To Cut a Long Story Short
A #1 New York Times–bestselling author “maintains his obsession with surprise endings, producing a collection of fourteen cleverly twisting tales” (Publishers Weekly).

From the master storyteller comes a compelling collection of fourteen riveting tales of elaborate confidence tricks, political chicanery, immoral behavior, and dangerously illicit affairs, rendered with the breathtaking narrative twists that have become the Jeffrey Archer hallmark.

Here are stories that will engross and astonish, peopled with a rich assortment of truly memorable characters: the intoxicating woman who appears to her lover only once every six years; the British diplomat who employs his rather creative—if not entirely ethical—financial talents for a greater good; the millionaire who declares himself bankrupt to test the love and loyalties of those closest to him.

This is Jeffrey Archer at the top of his form, as he offers us unique fables for our time and civilization, each one shining a harsh yet hypnotic light on that fascinating, complex being called “human.”

Praise for Jeffrey Archer:

“Cunning plots, silken style . . . Archer plays a cat-and-mouse game with the reader.” —New York Times

“Archer is a master entertainer.” —Time

“Archer plots with skill, and keeps you turning the pages.” —Boston Globe



“A storyteller in the class of Alexandre Dumas.” —Washington Post

“Archer has a gift for plot that can only be described as genius.” —Daily Telegraph
1100616855
To Cut a Long Story Short
A #1 New York Times–bestselling author “maintains his obsession with surprise endings, producing a collection of fourteen cleverly twisting tales” (Publishers Weekly).

From the master storyteller comes a compelling collection of fourteen riveting tales of elaborate confidence tricks, political chicanery, immoral behavior, and dangerously illicit affairs, rendered with the breathtaking narrative twists that have become the Jeffrey Archer hallmark.

Here are stories that will engross and astonish, peopled with a rich assortment of truly memorable characters: the intoxicating woman who appears to her lover only once every six years; the British diplomat who employs his rather creative—if not entirely ethical—financial talents for a greater good; the millionaire who declares himself bankrupt to test the love and loyalties of those closest to him.

This is Jeffrey Archer at the top of his form, as he offers us unique fables for our time and civilization, each one shining a harsh yet hypnotic light on that fascinating, complex being called “human.”

Praise for Jeffrey Archer:

“Cunning plots, silken style . . . Archer plays a cat-and-mouse game with the reader.” —New York Times

“Archer is a master entertainer.” —Time

“Archer plots with skill, and keeps you turning the pages.” —Boston Globe



“A storyteller in the class of Alexandre Dumas.” —Washington Post

“Archer has a gift for plot that can only be described as genius.” —Daily Telegraph
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To Cut a Long Story Short

To Cut a Long Story Short

by Jeffrey Archer
To Cut a Long Story Short

To Cut a Long Story Short

by Jeffrey Archer

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Overview

A #1 New York Times–bestselling author “maintains his obsession with surprise endings, producing a collection of fourteen cleverly twisting tales” (Publishers Weekly).

From the master storyteller comes a compelling collection of fourteen riveting tales of elaborate confidence tricks, political chicanery, immoral behavior, and dangerously illicit affairs, rendered with the breathtaking narrative twists that have become the Jeffrey Archer hallmark.

Here are stories that will engross and astonish, peopled with a rich assortment of truly memorable characters: the intoxicating woman who appears to her lover only once every six years; the British diplomat who employs his rather creative—if not entirely ethical—financial talents for a greater good; the millionaire who declares himself bankrupt to test the love and loyalties of those closest to him.

This is Jeffrey Archer at the top of his form, as he offers us unique fables for our time and civilization, each one shining a harsh yet hypnotic light on that fascinating, complex being called “human.”

Praise for Jeffrey Archer:

“Cunning plots, silken style . . . Archer plays a cat-and-mouse game with the reader.” —New York Times

“Archer is a master entertainer.” —Time

“Archer plots with skill, and keeps you turning the pages.” —Boston Globe



“A storyteller in the class of Alexandre Dumas.” —Washington Post

“Archer has a gift for plot that can only be described as genius.” —Daily Telegraph

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780061985775
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: 11/21/2023
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 356
Sales rank: 73,856
File size: 574 KB

About the Author

About The Author

Jeffrey Archer was educated at Oxford University, where as a world-class sprinter he represented Great Britain in international competition. He became the youngest member of the House of Commons in 1969, was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party in 1985, and was elevated to the House of Lords in 1992.

All of his novels -- from 1974's Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less to 1991's As the Crow Flies -- have been international bestsellers. Mr. Archer is married, has two children, and lives in Cambridge, England.

Hometown:

London and the Old Vicarage, Grantchester

Date of Birth:

April 15, 1940

Education:

Attended Brasenose College, Oxford, 1963-66. Received a diploma in sports education from Oxford Institute

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One

There was a merchant in Bagdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the market-place I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the market-place and he saw me standing in the crowd and he came to me and said, Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, I said, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Bagdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.

The Expert Witness

'Damn good drive,' said Toby, as he watched his opponent's ball sail through the air. 'Must be every inch of 230, perhaps even 250 yards,' he added, as he held up his hand to his forehead to shield his eyes from the sun, and continued to watch the ball bouncing down the middle of the fairway.

'Thank you,' said Harry.

'What did you have for breakfast this morning, Harry?' Toby asked when the ball finally came to a halt.

'A row with my wife,' came back his opponent's immediate reply. 'She wanted me to go shopping with her this morning.'

'I'd be tempted to get married if I thought itwould improve my golf that much,' said Toby as he addressed his ball. 'Damn,' he added a moment later, as he watched his feeble effort squirt towards the heavy rough no more than a hundred yards from where he stood.

Toby's game did not improve on the back nine, and when they headed for the clubhouse just before lunch, he warned his opponent, 'I shall have to take my revenge in court next week.'

'I do hope not,' said Harry, with a laugh.

'Why's that?' asked Toby as they entered the clubhouse.

'Because I'm appearing as an expert witness on your side,' Harry replied as they sat down for lunch.

'Funny,' Toby said. 'I could have sworn you were against me.'

Sir Toby Gray QC and Professor Harry Bamford were not always on the same side when they met up in court.

'All manner of persons who have anything to do before My Lords the Queen's Justices draw near and give your attendance.'

The Leeds Crown Court was now sitting. Mr. Justice Fenton presided.

Sir Toby eyed the elderly judge. A decent and fair man, he considered, though his summings-up, could be a trifle long-winded. Mr Justice Fenton nodded down from the bench.

Sir Toby rose from his place, to open the defence case. 'May it please Your Lordship, members of the jury, I am aware of the great responsibility that rests on my shoulders. To defend a man charged with murder can never be easy. It is made even more difficult when the victim is his wife, to whom he had been happily married for over twenty years. This the Crown has accepted, indeed formally admitted.

'My task is not made any easier, m'lud,' continued Sir Toby, 'when all the circumstantial evidence, so adroitly presented by my learned friend Mr Rodgers in his opening speech yesterday, would on the face of it make the defendant appear guilty. However,' said Sir Toby, grasping the tapes of his black silk gown and turning to face the jury, 'I intend to call a witness whose reputation is beyond reproach. I am confident that he will leave you, members of the jury, with little choice but to return a verdict of not guilty. I call Professor Harold Bamford.'

A smartly dressed man, wearing a blue double-breasted suit, white shirt and a Yorkshire County Cricket Club tie, entered the courtroom and took his place in the witness box. He was presented with a copy of the New Testament, and read the oath with a confidence that would have left no member of the jury in any doubt that this wasn't his first appearance at a murder trial...

Table of Contents

Preface9
Death Speaks11
The Expert Witness15
The Endgame29
The Letter79
Crime Pays87
Chalk and Cheese109
A Change of Heart127
Too Many Coincidences139
Love at First Sight171
Both Sides Against the Middle177
A Weekend to Remember189
Something for Nothing205
Other Blighters' Efforts217
The Reclining Woman241
The Grass Is Always Greener...251
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