What do you think?
Rate this book
لا تشرب الماء
يسافر «ريتشارد بارنسلي» إلى سانت بطرسبرج لإنهاء صفقة خط أنابيب من شأنها أن تجعله ثريًّا بشكلٍ لم يكن ليحلم به؛ فبعد أن أمضى عدة سنوات يُقدِّم الرشاوى لوزير الطاقة «أناتول تشينكوف»، كان ينبغي للصفقة أن تتم بسلاسة ومرونة، لكنَّ الرئيس الروسي يُقرِّر أن يترأس مراسم عقد الصفقة بنفسه؛ الأمر الذي يعني أنَّ عليه أن يُنهي الاستعداد لها في غضون أسابيع قليلة. ثم يحدث تحوُّل في حياة «ريتشارد» العائلية حين يكتشف خطابًا مُرسَلًا إلى زوجته من محامٍ متخصص في قضايا الطلاق. يساوره الشك في أن زوجته تنتظر أن يُوقِّع الصفقة قبل أن تحصل على الطلاق منه؛ الأمر الذي يقوده إلى اتخاذ إجراء حاسم. تُرى ما هو؟ وكيف ستسير الأمور؟ هذا ما سنعرفه من خلال أحداث القصة المثيرة!
28 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2018
149 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey Archer
657 books12.5k followersJeffrey is published in 114 countries and more than 47 languages, with more than 750,000 5* reviews with international sales passing 275 million copies.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 27, 2018
This was quick but enjoyable read.
September 25, 2018
A very well written short story by author Jeffrey Archer.
A short story that has plenty of suspense and is full of humour, twists and turns and intrigue. Far more than you would expect from a short story.
When Richard Barnsley discovers a letter from a divorce lawyer intended for his wife he feels he needs to take drastic action. With a very important business deal about to be finalised in St Petersburg that will make him extremely rich, he knows that he must act quickly if he is to stop his soon to be ex wife having a share of his new found wealth.
Very good short story with a decent twist.
A short story that has plenty of suspense and is full of humour, twists and turns and intrigue. Far more than you would expect from a short story.
When Richard Barnsley discovers a letter from a divorce lawyer intended for his wife he feels he needs to take drastic action. With a very important business deal about to be finalised in St Petersburg that will make him extremely rich, he knows that he must act quickly if he is to stop his soon to be ex wife having a share of his new found wealth.
Very good short story with a decent twist.
August 2, 2018
Master storyteller Lord Jeffrey Archer has chosen to please his fans with a new venture; a short story released each month. Those familiar with Archer’s work will know that he can not only spin long and involved pieces, but also the short story that compacts adventure into a handful of pages. I recently received my August story and could not wait to get started. Richard Barnsley is an astute businessman with strong ties in Russia. When the chance to solidify a major deal crosses his path, Richard is not about to let it slip through his fingers, with a senior member of the Cabinet and the Russian President prepared to attend the signing ceremony. Back in England, Barnsley discovers that his wife of many years has apparently decided to file for divorce, thought she has not come out to tell him. Worried about the entire situation, Barnsley agrees to take his wife on his business trip to Russia. He purposely fails to let her know that the local water is not potable and that she need only consume the bottled variety on offer. Barnsley also concocts an elaborate scheme to ensure her bottled water is always replaced with that which flows from the tap, thereby ensuring her demise. While sightseeing, Richard’s wife comes down with something, leaving her achy and feverish. Might this be the ultimate act to ensure no division of assets at divorce? Only time will tell, as long as no one drinks the water! Archer pens yet another wonderful story, keeping the reader thinking and the story flowing through to its final zinger. Recommended for those who love a good Archer short story or any reader who needs something to fill a little time in their day!
Lord Jeffrey Archer’s work is always full of unique perspectives, be they complete novels or shorter story such as this one. I am so pleased to have come across this collection and have reviewed each story based on its own merits. Now I await each instalment on a monthly basis, I can hope to find gems amidst all the reading I undertake each year. This was definitely one of the more exciting pieces I have read of late, pitting a man who refuses to lose anything against an unsuspecting wife who wants nothing more than to enjoy herself on holiday. Told in an interesting way that prefaces the piece with a version of events that makes Archer the story’s actual narrator, the reader is treated to something quite intriguing through to the very end of this story. The characters proves interesting and the story flowed well, as Archer is prone to ensure it does in his shorter pieces. Archer is able to impress and entertain in equal measure, something that is rare in the pieces I have come across over the last number of years. I have enjoyed all these stories and am eager for the next turn of the calendar, when I can be assured yet another gem.
Kudos, Lord Archer, for a masterful new story collection. How you find so many effective ideas that produce high quality publications I will never know.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Lord Jeffrey Archer’s work is always full of unique perspectives, be they complete novels or shorter story such as this one. I am so pleased to have come across this collection and have reviewed each story based on its own merits. Now I await each instalment on a monthly basis, I can hope to find gems amidst all the reading I undertake each year. This was definitely one of the more exciting pieces I have read of late, pitting a man who refuses to lose anything against an unsuspecting wife who wants nothing more than to enjoy herself on holiday. Told in an interesting way that prefaces the piece with a version of events that makes Archer the story’s actual narrator, the reader is treated to something quite intriguing through to the very end of this story. The characters proves interesting and the story flowed well, as Archer is prone to ensure it does in his shorter pieces. Archer is able to impress and entertain in equal measure, something that is rare in the pieces I have come across over the last number of years. I have enjoyed all these stories and am eager for the next turn of the calendar, when I can be assured yet another gem.
Kudos, Lord Archer, for a masterful new story collection. How you find so many effective ideas that produce high quality publications I will never know.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
August 17, 2018
Oh so predictable
I guess I am getting the really acquainted with how author would weave in the story, having read almost all the short stories in his 'The year of short stories' series. This one, in particular was very predictable. However, the little diversions created in the story regarding divorce, was still interesting. And hence one additional 🌟.
I guess I am getting the really acquainted with how author would weave in the story, having read almost all the short stories in his 'The year of short stories' series. This one, in particular was very predictable. However, the little diversions created in the story regarding divorce, was still interesting. And hence one additional 🌟.
May 16, 2025
"لم أفكر يوماً في الطلاق،
ولكني فكرت في قتله كثيراً 😊"
استمعت إليها صوتياً👇
https://youtu.be/uMmNlDMLZUA?si=4kbZW...
ولكني فكرت في قتله كثيراً 😊"
استمعت إليها صوتياً👇
https://youtu.be/uMmNlDMLZUA?si=4kbZW...
July 14, 2025
رواية قصيرة تشدك للنهاية وتصدمك! جيفري آرتشر متقن ومتمكن جدًا بالحبكة مع قصر رواياته👍🏻.
٢٠ محرم ١٤٤٧ | ١٥ يوليو ٢٠٢٥ ١٢:٠٥ صباحًا.
٢٠ محرم ١٤٤٧ | ١٥ يوليو ٢٠٢٥ ١٢:٠٥ صباحًا.
March 7, 2019
I love it when karma takes its due!
August 1, 2018
Big Flaw in the story... How can you die from a siberian disease(probably a plague) without any symptom :)
May 8, 2025
في خضم التفاوض حول توقيع صفقة بين رجل اعمال والحكومة الروسية لمد خط انابيب. يعود الرجل الى بيته مبكرا ويكاشف صدفة رسالة في درج زوجته تحديد موعد لها مع مكتب محاماة. يستفسر الرجل من مقرب له عن هذا المكتب فيخبره انه مكتب متخصص بقضايا الطلاق. ويستشير رجل الاعمال ذلك المقرب في تصرفات زوجته فيشير له ان الامور تؤكد الشكوك حول سعيها للطلاق وان تصرفاتها تعزز انها تتم بتوجيه من محاميها ليحسن موقفها عند رفع القضية. تطلب الزوجة ان ترافق زوجها في رحلته لسانت بطرسبرغ التي سيوقع فيها على الصفقة مع الروس فيصحبها وقد بيت النية ان يقضي عليها هناك. عند وصولهم للفندق ازال الزوجة اللوحة التحذرية من شرب مياه الصنبور واستغل انشغال زوجته وبدل المياه من زجاجات المياه المعدنية بمياه من الصنبور واخذ يخدع زوجته في كل فرصة تسنح له ويجعلها تشرب مياه صنبور دون ان تدري بدأ الاعياء يظهر على الزوجة لكن الزوج استمر بخطته ومنع عنها كل فرصة لانقاذها. وفي الصباح لليوم المحدد لتوقيع الصفقة لم يظهر الزوج في باحة الفندق في الموعد المحدد لاصطحابه فيتم الاتصال بالغرفة ولا يكون رد فيتم الاستعانة بمدير الفندق الذي يفتح الغرفة ويجد الزوجين ميتين. الزوجة من الفيروس من شرب المياه والزوج من العدوى من زوجته.
August 24, 2019
The story in this book is shared between two prisoners in England prison.
An international businessman tries to kill his wife (due to his doubt of divorce petition to be filled by his wife) using infected water of Saint Petersburg. The next day ends up killing both sure to the infection being contagious.
Rating : 3.8/5
An international businessman tries to kill his wife (due to his doubt of divorce petition to be filled by his wife) using infected water of Saint Petersburg. The next day ends up killing both sure to the infection being contagious.
Rating : 3.8/5
December 31, 2024
حبكة غير متوقعة ابدا مفاجأة كبرى على صغرها لكن انا كما قال الأديب كروان مشاكل * خت الصدمة بقى *
November 5, 2018
Jeffrey Archer never ceases to surprise me with all his twists and turns, this is a short story about a married couple who are visiting Russia. Rarely you find a thriller book in which you can't predict the ending, this is one of those.
His books never fail to deliver and you can never put down until the end.
A quick and on the go short story.
a must read!
Highly recommended!
Happy Reading!
His books never fail to deliver and you can never put down until the end.
A quick and on the go short story.
a must read!
Highly recommended!
Happy Reading!
August 27, 2018
Don't buy it
The 'short story' is certainly not a misnomer, in fact the story only takes up 41% of the book. The remaining 59% is given over to a shameless marketing ploy for Mr Archer's latest novel. Not worth the money, don't bother.
The 'short story' is certainly not a misnomer, in fact the story only takes up 41% of the book. The remaining 59% is given over to a shameless marketing ploy for Mr Archer's latest novel. Not worth the money, don't bother.
July 19, 2021
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
Don't Drink the Water:
The Year of Short Stories, –
August,
by Jeffrey Archer.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
Beautiful descriptions of St Petersburg and it's attractions interspersed in a tale that begins in Belmarsh where the author was for a while (for being sympathetic to late Princess of Wales?), told him by a fellow prisoner who happened to be a professional assassin from Russia, about an English businessman who discovered to his surprise that his wife was consulting a divorce lawyer.
Advised by his own lawyer to not indulge in his extra marital activities until the matter is settled, he's surprised by his wife asking him to take her with him on his next business trip to St Petersburg. How quickly it turns into a horror tale, with a surprise twist into a fair end, is this author's own special and usual treat expected by his readers.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
July 19, 2021 - July 19, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
Don't Drink the Water:
The Year of Short Stories, –
August,
by Jeffrey Archer.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
Beautiful descriptions of St Petersburg and it's attractions interspersed in a tale that begins in Belmarsh where the author was for a while (for being sympathetic to late Princess of Wales?), told him by a fellow prisoner who happened to be a professional assassin from Russia, about an English businessman who discovered to his surprise that his wife was consulting a divorce lawyer.
Advised by his own lawyer to not indulge in his extra marital activities until the matter is settled, he's surprised by his wife asking him to take her with him on his next business trip to St Petersburg. How quickly it turns into a horror tale, with a surprise twist into a fair end, is this author's own special and usual treat expected by his readers.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
July 19, 2021 - July 19, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
March 25, 2020
I don't do book reviews....
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way
June 27, 2019
Jeffrey Archer has a perfect sense of humor and I enjoy reading his short stories.
There is just one flaw: whenever he writes something about Russia, it has nothing to do with reality. It's a Frankenstein - made up of some more or less real details from various periods of history and combined in a most strange and incredible way. He ended up producing a story that reminds me of North Korean propaganda movies about the US.
There is just one flaw: whenever he writes something about Russia, it has nothing to do with reality. It's a Frankenstein - made up of some more or less real details from various periods of history and combined in a most strange and incredible way. He ended up producing a story that reminds me of North Korean propaganda movies about the US.
May 9, 2025
""Whoever digs a pit for his brother will fall into it""
Two criminals in the prison were talking about a man who wanted to kill his wife...
Why?! Because she wanted the divorce.
Well was she really wanted it?!
That's what we'll know!!
The ending is so good 😅
Well men shouldn't listen to other men in situations like that!
Two criminals in the prison were talking about a man who wanted to kill his wife...
Why?! Because she wanted the divorce.
Well was she really wanted it?!
That's what we'll know!!
The ending is so good 😅
Well men shouldn't listen to other men in situations like that!
August 19, 2018
A good yarn with the mandatory unexpected twist
Another masterful story from the master story teller. Keeps you turning the pages. You think you know what the ending would be but it's not what you are expecting.
Another masterful story from the master story teller. Keeps you turning the pages. You think you know what the ending would be but it's not what you are expecting.
September 15, 2018
Very clever!
The story was very cleverly constructed, and the ending was quite surprising. I expected the prison from the beginning to play more of a roll, but the clever tie in of one of the characters was excellent!
The story was very cleverly constructed, and the ending was quite surprising. I expected the prison from the beginning to play more of a roll, but the clever tie in of one of the characters was excellent!
March 24, 2023
This was utter schlock. Murder and mayhem in Russia. The main protagonist, richard really was dislikeable and definitely took after his nickname. His poor wife was portrayed by Archer as a one dimensional walkover and the ending didnt make sense.
July 3, 2025
قصة قصيرة لكن تحفة حقيقية!
السرد كان مشوّق من أول كلمة، وكل لحظة كنت بحاول أفهم اللي بيحصل، ولما وصلت للنهاية... اتفاجئت فعلًا!
لم أتوقع أبدًا الحقيقة، وهذا جعلني أستمتع أكتر و أتحمس لمعرفة النهاية.
رواية ذكية، سريعة، وصادمة!
أنصح بيها جدًا لعشاق النهايات الغير متوقعة.
السرد كان مشوّق من أول كلمة، وكل لحظة كنت بحاول أفهم اللي بيحصل، ولما وصلت للنهاية... اتفاجئت فعلًا!
لم أتوقع أبدًا الحقيقة، وهذا جعلني أستمتع أكتر و أتحمس لمعرفة النهاية.
رواية ذكية، سريعة، وصادمة!
أنصح بيها جدًا لعشاق النهايات الغير متوقعة.
August 3, 2018
Didn't see that ending coming
August 11, 2018
Good story
September 18, 2018
Brilliant! How can he keep everything to the last sentence or even the last word? A genius!
September 30, 2018
Interesting read. Lovely plot. The end will leave you surprised for sure.
November 5, 2018
Okay
Decent short read, seems like it will make a really good thriller movie. . . or is there a movie already!?
Decent short read, seems like it will make a really good thriller movie. . . or is there a movie already!?
May 18, 2019
What a plot twist!!!
December 6, 2021
Short and sweet with a nice sting in the tail.
January 9, 2024
A quick easy to read story
December 5, 2024
An interesting short thriller.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews