Mystery Books Store
The Plot Thickens
RRP: $7.99
Our Price: $7.99
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Pocket
Author: Mary Higgins Clark, Lawrence Block, Edna Buchanan, Carol Higgins Clark, Lauren Demille
Publisher: Pocket
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $7.99
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Pocket
Author: Mary Higgins Clark, Lawrence Block, Edna Buchanan, Carol Higgins Clark, Lauren Demille
Publisher: Pocket
Average Customer Rating:
Experimental feature: Order The Plot Thickens from the UK, Canada, Germany or France by clicking an appropriate flag below.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
The Plot Thickens Description
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.087208
EAN: 9780671015572
ISBN: 0671015575
Label: Pocket
Manufacturer: Pocket
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 272
Publication Date: 1997-11-01
Publisher: Pocket
Studio: Pocket
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.087208
EAN: 9780671015572
ISBN: 0671015575
Label: Pocket
Manufacturer: Pocket
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 272
Publication Date: 1997-11-01
Publisher: Pocket
Studio: Pocket
Editorial Review of The Plot Thickens
Joining together for a good cause brings out the best in today's top mystery and suspense writers! For this marvelously entertaining anthology, these outstanding contributors rose to a unique literary challenge: each penned a tale that ingeniously features a thick fog, a thick book, and a thick steak.
The result is a collection of wonderfully imaginative tales that both chill the spine and warm the heart: proceeds from The Plot Thickens will help bring the gift of reading to millions of disadvantaged Americans.
Customer Reviews of The Plot Thickens
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A mixed bag, but fairly interesting reading
Review: This was basically a writing exercise compiled into a book of short stories: each story had to contain a thick steak, a thick fog, and a thick book. It was fun seeing what all the authors did with the prompt, and watching for how they worked in the items.
How Far it Could Go by Lawrence Block
This story lacked a decent ending, in my opinion. Even my feeble imagination came up with far more interesting endings then the one given. I liked the buildup, and the overall premise... but the end was a huge letdown.
Foolproof by Edna Buchanan
This was an interesting ethical dilemna, but... it seemed a little too coincidental and far-fetched for the type of story. I think the "similarities" were taken too far to be cute, and it would have been better served to focus on the real issue of the uniqueness of fingerprints.
The Man Next Door by Mary Higgins Clark
Good basic horror tale: serial killers, the nagging clue, a lot of suspense and twisted minds... It worked particularly well because you could 'see' the way to a good resolution, and you read it trying to 'will' the characters to see it, too.
Too Many Cooks by Carol Higgins Clark
This story shouldn't have been a short story. It left too many questions basically unanswered, and used the patented sitcom mentality to wrap up and explain loose ends. Great plot, but it needs an entire book to really flesh it out.
Revenge and Rebellion by Nelson & Lauren DeMille
This story lost me at the "aspartame in Sweet N Low" snafu. A small detail, but oh so wrong. But besides that, the whole story left me with a "yeah, and so what?" feel.
The Last Peep by Janet Evanovich
I'm not sure if it's cheating that she used existing characters, but I love Stephanie Plum and she did a great job of compressing an adventure into a short story and still giving us the great Plum feel.
Going Under by Linda Fairstein
This story really disturbed me, because it deals with dentistry gone horribly wrong. It was pretty well done, but nothing spectacular, plot or character wise. Just the really creepy dentist bit.
Thick-Headed by Walter Mosley
I had to make myself skim through this one. It didn't capture my attention at all, and was hard to follow.
Love's Cottage by Nancy Pickard
I didn't like the format of the story (mental letters composed to a loved one) but the idea behind the story was interesting, though not full enough to be anything more than speculative fluff.
The Road Trip by Ann Rule
This story just confused me. What was the point of the truck drivers? They were following her long before the motel, so that makes no sense whatsoever. I would rather they showed up for the first time at the motel, and it would have made sense. And the smarmy speech by the truck driver at the end - disjointed and weird - took away even more of the story's credibility. It could have been a good story, but... it wasn't.
Take it Away by Donald E. Westlake
This story wasn't bad at all - good character, simple, straightforward plot and some good wordplay.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Pretty good
Review: This is a bunch of short stories some are better than others. But for the most part a pretty good book.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Less than expected
Review: Bought it for my wife. She said that it wasn't worth the money. It was enjoyable but nothing to write home about. Would've bought from used bookstore.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Disappointing
Review: Although I read most of these authors, this was a disappointing book. The only good thing about it is that the purchase goes for a worthy cause.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Great
Review: This book is great exposure to writers I would not ordinarily read. I bought because I am a HUGE MHC fan. Great read, quick and easy.
Review Summary: A mixed bag, but fairly interesting reading
Review: This was basically a writing exercise compiled into a book of short stories: each story had to contain a thick steak, a thick fog, and a thick book. It was fun seeing what all the authors did with the prompt, and watching for how they worked in the items.
How Far it Could Go by Lawrence Block
This story lacked a decent ending, in my opinion. Even my feeble imagination came up with far more interesting endings then the one given. I liked the buildup, and the overall premise... but the end was a huge letdown.
Foolproof by Edna Buchanan
This was an interesting ethical dilemna, but... it seemed a little too coincidental and far-fetched for the type of story. I think the "similarities" were taken too far to be cute, and it would have been better served to focus on the real issue of the uniqueness of fingerprints.
The Man Next Door by Mary Higgins Clark
Good basic horror tale: serial killers, the nagging clue, a lot of suspense and twisted minds... It worked particularly well because you could 'see' the way to a good resolution, and you read it trying to 'will' the characters to see it, too.
Too Many Cooks by Carol Higgins Clark
This story shouldn't have been a short story. It left too many questions basically unanswered, and used the patented sitcom mentality to wrap up and explain loose ends. Great plot, but it needs an entire book to really flesh it out.
Revenge and Rebellion by Nelson & Lauren DeMille
This story lost me at the "aspartame in Sweet N Low" snafu. A small detail, but oh so wrong. But besides that, the whole story left me with a "yeah, and so what?" feel.
The Last Peep by Janet Evanovich
I'm not sure if it's cheating that she used existing characters, but I love Stephanie Plum and she did a great job of compressing an adventure into a short story and still giving us the great Plum feel.
Going Under by Linda Fairstein
This story really disturbed me, because it deals with dentistry gone horribly wrong. It was pretty well done, but nothing spectacular, plot or character wise. Just the really creepy dentist bit.
Thick-Headed by Walter Mosley
I had to make myself skim through this one. It didn't capture my attention at all, and was hard to follow.
Love's Cottage by Nancy Pickard
I didn't like the format of the story (mental letters composed to a loved one) but the idea behind the story was interesting, though not full enough to be anything more than speculative fluff.
The Road Trip by Ann Rule
This story just confused me. What was the point of the truck drivers? They were following her long before the motel, so that makes no sense whatsoever. I would rather they showed up for the first time at the motel, and it would have made sense. And the smarmy speech by the truck driver at the end - disjointed and weird - took away even more of the story's credibility. It could have been a good story, but... it wasn't.
Take it Away by Donald E. Westlake
This story wasn't bad at all - good character, simple, straightforward plot and some good wordplay.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Pretty good
Review: This is a bunch of short stories some are better than others. But for the most part a pretty good book.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Less than expected
Review: Bought it for my wife. She said that it wasn't worth the money. It was enjoyable but nothing to write home about. Would've bought from used bookstore.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Disappointing
Review: Although I read most of these authors, this was a disappointing book. The only good thing about it is that the purchase goes for a worthy cause.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Great
Review: This book is great exposure to writers I would not ordinarily read. I bought because I am a HUGE MHC fan. Great read, quick and easy.