Deception

An indecent joke from a wealthy middle-aged housewife at the expense of a young couple becomes very... educational. A farmer discovers a treasure and the owner attempts to deceive him, only to discover that the joke was on him. A pastor believes he can deceive the ‘naive' villagers, but forgets that their kindness will not work to his benefit. A gentle old man offers his umbrella to a young mother on a rainy day, and her curiosity uncovers a sad story of addiction. A librarian, who is in fact a crook, has the time of his life until he goes after the wrong victim. A man convinces himself to be a great composer and is assisted by a strange young woman in his grand plan for glory. Two friends in New York become revenge -entrepreneurs, and a boy becomes involved in an eerie bet while on holiday. In the best story of the collection, a wronged wife commits THE perfect crime.

Ten stories of deceit, obsession, folly and retaliation from a master of the genre.