Murdered To Perfection

“Is there anything called the Perfect Murder?” Asks the renowned and one of my favourite authors, Ruskin Bond, in the Introduction of this collection of eight short stories by eminent writers, edited by him.

Is murder just a heinous crime or an art by itself, as the Dame of Murder Mysteries, Agatha Christie would say. In quest of a satisfying answer, I poured through this engrossing collection of short stories. The title of the book not only indicated commission as well as contemplation of the act but also what it results in – ignominy or success.

A brief outline of the stories:

The Perfect Murder by Stacie Aumonier (1922)

Paul and Henri, two good for nothing siblings, carried out a plan to murder their aunt, Mrs. Taillandier, by whose death, both would immensely benefit financially. According to them, it’s the most flawless plan with zero chance of suspicion let alone getting caught. Were they successful?

The Red Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1891)

Sherlock Holmes’ extraordinary power of detection was put to test when his red headed client Jabez Wilson, a mediocre pawn broker, recounted his strange employment in the office of the Red Headed League where he had to just copy the Encyclopedia Brittanica, everyday, for four hours from ten to two in lieu of a payment of four pounds a week. Was it just an innocent occupation or a facade behind which plot of a bigger crime was being hatched ?

He Said It With Arsenic by Ruskin Bond (1970)

William Jones was considered the most kind and compassionate nurse till people close to him were mysteriously found dead.

The Interruption by W. W. Jacobs (1926)

Goddard at last tasted the freedom, that he had longed for, after his wife’s death. Soon after the funeral he might have felt lighter and more relaxed had the cook not started obliquely hinting that she knew the actual cause of the death of the lady of the house.

When Al Capone Was Ambushed by Jack Bilbo

The author was recruited as one of  Al Capone’s personal body guards. He narrated how Al Capone was attacked by unknown assailants while going to the hospital to see one of his wounded gunmen. In spite of the sudden attack Capone visited the injured henchman and was saddened by his death.

The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes (1911)

Mr. and Mrs. Bunting were very comfortably placed by their lodger, Mr. Sleuth, till Mrs. Bunting started having grave doubts that he was the serial killer rocking the city of London by the monstrously committed murders every night.

The Duel by Wilkie Collins

The author accompanied his friend, Mr. Romayne, to bring back his ailing aunt from Boulogne. However, the trip was fated to end in a bloody duel.

The Cask Of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe (1846)

Two friends but one wanted to neatly remove the other  from this life. Would he be successful?

I have mentioned the first date of publication of these stories wherever possible. As is evident the stories belong to a period when the style of narration was way different from today. Though all the stories do not do justice to the title of the book but a common thread of wilful murder does bind them together.

A Little About Mr. Bond

Ruskin Bond is an author and poet. He was born in 1934 in Kasauli in the Punjab States Agency, British India. He has written more than 500 short stories, essays, and novels including around 69 books for children. He was awarded the country’s highest honours Padma Shree (1999) and Padma Bhushan (2014). He lives in Mussoorie with his adopted family.