Don't Look a Gift Shark in the Mouth [antikvár]

PrefaceAfter spending a week end in the country, a friend of mine invariably sends his host a book. Recently it occurred to me that through television I have spent many evenings in your homes yet I have never thanked you properly. Ergo, this book. Of course I don't believe my friend charges for the books he sends, but no matter. It's the thought that counts.Most prefaces soon become defensive, disintegrate into lengthy explanations of why certain stories have been chosen, and the anthologists quickly become apologists. The stories in this volume have only one reason for being here and that is explained in the title. I can only say that I like them. I very much hope that you will too.A suspense story is not simply a Who-done-it. It might better be called a When's-he-gonna-do-it. I don't think I'm giving away any secrets when I tell you that in most of these stories somebody does do it. So don't say you haven't been warned.There are those who say that the reading of a mystery or suspense story has a therapeutic value cleansing one of his homicidal tendencies and allowing him to enjoy those crimes he has always wanted to commit but didn't because he lacked the get-up-and-go. If this is true, I think we have crimes to relieve