Short Story Masterpieces with a Twist Ending –, Vol. 1

4,5 ⭐️

What a great find this book was!
The collection features 23 short stories by some authors I admire and some authors I had not heard of before. Each one comes with the promised twist ending and while I can't honestly call all of them masterpieces, I definitely did not dislike any of them.
The book was definitely worth reading and I highly recommend it.

Here's a bit about some of the stories that stood out to me the most:
- The Open Window, Hector Hugh Munro (Saki) - this is my most favorite of all the stories as it got me through a wheel of emotions. It takes all of 5 minutes to read, so if you have the opportunity, give it a go.
- The Lady or the Tiger, Frank R. Stockton - this one... I am still thinking about it. It has one of the most frustrating endings on the planet, yet I still liked it. Mostly because it offers such a morbid dilemma and I can't help but ponder it on occasion.
- The Case of Lady Sannox, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - This one grabbed me from the beginning. The author offers a curious mystery within the first two paragraphs and I was hooked instantaneously. I kinda wish it was longer, but it was still great.
-The Bet, Anton Chekhov - I wouldn't say I liked this one, but it did prompt a lot of thinking. If you are interested in partaking in some existential dread, this one is for you.
- Myra Meets His Family, F. Scott Fitzgerald - This one was so entertaining and the twist was so fun! Now, mind you, I did not like the beginning and 2 pages in, I was convinced that the story, and the author's writing in general, aren't for me. But I am so happy I disregarded that conviction and gave the story a chance. Probably the most fun of all the stories in this collection.
-The Monkey's Paw, W.W. Jacobs - if you're interested in scaring yourself to death, I would highly recommend this one. The story is super sinister and dark and I liked it, even though I generally avoid scary things.
-Our Aromatic Uncle, Henry Cuyler Bunner - “It is always with a feeling of personal tenderness and regret that I recall his story.” This is how the story starts and this is exactly how I feel about it too. It's heartwarming and heartbreaking and I loved it so much! On top of that, the writing style of the author is exquisite, so I can't recommend it enough. But there is so much more to it, especially towards the end.“Why? Don't know. Been a fool all my life. Never could do anything but make money.” This monologue still gets me.

All in all, a great find and I'm so happy I got my hands on vol.2 :)