Review of If... and other stories
Posted: 21 Jun 2025, 08:37
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "If... and other stories" by Claire Frieze.]
If… And Other Stories by Claire Frieze is a collection of short, riveting thrillers. The stories range from a married woman, Anna, who is kidnapped along with her infant daughter, Abi, by Alex to a post-apocalyptic, matriarchal community where the women will do anything to remain in power and not go back to the old ways where they were oppressed, abused, and lived in fear of men. There’s also a story about Nura, a woman who tries to flee from her abusive husband, Albert, and his family after having known what it is like to be properly loved (by her first husband).
I enjoyed If… And Other Stories by Claire Frieze. Most of the stories are set in Israel and feature female protagonists, often mothers. I liked learning some tidbits about Israel; not many books I’ve read are set there. My favorite story was the first: “If...” Alex refers to himself as the “angel of death,” a humane assassin who does his best to give (needless) hope to his potential victims. I listened to the audio version, and the narrator, Sarah Edwards, did a marvelous job. Sarah effectively conveyed Anna’s terror, which was catching and chilling, especially when Alex revealed his plans for Abi to her. Sarah also beautifully depicted Alex’s Russian accent. “If…” had a plot twist at the end that had my head reeling.
There was nothing I disliked about If… And Other Stories by Claire Frieze. The audio production was also impeccable, and I did not hear any errors. As a result, I happily rate it 5 out of 5 stars. The book contains profanities and sexual content, although the latter is not written in detail. Neither element felt forced or gratuitous; they were necessary to the stories. If… And Other Stories by Claire Frieze is a short read that fans of thrillers and mysteries will enjoy.
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If... and other stories
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
If… And Other Stories by Claire Frieze is a collection of short, riveting thrillers. The stories range from a married woman, Anna, who is kidnapped along with her infant daughter, Abi, by Alex to a post-apocalyptic, matriarchal community where the women will do anything to remain in power and not go back to the old ways where they were oppressed, abused, and lived in fear of men. There’s also a story about Nura, a woman who tries to flee from her abusive husband, Albert, and his family after having known what it is like to be properly loved (by her first husband).
I enjoyed If… And Other Stories by Claire Frieze. Most of the stories are set in Israel and feature female protagonists, often mothers. I liked learning some tidbits about Israel; not many books I’ve read are set there. My favorite story was the first: “If...” Alex refers to himself as the “angel of death,” a humane assassin who does his best to give (needless) hope to his potential victims. I listened to the audio version, and the narrator, Sarah Edwards, did a marvelous job. Sarah effectively conveyed Anna’s terror, which was catching and chilling, especially when Alex revealed his plans for Abi to her. Sarah also beautifully depicted Alex’s Russian accent. “If…” had a plot twist at the end that had my head reeling.
There was nothing I disliked about If… And Other Stories by Claire Frieze. The audio production was also impeccable, and I did not hear any errors. As a result, I happily rate it 5 out of 5 stars. The book contains profanities and sexual content, although the latter is not written in detail. Neither element felt forced or gratuitous; they were necessary to the stories. If… And Other Stories by Claire Frieze is a short read that fans of thrillers and mysteries will enjoy.
******
If... and other stories
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon