collection.
The theme os the stories are somewhat similar as each has its twisted endings but I can say each one is different from the other in its tone.
One of the story I had read before, The Cask of Amontillado by Poe, which has a gothic streak to it. Otherwise, my favourite is The Lodger by M B Lowndes, which has been adapted by Hitchcock. The story is the retelling of the period in London at the time of horrors of Jack The Reaper. The next favourite is the title story which gave me a punch in the gut! Of course, there's a story by Ruskin Bond which is anything but drab. His words are too pulpy and the story just has its own rhythm, I almost read a few portion aloud as the prose is too lustrous.
I have read one story a day (which is my usual pattern to read short stories) and I can say it's a really good collection.
December 9, 2024
The book is a collection of random short stories, not all centered around murder. Only one story is written by Ruskin Bond, while most of the others are already in the public domain. It’s a mixed bag—some stories were engaging, while others felt dull. My favorites were The Perfect Murder, The Red-Headed League, He Said It With Arsenic, and The Lodger. On the other hand, I didn’t enjoy When Al Capone Was Ambushed and The Duel. Overall, it was an average read—not particularly great, but not terrible either.
December 16, 2025
A dramatic read✨️
The book is a collection of short stories selected by Ruskin Bond which includes authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stacy Aumonier, Ruskin Bond himself and others. I loved the stories in this book though not all of the threads are tied up. Some could even find it disappointing because of that as I saw on the reviews of other people. But people should still give it a try. My favorite ones include He Said It with Arsenic, The Red-headed League and The Lodger.
The book is a collection of short stories selected by Ruskin Bond which includes authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stacy Aumonier, Ruskin Bond himself and others. I loved the stories in this book though not all of the threads are tied up. Some could even find it disappointing because of that as I saw on the reviews of other people. But people should still give it a try. My favorite ones include He Said It with Arsenic, The Red-headed League and The Lodger.
August 20, 2021
2 stories are good
Not upto the mark I have much more expectations from these novel. But it's doesnot fullfil First story was good and Ruskin bond one rather than other stories are below average. there is no grip in the stories to read.
Not upto the mark I have much more expectations from these novel. But it's doesnot fullfil First story was good and Ruskin bond one rather than other stories are below average. there is no grip in the stories to read.
May 6, 2023
Enjoyable.
This collection contains several classics which had paved the path in Crime Fiction for the modern masters. I enjoyed them. Some left a bitter aftertaste. Some, like Bond's story, were genuine pleasures.
Recommended.
This collection contains several classics which had paved the path in Crime Fiction for the modern masters. I enjoyed them. Some left a bitter aftertaste. Some, like Bond's story, were genuine pleasures.
Recommended.
June 13, 2021
Liked only 4 of the 8 short stories
(Perfect murder , red headed league , Arsenic,interruption)
(Perfect murder , red headed league , Arsenic,interruption)
April 18, 2024
I understood everything except The Duel, of which I understood the plot but not the point of it. Not awfully thrilling as a collection of short mystery stories go.
April 10, 2024
3.5 stars tbh. I might be stupid, but i didn't get understand the collection of stories. I'm pretty sure I'm dumb.
August 25, 2023
Doesn't really contain stores from Ruskin apart from one short story.
December 1, 2020
Short, suspense stories with no good endings for most.
First few stories were good, the rest lack proper ending and no thrill or suspense at all.
First few stories were good, the rest lack proper ending and no thrill or suspense at all.
July 4, 2017
Except for the Sherlock Holmes story, other stories are below average and there is no surprise element.
December 29, 2017
Be transformed to a grotesque world
Classic Ruskin Bond. Makes you lose sight of happenings around you to be transported to a world where Bond writes the dimensions and the rules.
Classic Ruskin Bond. Makes you lose sight of happenings around you to be transported to a world where Bond writes the dimensions and the rules.
July 20, 2020
✨ Book Review
The perfect murder
As the world celebrates 70 years of Ruskin Bond's literature here's my little tribute.
This book is a compilation of eight short stories all written by acclaimed authors and with crime as a central theme.
To begin with the story that's written by @ruskinbondofficial . It's named 'He said it with arsenic'. It's about Ruskin's uncle who has a penchant for killing people by poisoning them with arsenic. But read on to find out how karma has its way.
Another winner of a story is 'the perfect murder' written by Stacie Aumonier. This story too just like all the other ones in this book is set in olden times when there was no access to gadgets like mobile phone, social media or any fancy murder weapons. So does the hunter become hunted??? Read on to find out.
For all Aurthur Conan Doyle fans ' The red headed league' is a must read. Although the ending is a little predictable in this one but the way Sherlock Holmes deduces make it a fun read.
I was a little disappointed by the last two stories which was a little anticlimax. But that's the best part of a short story book - even if a couple of them don't turn out well you still have the rest to savour.
Read this if thriller murder mystery is your preferred genre.
Also read this if you grew up bingeing Ruskin Bond book.
Publisher @rupa_publications
Paperback Rs 195
@kindleindia version Rs 135
Ps. If you have amazon prime membership you can download the Kindle version for free. 🌈
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#70yearsofruskinbondswritings #diasporauthoreadathon #ruskin #rupapublications #theperfectmurder #edgarallan #stacyaumonier #arthurconandoyle #sherlockholmes #wwjacobs #wilkiecollins #mariebelloclowndes #jackbilbo
The perfect murder
As the world celebrates 70 years of Ruskin Bond's literature here's my little tribute.
This book is a compilation of eight short stories all written by acclaimed authors and with crime as a central theme.
To begin with the story that's written by @ruskinbondofficial . It's named 'He said it with arsenic'. It's about Ruskin's uncle who has a penchant for killing people by poisoning them with arsenic. But read on to find out how karma has its way.
Another winner of a story is 'the perfect murder' written by Stacie Aumonier. This story too just like all the other ones in this book is set in olden times when there was no access to gadgets like mobile phone, social media or any fancy murder weapons. So does the hunter become hunted??? Read on to find out.
For all Aurthur Conan Doyle fans ' The red headed league' is a must read. Although the ending is a little predictable in this one but the way Sherlock Holmes deduces make it a fun read.
I was a little disappointed by the last two stories which was a little anticlimax. But that's the best part of a short story book - even if a couple of them don't turn out well you still have the rest to savour.
Read this if thriller murder mystery is your preferred genre.
Also read this if you grew up bingeing Ruskin Bond book.
Publisher @rupa_publications
Paperback Rs 195
@kindleindia version Rs 135
Ps. If you have amazon prime membership you can download the Kindle version for free. 🌈
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#70yearsofruskinbondswritings #diasporauthoreadathon #ruskin #rupapublications #theperfectmurder #edgarallan #stacyaumonier #arthurconandoyle #sherlockholmes #wwjacobs #wilkiecollins #mariebelloclowndes #jackbilbo
February 7, 2017
The Perfect Murder is a short story in the book also the title of the book. The book also contains several short stories from various acclaimed authors like Arthur Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins, Edgar Allen Poe and WW Jacobs. There is also a story written by Ruskin Bond. The book consists of eight different stories.
The very first story is the Perfect Murder, where two brothers Paul and Henry would wait for an opportunity to kill their aunt, so that they can inherit the property left by their uncle, but only on the condition that, the property would reach these brothers only after their aunt has passed away. Given the financial condition of the Paul and Henry, they were not in a position to wait that longer. Henry, a married man with four children, wasn’t able to meet the demands of his family, and he often finds himself borrowing money from his brother and his close friends. Whereas, Paul, unmarried, and wasted himself by drinking and roaming around. One fine day, Paul decides to meet his aunt and pretends to fall sick in her home. A generous, well behaved aunt takes Paul in and provides him the necessary food and medicines time to time. This hasn’t gone well with Henry and he decides to meet his brother Paul and take matters in to his hand. Paul agrees to his brother’s demands and asks him to get fine grained glass powder so that he can poison his aged fragile aunt.
Read the full review here
The very first story is the Perfect Murder, where two brothers Paul and Henry would wait for an opportunity to kill their aunt, so that they can inherit the property left by their uncle, but only on the condition that, the property would reach these brothers only after their aunt has passed away. Given the financial condition of the Paul and Henry, they were not in a position to wait that longer. Henry, a married man with four children, wasn’t able to meet the demands of his family, and he often finds himself borrowing money from his brother and his close friends. Whereas, Paul, unmarried, and wasted himself by drinking and roaming around. One fine day, Paul decides to meet his aunt and pretends to fall sick in her home. A generous, well behaved aunt takes Paul in and provides him the necessary food and medicines time to time. This hasn’t gone well with Henry and he decides to meet his brother Paul and take matters in to his hand. Paul agrees to his brother’s demands and asks him to get fine grained glass powder so that he can poison his aged fragile aunt.
Read the full review here
August 16, 2020
It was so fortunate to come across this collection of short mystery stories, selected and compiled in a book by the famous children's book author, Ruskin Bond. The stories are great. They are short but have that old mystery book charm. Here is how I felt about each story contained in this book:
1) The Perfect Murder by Stacy Aumonier - it is too perfect a mystery. Just the right choice for the cover title. It definitely set my expectations high.
2) The Red Headed League by Arthur Conan Doyle - I had read it before in the author's own collection of short stories. A simple yet "I couldn't have guessed it' type of mystery.
3) He said it with Arsenic by Ruskin Bond - This again I had read before in another collection by the author. It has that little bit of scary moment where the author gets too straight forward towards the end.
4) The Interruption by W. W. Jacobs - a horrifying tale of murder and guilt where you get the feel of watching a movie while reading it.
5) When Al Capone was Ambushed by Jack Bilbo - I would have to read it once more may be, to understand it. But, I do not want to read it again right now.
6) The Lodger by Marie Bellicose Lowndes - Again, a story I would remember forever. A mystery left to the reader's judgement. Just too good.
7) The Duel by Wilkie Collins - an average story
8) The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe - It was an okay kind of a story and could not hold my interest like the others did.
In all, at least 5 stories of this collection are too good to ignore or forget. Go for it if you want a short read.
1) The Perfect Murder by Stacy Aumonier - it is too perfect a mystery. Just the right choice for the cover title. It definitely set my expectations high.
2) The Red Headed League by Arthur Conan Doyle - I had read it before in the author's own collection of short stories. A simple yet "I couldn't have guessed it' type of mystery.
3) He said it with Arsenic by Ruskin Bond - This again I had read before in another collection by the author. It has that little bit of scary moment where the author gets too straight forward towards the end.
4) The Interruption by W. W. Jacobs - a horrifying tale of murder and guilt where you get the feel of watching a movie while reading it.
5) When Al Capone was Ambushed by Jack Bilbo - I would have to read it once more may be, to understand it. But, I do not want to read it again right now.
6) The Lodger by Marie Bellicose Lowndes - Again, a story I would remember forever. A mystery left to the reader's judgement. Just too good.
7) The Duel by Wilkie Collins - an average story
8) The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe - It was an okay kind of a story and could not hold my interest like the others did.
In all, at least 5 stories of this collection are too good to ignore or forget. Go for it if you want a short read.
December 11, 2020
Ruskin Bond is one of my favourite writers. I remember the first novel I read was "The Room On The Roof". Since then I've been a fan of Rusty. But as I grew up my preferences changed towards crime thriller, fantasy etc. so I moved on from Ruskin Bond books. When I came across this book, I had to pick it up because I never knew that he wrote in this genre also.
About the plot, it is a collection of short stories by various authors, all with themes in murder (except one). One line summary of every story is given below.
1-A Perfect Murder- Ruskin Bond.
Two brothers plot a perfect murder of their aunt for inheritance.
2-The Red Headed League- Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes and Watson try to solve the mystery behind the Red Headed League.
3-He said it with Arsenic- Ruskin Bond
The narrator talks about his uncle who kills people by poisoning them.
4-The Interruption- W.W. Jacobs
A man being blackmailed by his cook tries tk get revenge.
5-When Al Capone was Ambushed- Jack Bilbo
The author talks about his experience as the bodyguard of Al Capone on the day Al Capone was attacked.
6-The Lodger- Marie Belloc Lowndes
A couple are suspicious of their new Tenant of the gruesome murders happening in London.
7- The Duel-Wilkie Collins
A man challenged to a duel by a General does something unexpected.
8-The cask of Amontillado- Edgar Allan Poe
A man plans to kill his enemy in a gruesome manner.
Stories 1,2,6 and 8 were really good. But the rest were okayish.
You can read this book if you like short crime thrillers. This book is available for free on Prime Reading.
My rating 3 stars.
About the plot, it is a collection of short stories by various authors, all with themes in murder (except one). One line summary of every story is given below.
1-A Perfect Murder- Ruskin Bond.
Two brothers plot a perfect murder of their aunt for inheritance.
2-The Red Headed League- Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes and Watson try to solve the mystery behind the Red Headed League.
3-He said it with Arsenic- Ruskin Bond
The narrator talks about his uncle who kills people by poisoning them.
4-The Interruption- W.W. Jacobs
A man being blackmailed by his cook tries tk get revenge.
5-When Al Capone was Ambushed- Jack Bilbo
The author talks about his experience as the bodyguard of Al Capone on the day Al Capone was attacked.
6-The Lodger- Marie Belloc Lowndes
A couple are suspicious of their new Tenant of the gruesome murders happening in London.
7- The Duel-Wilkie Collins
A man challenged to a duel by a General does something unexpected.
8-The cask of Amontillado- Edgar Allan Poe
A man plans to kill his enemy in a gruesome manner.
Stories 1,2,6 and 8 were really good. But the rest were okayish.
You can read this book if you like short crime thrillers. This book is available for free on Prime Reading.
My rating 3 stars.
September 27, 2025
Rating: 5/5
The Perfect Murder is a masterclass in short-form mystery that perfectly blends suspense, wit, and psychological intrigue. Curated by Ruskin Bond, this anthology brings together legends like Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe, along with Bond’s own darkly humorous tale. Each story is a peek into the human mind—full of hidden motives, pride, greed, and the occasional twisted sense of humor.
I first read this during sixth grade, and it sparked my obsession with psychological thrillers. Stories like The Red-Headed League show Sherlock Holmes dissecting greed and deception with his usual brilliance, while Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado leaves you with a haunting sense of revenge. Bond’s He Said It With Arsenic adds local flavor and wit, proving that even seemingly ordinary settings can host sinister plots.
While the stories are short, they demand attention to detail, making each page feel like a mini puzzle. The only minor drawback is that some twists might feel predictable to seasoned mystery readers, but the writing’s richness and emotional depth more than make up for it. For fans of Nancy Drew or Enola Holmes, this collection hits that perfect balance of suspense and intellect.
A quick but thrilling read, perfect for a lazy summer afternoon or a late-night readathon. Visit my blog https://astoryakey.wordpress.com/ for a more detailed review.
The Perfect Murder is a masterclass in short-form mystery that perfectly blends suspense, wit, and psychological intrigue. Curated by Ruskin Bond, this anthology brings together legends like Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe, along with Bond’s own darkly humorous tale. Each story is a peek into the human mind—full of hidden motives, pride, greed, and the occasional twisted sense of humor.
I first read this during sixth grade, and it sparked my obsession with psychological thrillers. Stories like The Red-Headed League show Sherlock Holmes dissecting greed and deception with his usual brilliance, while Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado leaves you with a haunting sense of revenge. Bond’s He Said It With Arsenic adds local flavor and wit, proving that even seemingly ordinary settings can host sinister plots.
While the stories are short, they demand attention to detail, making each page feel like a mini puzzle. The only minor drawback is that some twists might feel predictable to seasoned mystery readers, but the writing’s richness and emotional depth more than make up for it. For fans of Nancy Drew or Enola Holmes, this collection hits that perfect balance of suspense and intellect.
A quick but thrilling read, perfect for a lazy summer afternoon or a late-night readathon. Visit my blog https://astoryakey.wordpress.com/ for a more detailed review.
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