Another 10 Bloody Slices: A second collection of short stories

This is another fantastic, eclectic mix of short stories about 'life's rich pageant' following on from Kevin Corrigan's successful first collection entitled '10 Bloody Slices'. This time there is murder afoot!
'A Bitter Pill', the first of this book's stories, was first performed as a comedy sketch at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe. Enjoy the funny exchanges in the story between the ex-army colonel and the hotel receptionist and distraught, ailing businessman as the colonel is convinced the hotel is a cover for battalion headquarters. Priceless! 'A Trip to the Sperm Bank' is a rather risqu?story of indeed a trip to a sperm bank and a misunderstanding that has a somewhat shocking denouement If you are from Liverpool, you will really enjoy the scouse references in 'Guilty or Not Guilty'. The denouement in 'Aliens' is both funny and a little shocking. 'The Headmaster's Speech', is as funny and poignant as any previous incarnation of this topic. The headmaster's 1959 leaving speech, castigating his wayward public-school students, is chock full of humour with a strong dash of pathos.
'Who Poisoned the Poisoner?' is a heady mix of politics, familial rivalry and of course murder, in this case two murders, both by poisoning set in 1993. There are lots of political and historical background that intertwines the murder narrative as well as the depth of character development. ''Who Killed the Nastiest Man on Earth' is set in 1973, twenty years before the previous story, another clever narrative device by Kevin, switching between linked time periods. The development and characterisation of Peter Peacock, the nastiest man on Earth, and his family and associates is truly original and enthralling. As with the previous and final story, there are some delicious references to Berlin and the Second Word War. 'Murder on the Bounty' takes a leap forward of 100 years or so from the events of 1973 as the spaceship SS Bounty takes off for a newly discovered planet and a new, rich source of a uranium-like metal. The scene where the crew think the ship's chef has cooked the murder victim in a pie is hilarious. I know that pie thing has been done before, but it is truly funny here. Spoiler alert! 'Charlie Head - Ace Detective', is not set in the universe of the trilogy of murder mysteries, as outlined above. You will certainly enjoy reading about Charlie Head, the flawed but loveable individual, and his stereotypical associates, including the 'honest, by the book' copper and Charlie's long-suffering girlfriend.
Finally, 'Ducks or Spies' is a powerful 'two-hander'. The interaction between the two protagonists in the story is brilliant and wholly believable. This is the follow-up to 'Who Poisoned the Poisoner?' with a great final twist in the narrative. The historical references enrich the story. Berlin, the spy Kim Philby, President Kennedy's 1963 trip to Berlin and the ending of the Cold War all feature as well as more truly interesting background on the characters who featured in the initial murder mystery. A perfect final read. Enjoy this second collection of Kevin's bloody slices of life's rich pageant'.