Murders on the Half-Skull

by Alfred Hitchcock (Editor), Jack Webb (Contributor), C.B. Gilford (Contributor)

This time, the main course is murder...

With more than a dash of ingenuity added by that gourmand of the truly perverse. If you have an appetite for the unexpected and a thirst for the nearly unbearable, then you are cordially invited to partake of the feast. Here is cunning enough for the most jaded palates, from fourteen writers who specialize in just desserts.

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Mystery Thriller

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (1899-1980) was an iconic and highly influential film director and producer, who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres.

Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.

Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.

Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.

Reviews

[Adela Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me lo empecé hace muchos meses, pero por lo que sea no me terminó de enganchar. Hoy me he releído la historia que ya me leí en su momento y me he terminado el libro.

Me ha encantado, son pequeñas historias cortas con giros increíbles. Algunas un poco predecibles y otras que no te esperarías nunca.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of crime stories from the late fifties and sixties. If you ever liked the Alfred Hitchcock Presents television programme, you will probably enjoy these.

[Enrique Serrano Ruiz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Este libro consta de cuatro relatos que explotan lo torcida que puede llegar a ser la mente humana y lo depravada que puede llegar a ser una persona. El punto que une estas historias es el giro final del relato, que tiende a ser irónico.
En lo personal los relatos me parecieron bastante predecibles pero entretienen.

[Paulalalala 🕺🏽🫐☕️🥄🧿🗿🦕🪩 · Rating 3 out of 5]

no quiero que este sea el único libro d este año q quede sin reseña. tampoco tengo nada concreto q decir sobre él. entretenido. no da miedo!!!! (lo agradecí) fue gratis (tb lo agradecí)

[Alessandro Spinelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complessivamente un buon libro. Alcune storie sono molto carine anche se dopo un po' si capisce che lo schema utilizzato per le varie vicende ed il loro svolgimento si ripete praticamente per tutti i racconti. Consigliato a chi volesse soddisfare la curiosità di vedere come scriveva questo colosso del cinema.

[JR Álvaro González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casi 100 paginas que contienen tres relatos de intriga/suspense al estilo de Hitchcock aunque, evidentemente, no están escritos por él. Como reza el nombre de su colección: ideales para leer cualquier noche de verano.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of crime tales, most have a twist but all are enjoyable. Authors include Jack Ritchie, Jack Webb, Henry Slesar, Lawrence Block, Richard Deming, and a few others.

Recommended, not a dud in the bunch.

[Jon Ayuso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recopilación de 4 relatos cortos de asesinatos/misterio/venganzas... Fácil y entretenido

[Catalina Veliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asesinato a domicilio: 4,5 de 5
Dulcemente letal: 4 de 5
El plan hipotético: 4 de 5
El sonido del crimen: 5 de 5

[Thomas McDade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best
Confession is Good for the Soul
Bad Noose
Crime Doesn't Pay--Enough

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a listing of the stories
in the paperback edition of this
book.

One November Night by Jack Webb
The Already Dead by C.B. Gilford
#8 by Jack Ritchie
The Day of the Execution by Henry Slesar
Who Has Been Sitting in My Chair by Helen Nielsen
The Vapor Clue by James Holding, Jr.
Wetback by Murray Wolf
Murder Between Friends by Nedra Tyre
Good for the Soul by Lawrence Block
Ace in the Hole by Elijah Ellis
Bad Noose by Arthur Porges
The Eyes of a Cop by Edwin P. Hicks
Cheers by Richard Deming
Crime Doesn't Pay--Enough by Ed Lacy

Here are my ratings for all the
individual stories.

One November Night 4.6/5
The Already Dead 4.8/5
#8 3.5/5
The Day of the Execution 3/5
Who Has Been Sitting in My Chair 3/5
The Vapor Clue by James Holding, Jr. 3/5
Wetback 3/5
Murder Between Friends 4.8/5
Good for the Soul 4/5
Ace in the Hole 3/5
Bad Noose 4.8/5
The Eyes of a Cop 3/5
Cheers 3/5
Crime Doesn't Pay--Enough 4.3/5

[Luisa Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estábamos viendo en mi clase de cine sobre Hitchcock y me súper encantó su estilo personal, cuando en el receso al ir a la biblioteca me topé que con este maravilloso libro en las estanterías, lo renté, y al regresar a clase una amiga me comento que ya lo había leído y le había gustado mucho, así que eso me animó aún más a leerlo; Al llegar a mi casa no lo solté hasta terminarlo, quedé fascinada y encantada por el estilo narrativo de Hitchcock, Este libro en particular es una compilación de cuentos cortos muy diferentes a lo que yo había leído antes, algunos me recordaron al estilo de Arthur Connan Doyle(Autor del maravilloso personaje de Sherlock Holmes).
Así que le doy 5 estrellas de 5, este libro me resultó refrescante y muy interesante.

[Cameron Trost · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Murders on the Half-Skull" is an entertaining anthology of suspense and mystery tales selected by Alfred Hitchcock. The stories were mostly written in the sixties and this is evident in the atmosphere, writing style, and relationships between the characters demonstrated. There are tales of bumbling hired killers, sinister spinsters, framed lovers, Hispanic gangs, and rowdy rockers. I've yet to read an Alfred Hitchcock anthology that I haven't enjoyed, and although this isn't his best, it's definitely worth picking up if you come across a copy in a second-hand bookshop or a garage sale.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

As if the cover is not fun enough!

These short stories are a mixture of genuinely gripping and predictable but overall fun and very much in keeping with Hitchcock's sense of humor and affinity for a surprising twist (Saki would be pleased).

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

anthology of mystery stories are always interesting to me.