Short stories that contain mysteries are a challenge. You cannot do much character development, add many plot details nor use extensive red herrings.Ms. George's writing holds up surprisingly well in this format considering that she normally pens novels that run 500-600 pages. The charm of her work is that she loves ironies, and provides us with some delicious ones.
In Exposure, Thomas Lynley and Lady Helen are visiting Lynley's aunt while some of the heritage silver is pinched by a tour group. A man dies in the process. Can Lynley sort out the crime before this turns into an even bigger problem?
In The Surprise of His Life, a middle-aged man finds himself having ED problems and grows concerned that his young wife is obtaining satisfaction elsewhere. He becomes obsessed with stopping this cuckolding . . . with unexpected results.
Good Fences Aren't Enough is a sad commentary on how we can become accustomed to anything . . . and actually seek out the perverse. A new neighbor moves in and doesn't keep up the property values. Her neighbors decide to do something about it and get more than they bargained for.
Remember, I'll Always Love You reminds of the best of O'Henry's short stories. Just before he dies, a husband shares that wonderful sentiment with his wife. Only with time can she put the comment into its proper context.
I, Richard is the opposite of the last story . . . about getting a gift that you didn't want but that someone else would assume that you did. It has a wonderful background in historical references to Richard III that will appeal to those who enjoyed The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.
The weakness of the stories is that the irony is usually too easy to anticipate. For that reason, Remember, I'll Always Love You works best . . . because the irony is better disguised.