Syndicate Book Review Activity

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The Perfect Murder

Author: Ruskin Bond
Genre: Mystery
Release Date: January 1st 2017
Name – Tushar Bhoge
Roll No. – 20237
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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 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.
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 seems to be
catchy. Read further to know how I find this book.
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 fool proof 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 encyclopaedia 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 stories written by Arthur
Conan Doyle.

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 an interesting one.
Next story ‘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.

Being a collection, each story’s language is different from others. However, they are easy to
read. This is slow-paced books but you will enjoy these stories by reading them slowly.
My Recommendation
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 favourite. One time read but it’s a good read and if you are a mystery lover, then you
shouldn’t miss these classic stories.