Rating: 
Summary: I expected better
Review: The Veteran is just as fine, and in many ways better than No Comebacks, even though I know that it can never equal the original feeling I had when I first discovered No Comebacks. The title story concerns the investigation of a mugging. We are introduced to police constables, lawyers, and the whole judicial process unfolds before our eyes as we witness the necessary evils that are used in bringing someone to justice. Forsyth pulls a twist on us, as usual, and though it's not as effective as some of his other work, it's still quite worth the ride. Also in this collection is "The Miracle," a shorter twisting tale of a couple who are stopped on their way by a man with some very interesting information. Both of these stories alone were worth the relatively minimal price of the book, given that I will no doubt be rereading The Veteran many times to come.
Rating: 
Summary: Details without drama; too predictable
Review: These five short stories demonstrate that Forsyth has a great grasp of the British military, the history of Siena, the great art masters, and international air travel. He provides intricate background and small facts. Yet the characters are much too stereotyped and Forsyth telegraphs the all-too-expected outcome from the first story. While you might learn about British 'paras', the German strategy in northern Italy in 1944, the small details of piloting a British Airways flight from Bangkok to London, and the arrogance and bad habits of aristocrats cheating the art world, there is no one with much appeal to this reader. The fifth story, longer and different, opens another genre. "Whispering wind" is as much science fiction as meticulous history. Forsyth certainly did a lot of travel and study of the geography of Wyoming. But the story dragged on. The characters were icons or caricatures rather than heroes or villains. There's the perfect outdoorsman, the perfect Indian maiden, the perfect professor, the perfect mountain sheriff, and the perfect idiot among Custer's troops who resurfaces several generations later in this strange time travel tale. All too perfect, too predictable. Forsyth has done much better.
Rating: 
Summary: Forsyth's latest short stories
Review: This collection of five stories are fascinating, but not as intriguing some of the other Forsyth novels I've read. The first story, "The Veteran" starts out with a mugging of an old man who is "special" or was once regarded as "special". The "special" aspect of him explains the outcome of the mugging as well as the final act of "justice". "The Art of Matter" was a step down for me compared to "The Veteran". I'm just not interested in Art and auctions. For those into trickery and art, I suppose it would be quite an engaging read. "The Miracle" was my next favorite story about a mysterious woman. The ending will take you by surprise and may even make you laugh. To get the full effect of the story, one must be careful and focus on the details of the dialogue. "The Citizen" was another great story involving a drug smuggling operation. By far, the best story of the book was "Whispering Wind" which is largely a romantic adventure. Anyone familiar with Custer's last stand at the battle of Little Big Horn or simply those interested in the old west will enjoy it tremendously. It's the type of story that many women would like because of the romantic element.
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