Jack Be Quick and Other Crime Stories (Five Star Standard Print Mystery Series)
Worth buying if: You enjoy Barbara Paul's dry humor and character-driven twists.
Skip it if: You prefer contemporary procedurals with modern forensic detail.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780786219193. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
This 1999 Thorndike edition gathers Barbara Paul's short crime fiction—from the title tale 'Jack Be Quick' to other twist-driven stories—blending dark humor, procedural detail, and surprise endings across 219 pages.
Why this book now
Revisit Barbara Paul's concise crime craft and vintage late-20th-century mystery tone amid renewed interest in short-form thrillers and classic women crime writers.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You enjoy Barbara Paul's dry humor and character-driven twists.
- You read short crime stories and anthologies in the mystery genre.
- You prefer contemporary procedurals with modern forensic detail.
- You want a single long novel rather than a 219-page short-story collection.
- You are specifically hunting for the newest framing rather than a backlist perspective.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780786219193
Worth buying if: You enjoy Barbara Paul's dry humor and character-driven twists.
Skip it if: You prefer contemporary procedurals with modern forensic detail.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Light Short sit-downs
At 219 pages, this Thorndike paperback is a brisk, single-sitting or weekend read—ideal for sampling multiple short mysteries without heavy time investment.
What stands out here
This Five Star/Thorndike standard print edition emphasizes Barbara Paul's collected short works and retains the original 1999 sequencing and tone for readers seeking authentic presentation.
Best way to approach it
Approach the collection story-by-story: savor Paul's punchy openings and pay attention to character details that lead to each twist ending.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780786219193
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.