How far will desperation take you? And what could it lead you to do?
These are the questions that I found myself asking as I read a short story titled “Cooking the Books” by English thriller writer Christopher Fowler (1953-2023).
The plot
The story is about a restaurant owner named Haldeman, who has nothing but problems going on in his life. On top of his wife leaving him, he has a failing business and serious financial troubles. Desperate, he carefully devises a plan that could provide a way out: commit insurance fraud by burning his own restaurant down. He does not really care about who the flames will burn or how it would impact anybody caught in-between his scheme. All that matters is what he stands to get in the end.
With a seemingly fool-proof plan and a solid alibi as he will be out of town and away from the crime scene, could this plan put an end to his woes? Moreover, will he succeed? Are there consequences to planning to commit something so devious? To find out, it would be best to read the story, which is certainly an engrossing one as readers are walked through his plan as it unfolds.
What makes this story interesting
Being the story’s central focus, Haldeman is a character whose life is seemingly going further downhill and his dilemmas might have readers feeling sorry for him. However, they might soon develop mixed feelings once they find out what he is willing to do to get out of his predicament, or that he is not exactly a good person. This is one of my favourite parts of the story: reading about the character’s morals and how it is affected based on his circumstances, with desperation leading him down a dark path. Being the story’s protagonist, we might also grapple with whether rooting for him, or showing any sympathy towards him is right. Perhaps we might instead find ourselves rooting against him and his plan.
Moreover, the most important part about a short story, at least to me, is its ability to deliver an impact within a few pages and leave something that will stick with you long after you’ve put it down. At just around 10 pages, Fowler manages to do just that. The story is paced like a ticking time bomb, counting down to what might happen and leaving readers wondering how things will play out as they turn each page.
Readers may also find themselves coming back for a second or third read, exploring the story further while picking up on different things that one may not have noticed during their first read through. This is definitely a story that will stay with its readers, especially with its ending, which, without giving too much away, can only be described as gruesome.
Short, easy to read and definitely having a lasting impact, “Cooking the Books” is a short story that I highly recommend you to pick up.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
