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Turning the Tables: The Short Stories of Helen Nielsen
TURNING THE TABLES
Helen Nielsen was a master of the turnabout. Her stories rarely end on a predictable note, rarely going where you think they are going to go. These fifteen stories, originally published from 1957 to 1991 in the pages of Alfred Hitchcock’s and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazines, display her wide range of storytelling at its best.
As editor Bill Kelly points out in his introduction, her full range is represented here, from mystery puzzle story, police procedural, domestic malice, trial drama, cozy, comic mystery to one story that might almost be classified as pure horror.
Anthony Boucher once observed in his New York Times column that Helen Nielsen wrote “in a vein of quietly observant realism, underlined by sustained emotional horror.”
She certainly never wrote the same story twice. Here are fifteen of Nielsen's very best.
Helen Nielsen was a master of the turnabout. Her stories rarely end on a predictable note, rarely going where you think they are going to go. These fifteen stories, originally published from 1957 to 1991 in the pages of Alfred Hitchcock’s and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazines, display her wide range of storytelling at its best.
As editor Bill Kelly points out in his introduction, her full range is represented here, from mystery puzzle story, police procedural, domestic malice, trial drama, cozy, comic mystery to one story that might almost be classified as pure horror.
Anthony Boucher once observed in his New York Times column that Helen Nielsen wrote “in a vein of quietly observant realism, underlined by sustained emotional horror.”
She certainly never wrote the same story twice. Here are fifteen of Nielsen's very best.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2022
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Helen Nielsen
85 books4 followersHelen Nielsen was author of mysteries and television scripts for such television dramas as "Perry Mason" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents".
She studied journalism, art and aeronautical drafting at various schools, including the Chicago Art Institute. Before her writing career, she worked as a draftsman during World War II and contributed to the designs of B-36 and P-80 aircraft. Her stories were often set in Laguna Beach and Oceanside, California where she lived for 60 years.
Some of her novels were reprinted by Black Lizard, including "Detour" and "Sing Me a Murder".
She studied journalism, art and aeronautical drafting at various schools, including the Chicago Art Institute. Before her writing career, she worked as a draftsman during World War II and contributed to the designs of B-36 and P-80 aircraft. Her stories were often set in Laguna Beach and Oceanside, California where she lived for 60 years.
Some of her novels were reprinted by Black Lizard, including "Detour" and "Sing Me a Murder".
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 13, 2023
Very good read, atrocious book cover, though
Where has this author been hiding? Clear writing, sure handed characterization and truly satisfying plot twists make this collection an extremely enjoyable read. I will definitely look for more of Nielsen’s books.
Where has this author been hiding? Clear writing, sure handed characterization and truly satisfying plot twists make this collection an extremely enjoyable read. I will definitely look for more of Nielsen’s books.
August 15, 2025
The Perfect Servant --3
Witness for the Defense --2
The Perfectionist --3
Pattern of Guilt --3
Murder and Lonely Hearts --3
Death Scene --3
The Master's Touch—3
Henry Lowden Alias Henry Taylor --3
The Very Hard Sell --3
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree --2
The Affair Upstairs --3
Won't Somebody Help Me? --3
Cop's Day Off --3
The Deadly Mrs. Haversham --3
Your Witness --3
***
Decision --3
Line of Fire —3
Never Trust a Man --2
Never Trust a Woman --2
Piece of Ground --3
Woman Missing --3
Witness for the Defense --2
The Perfectionist --3
Pattern of Guilt --3
Murder and Lonely Hearts --3
Death Scene --3
The Master's Touch—3
Henry Lowden Alias Henry Taylor --3
The Very Hard Sell --3
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree --2
The Affair Upstairs --3
Won't Somebody Help Me? --3
Cop's Day Off --3
The Deadly Mrs. Haversham --3
Your Witness --3
***
Decision --3
Line of Fire —3
Never Trust a Man --2
Never Trust a Woman --2
Piece of Ground --3
Woman Missing --3
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews