For beginners, 'The Lodger' is a great start. It has the typical Hitchcock elements of mystery and suspense. It's about a lodger in a house and the suspicions that surround him, which is a simple yet engaging plot.
I would also suggest 'The Wrong Man'. It's based on a real - life case and Hitchcock does a wonderful job of portraying the man's plight. It's an easy - to - follow story that showcases Hitchcock's ability to create tension in a real - world scenario.
I think 'Rear Window' is also a great short story. It's about a man who spies on his neighbors from his rear window and starts to suspect something sinister is going on. Hitchcock was brilliant in exploring the human psyche through such a simple concept.
He probably looked for stories with strong characters. Characters that could be developed further in the adaptation.
The 'Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine' also features many great short stories. It has been a long - running source for mystery and suspense short stories, often with a touch of Hitchcockian intrigue. Many talented writers have contributed to it over the years.
One interesting short story from it could be 'The Manacled'. It has a great sense of suspense. Hitchcock was a master at creating tension, and this story is no exception.
Alfred Hitchcock influenced the stories in the book greatly. His unique style of creating suspense was a major factor. He knew how to build tension bit by bit, like in his films, and this was carried over into the stories. For example, he might use ordinary settings but make them seem menacing.
The themes in Alfred Hitchcock short stories are quite diverse. Suspense, as we all know, is a big part of it. He builds up the tension so well that you can't help but keep reading. Then there's the theme of deception. Characters might be deceiving each other or themselves. There's also the theme of the macabre. Some of his stories touch on the darker and more grotesque aspects of human nature and situations, which adds to the overall allure of his short stories.
Another work that might be considered among his best in terms of the associated story is 'Vertigo'. The complex relationship and the mystery in the story, which was masterfully translated to the screen, made it a classic. It had elements of obsession, mystery and psychological depth.
Well, 'Psycho' is a great one. It delved deep into the mind of a killer and was really a pioneer in the psychological thriller genre. The way it was written made the readers feel the same unease as the moviegoers later did.
One of his well - known mystery novels is 'Rebecca'. It's a story full of mystery and suspense, with a young woman entering a new life in a large estate filled with secrets from the past.
The characters are often complex. They're not just one - dimensional good or bad guys. In a story like 'The Manacled', the main character has a lot of layers. His actions are not always easy to predict, which makes the story more interesting. Also, the settings in these short stories are well - described. They add to the overall atmosphere, whether it's a dark alley or a seemingly normal suburban house.