Crime

Robert Bloch: The Night Before Christmas 

Robert Bloch: The Night Before Christmas

“The Night Before Christmas” is a short story by Robert Bloch published in 1980 in the anthology Dark Forces. Arnold Brandon, a struggling painter, receives a commission that could boost his career: to paint the portrait of Louise, the elegant wife of Carlos Santiago, an imposing and mysterious Argentine tycoon. From their first meeting, Santiago, with his commanding presence and shady past, provokes in Arnold a mixture of fascination and revulsion. As Arnold progresses with his work and Christmas approaches, the relationships between the three characters become increasingly complex, creating an atmosphere where power, jealousy, and secrets threaten to unleash a tragic storm.

Ernest Hemingway: The Killers

Ernest Hemingway - Los asesinos2

The Killers is a short story by Ernest Hemingway published in 1927 in Scribner’s Magazine. The story takes place in a small café in a village called Summit, where two mysterious men enter and begin to act threateningly. George, the café owner, and Nick Adams, a young customer, soon discover that the strangers have arrived to meet Ole Andreson, a former boxer who arrives every day at six o’clock for dinner.

Jorge Luis Borges: Death and the Compass

Jorge Luis Borges: Death and the Compass

Death and the Compass is a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, published in May 1942 in Sur magazine. It narrates the investigation of detective Erik Lönnrot into a series of apparently ritualistic crimes that seem to follow an intricate cabalistic logic. The story begins with the murder of a rabbi in a hotel, which Lönnrot connects with a mystical and symbolic background. As the crimes unfold, the detective enters a labyrinth of clues that challenge his wits and lead him to an unexpected outcome.