Activities: After reading
1. Perhaps this is what some of the characters in the stories were thinking. Which seven characters were they (one from each story), and what was happening in the story at that moment?
- ‘How easy that was — and how quick! It used to take me ages to get that much, and now it just takes minutes. Well, I know what I’m going to do first thing tomorrow. I’m going to give up my job. Work is for idiots!’
- ‘Perhaps we should have phoned the Howells, but it didn’t really seem necessary. She’s so young and keen. She does seem a bit nervous, but it’s her first day, so that’s natural. I’m sure the children are going to like her. I’ll leave them to have lunch together now …’
- ‘That went very well. I was a bit worried about the signature, but he didn’t seem to notice anything. I’ve got everything I need, and I’ve seen everyone I need to see, so now there’s only one more thing for me to do. It’s time to pay a little visit…’
- ‘She’s so pretty — even when she’s shouting at me or crying! I’m worried about her, though. She won’t stop asking questions. I do hope she takes my advice and stays indoors. Now I’d better get back to the house and see what’s happening there …’
- ‘This one’s too smart for us, and he’s not interested in money. But there must be something he wants. I’ve got to keep him busy until the others get back here. Well, he’s a handsome man — perhaps he’d be interested in me…’
- ‘I can hear him coming now. He’s got to listen to me. He’s got to tell me what to do! I can’t bear it any longer. Surely everyone can see that she’s guilty? So why can’t they take her away from here, and do what has to be done? There must be a way…’
- ‘The car. That’s what’s been bothering me. She went home from the funeral by taxi, and I’ve never seen a car outside the trailer. But she must have one — how does she get to work otherwise? So where is it? I think I’ll get down there and start watching tomorrow morning…’
2. Here are Celia and Charlie, from Death on Christmas Eve, having one of their regular arguments. Complete Charlie’s side of the conversation (use as many words as you like).
Celia: Christmas always makes me sad, because it makes me think of poor dear Jessie. I loved her so much.
CHARLIE:__________
Celia: No, Charlie, it’s the truth. I did not hate her, and I was very sorry when she died.
CHARLIE:__________
Celia: Her death was a terrible accident, Charlie. How many times do I have to tell you that?
CHARLIE:__________
Celia: Jessie and I never argued, and we didn’t argue that day. She just slipped and fell down the stairs.
CHARLIE:__________
Celia: How could I have done it? I was in my room when she fell.
CHARLIE:__________
Celia: Yes, she screamed because she was falling down the stairs. But that still doesn’t mean I pushed her.
3. At the end of The Heroine, what do you think happens next? Choose one of these ideas (or think of one of your own) and write a new ending for the story.
As though this was the sign for which she had been waiting, Lucille went confidently forward…
- goes into house / dies with family in flames / ‘terrible tragedy’ / person responsible for fire unknown
- calls fire brigade / children die, parents rescued / police find evidence / Lucille guilty of murder
- runs into house / rescues children / parents die in fire / famous heroine / cured of illness
4. The Lipstick could have been a very different story. What might have happened if…? Complete these sentences in your own words.
- If Elinor hadn’t married Fred,…
- If Louise hadn’t noticed that the lipstick was missing,…
- If the office girl hadn’t seen Elinor putting on lipstick,…
- If Mrs Thompson had died,…
- If Louise hadn’t telephoned Margaret about Mrs Thompson,…
- If Margaret hadn’t sent Dr Barclay to warn Louise,…
- If Fred hadn’t murdered his wife,…
5. What was Holly Ann thinking, at the end of Ride the Lightning? Here are her thoughts after Nudger left. Choose one suitable word to fill each gap.
Nudger’s right. He can’t ______ anything, but he’s right ______ what happened. I was ______ one, God help me, ______ did the shooting. I ______ want to, but I ______ no choice. The old______went crazy and ran ______ me, and when I’d ______ him, his wife went ______ too. Every time I ______ my eyes, I see ______ old woman’s face as ______ fell. It should have ______ me in that electric ______. Curtis didn’t deserve to ______, and I’m going to ______ to live, knowing he ______ me, and I killed ______. It doesn’t matter how ______ whisky I drink, I ______ stop thinking about it…
6. Here is the report that the detective in The Gutting of Couffignal wrote for Sergeant Roche. Put the parts of sentences in the right order, and join them with these linking words to make a paragraph of five sentences.
and / and I as I because / before / however / where / while / while / who
- ______ stole the most valuable wedding presents.
- ______ they waited for a suitable night to rob the island.
- The Russians rented a house in Couffignal six months ago
- ______ I found and shot Princess Zhukovski,
- On the night of the storm, some of them attacked the bank and the jeweler’s,
- ______ they killed two servants
- ______ the police would look for criminals
- Then the Russians began robbing the houses, including the Hendrixson house,
- ______ she was trying to escape.
- ______ began making friends and collecting weapons
- The Russians thought that they were safe from the police,
- ______ others created alibis by appearing in different places.
- ______ came from outside the island.
- ______, I was able to tell the police what had really happened
7. What were the motives for the different crimes and murders in these stories? Choose a motive (or more than one) to fit each name, and then write a sentence or two for each character, giving the reasons for your choice of motive.
- MOTIVES: fear, madness, revenge, greed, jealousy, laziness,desire for power
- CHARACTERS: Mark, Fred, Celia, Susan, Lucille, the Russians, Holly Ann
8. Here are some different titles for the stories. Which titles suit which stories? Some can go with more than one story. Which are they?
- One Brave Act
- An Easy Job
- Keeping Death Alive
- A Better Way to Get Money
- Bad Dreams Forever
- Not Guilty?
- Steps Towards Death
- The Rich and The Hungry
- Memories Don’t Die
- Laying a Trail to Death
- Death Waits at the Window
- A Death in the Family
9. Discuss your answers to these questions.
- Very few of the criminals in these stories are brought to justice or punished. Do you prefer crime stories that end like this, or stories with ‘unsolved’ crimes or more open endings? Why?
- In your opinion, which was the most skilful murder (or crime) or the cleverest murderer (or criminal) in these stories?
- Did the authors make you feel sympathetic towards any of these criminals? If so, which ones and why?