In this collection of eleven short stories, characters navigate domestic traps, professional rivalries, and cruel coincidences. In The Landlady, a young traveler discovers his polite hostess uses taxidermy on her guests, while Royal Jelly depicts a father feeding his infant honey meant for bees to ensure growth. Other pieces involve a husband hiding a recording device to catch his wife’s secrets and a group of coworkers plotting a complex prank involving a mink coat. These narratives focus on the precise moment a seemingly ordinary situation curdles into malice or physical danger.
Those who enjoy dark humor and macabre endings read this book to see the masks of polite society stripped away. It appeals to audiences looking for clinical observations of human pettiness and the ways people exploit one another. Readers walk away with a cynical perspective on trust and a reminder that the most terrifying threats often hide behind a smile or a quiet suburban facade. It provides a sharp, unsentimental look at the darker impulses of the human mind.
Thought-provoking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
Insights from Kiss Kiss
“The tea tasted faintly of bitter almonds.”
Billy Weaver just wanted a cheap place to sleep. He didn't notice the taxidermy until it was too late.
“She sat down and began to knit.”
A wife spends years being ignored by her husband. She finally finds a way to keep him quiet forever.
“I'll bet it's a beauty.”
The way Mrs. Bixby tries to trick her husband is almost impressive. Then the twist at the end makes your stomach drop.
“The blade cut deep into the wood.”
Mr. Klausner built a machine to hear plants scream. It makes you feel guilty for every flower you ever picked.
- Published
- 1960
- Publisher
- Penguin
- ISBN
- 9780718106973
- Language
- EN
