Novel : Frederick Forsyth : No Comebacks

Last Friday I took membership with the local library. The library aptly called "Just Books" has opened shop recently on the Puttenahalli main road in Bangalore.

Me being Me, The first thing I did was to pick a Frederick Forsyth. This time I pick No Comebacks.

No Comebacks is a collection of 10 stories with a mystery angle in each of them.

No Comebacks:
The books starts with the title story "No Comebacks". It revolves around a British Millionare who is very famous. His stories keep coming in the tabloid every other day. Being a very well known face he is adored (and envied) by many. He lives a typical Casanova life. Women are a daily staple for him. But behind this life is a lonely man craving for the elusive girl. Someone who is not overwhelmed by his success. Some one who does not give a damn and likes him for what he is.
Unfortunately he has not been able to meet such a lady until he bumps into one at a party. He falls madly in love with this lady. Unfortunately there is a twist.
I suggest you read the story after this point.

My Rating for the 1st Story:
Story Pace : * * * * * * * *
Content : * * * * * * * *
Overall : * * * * * * * * *


There are no snakes in Ireland
Harikishan Ram Lal is a final year medical student in Ireland. He hails from Punjab! Within a year he should graduate. But he does not have sufficient money. So he takes up a supplemental job as a construction worker.
In his first assignment he is supposed to demolish a 12-floor tower. He is part of a group headed by Big Billie Cameron. Ram Lal is scared of heights and Big Billie always assigned him tasks that involved climbing. Once Big Billie asks him to break a wall which was about to collapse. Ram Lal does not agree to which Big Billie admonishes him. Ram lal gets angry and bad mouths Billie. Out of anger Billie throws a punch which lands on Ram Lal's face. Ram Lal is hurt. What follows is the rest of the story.

My Rating for the 2nd Story:
Story Pace : * * * * *
Content : * * * *
Overall : * * * *

PS: Harikishan Ram Lal is not a typical punjabi name unless this guy is a migrant from Uttar Pradesh. I think frederick slipped on this one. But a very minor point though.
What was missing was the suspense factor. Neither was there an aahaa moment in this short story. I was disappointed with this story, to say the least.


The Emperor
Roger Murgatroyd is a bank manager who has landed in Mauritius on a vacation. Mr. Murgatroyd is accompanied by his ever nagging wife. Murgatroyd is uttarly unhappy with his wife's very complaining attitude, but cannot do much about that.
Higgins has also landed in Mauritius on a week long trip which is sponsored by his bank. He was chosen in a lucky draw conducted for selected few budding and young bankers who had shown potential to become great asset for the bank. He had convinced the bank to open bank accounts for the employees of a nearby mill which lead to lot of revenue for the bank and the bank was happy with his performance and offered him this vacation.
Initial few days of the vacation went on smoothly. On the 4th day of vacation Higgins comes to Murgatroyd and informs him that one of the boats which was booked by some tourists is not used because they cancelled their booking. Since 50% amount has already been paid they need to pay only 50% and the boat is theirs for a day. Higgins persuades him to go on a ride the next. With lot of reluctance Murgatroyd agrees.
What follows next is the rest of the story.

My Rating for the 3rd Story:
Story Pace : * * * *
Content : * * * *
Overall : * * * *

I have always felt the 2nd and 3rd stories of any short story collection are always boring and my feeling is reinforced by this book. I am disappointed again with this story. I could not find any suspense in the story.


There are some days
Liam Clarke is a driver. As usual he was ferrying his truck through the river to the other side of the bank so that the consignment can be driven out and handed over to the purchaser. As the ferry docks at the customs section, he pulls out his truck and gets the customs cleared. This is when the Customs officer notices that the truck is leaking oil. He informs Clarke who calls up his office. The office sends a mechanic who arrives the next day. Clarke spends the night at the dock. The truck is serviced and clarke drives it out of the dock.
Murphy adjusts his binoculars and the truck is in his view. He is happy. He had been waiting for the truck for a long time.
What follows next is the rest of the story.

My Rating for the 4th Story:
Story Pace : * * * * * * * *
Content : * * * * * * * *
Overall : * * * * * * * * *

Great story. I was impressed.


Money with Menaces
Samual Natkin as usual took the daily train to his office. He never does this but today he slid his hand in the crack between the two seats. He found a small book between the crack.
On looking at the book his heart stopped for a second. A quick glance showed him that this book was a classifieds of women who were read to provide special service at a price. There were names and phone numbers of housewives in the book. He was shocked and immediately set the book and put it in his briefcase.
What follows is an interesting story.


My Rating for the 5th Story:
Story Pace : * * * * * * *
Content : * * * * * * *
Overall : * * * * * * * *

Great story. Very Engaging.

Used In Evidence
It is not the task that William Hanley likes to do. But there is no other option. The tiny back-to-back 1 room houses called Gloucester Diamond on the Mayo Road in Dublin, Ireland are being demolished.After 2 years of demolitions there is only one standing house, whose owner Herber James Larkin is not ready to vacate.
A group of people have gathered at the entrace of the house shouting in support of Mr. Larkin.
On a rainy day, Willian Hanley, i charge of the area, has to ge the old man out and demolish the house. Hanley tactfully silences the crowd and pulls out Mr. Larkin from the house. Larkin is a thin, pale old man.
Hanley takes him to a nearby cafe to give him some food. While the old man eats his food, a deputy rushes to Hanley to inform him that during the demolision of the house they found something in the chimney. People think that the police have found the hidden treature that Larkin had stashed in the chimney.
Rest is the story.


My Rating for the 6th Story:
Story Pace : * * * * * * *
Content : * * * * * * *
Overall : * * * * * * * *

Privilege
Bill Chadwick was still in his bed on a lazy sunday morning when he gets a call from Henry Carpenter who asks him to read the morning paper. It seems to have some news about Bill.
Curious, Bill opens Sunday courier to find an article written noted journalist Gaylord Brent, about his company which used to marchendise a product which suddenly liquidated. His name was tagged as the offender. Bill was shocked because he was one of the businessman who worked for the company and he himself was cheated.
He is enraged that Gaylord Brent did not bother to cross check with him to get to know the facts, instead he printed the article with wrong facts.
Bill goes to a lawyer to seek advice. Rest is the story.

My Rating for the 7th Story:
Story Pace : * * * * * *
Content : * * * * * *
Overall : * * * * * *


Duty
This Short story is in first sentence. The narrator and his wife, bernadette, are on a trip to france and their vehicle simply stops near a hamlet in dorgonge vally. They are wondering about their next step when they see the pastor of the local church who speeks latin. narrator explains his problem and the pastor takes them to a garage where they leave the vehicle. They need to stay at some place for the night. He is taken to the house of Mr. Preece. What follows is the story.

My Rating for the 8th Story:
Story Pace : * * * * *
Content : * * * * *
Overall : * * * * *


A Careful Man
Timothy Hanson is a rich coin collector. He has been told by his doctor that he has cancer and would not live long.
He has a Sister whom he dislikes. She has a husband and a son whom Timothy equally dislikes.
He has to leave his property to someone before he dies. Does he make a will ? whom does he leave all the property and some interesting rides along the way, forms the rest of the story.

My Rating for the 9th Story:
Story Pace : * * * * * * *
Content : * * * * * * *
Overall : * * * * * * *


Sharp Practice

Judge Comyn is off to his work in the train looking at the case file of the cases he is supposed to look into. Next to him is a priest absorbed in his own thought.
There a third guy called O'Conner who is engrossed in his card game. he seems to be very sloppy at his game. Judge Comyn gets irritated with the sloppyness of the guy and starts playing a game with the guy. Rest is the story.

My Rating for the 10th Story:
Story Pace : * * * *
Content : * * * *
Overall : * * * *

PS: Dissappointed with the last story. Very Predictabale.


Summary
Overall a very interesting set of short stories. I was engaged througout the book. Except the 2nd, 3nd and last story, I loved the rest of the stores. Each with their own twist.
I wish Frederick had written more short stories. Very Interesting collection indeed.