Cat o' Nine Tales and Other Stories Author:Jeffrey Archer An English lord requires one more chess piece to complete a set that would be worth a fortune. Another man, an accountant, realizes he's achieved nothing in his life -- and sets out to make a fortune before he retires. And then there is the author's own favorite, "In the Eye of the Beholder," about a star athlete who has a fate... more »ful run-in with a three-hundred-pound woman. Some of these twelve stories were inspired by the two years Jeffrey Archer spent in prison, including "Don't Drink the Water," the tale of a company chairman who tries to poison his wife while on a trip to St. Petersburg -- with unexpected consequences.« less
I've always enjoyed Archer's short stories. There are some real gems in this collection which are stories based on 'characters' he met in prison. Most of the stories end with an unusual twist.