cheryl6of8's review against another edition
4.0
The twists and turns in this story were incredible. Nothing is as it seems when 2 teenagers and their 30 something babysitter go missing during unprecedented winter floods. Wexford must deal with rising water, family tension, a missing persons case, and completely repugnant parents while still watching his diet.
lazydream's review against another edition
4.0
3 or 4?? 3 or 4?? A couple more times of the same thought and decided on 4... the book was very interesting. I took too long to finish this. Not the books fault... I was having a readers block, if such thing exists. Anyways it’s suspense/crime book... it’s quite realistic without a macho hero or overly sarcastic one who tend to be “heroic”. It’s a investigation which took up whole book without any surprises or twists. Probably that’s why I liked it.
Now, if only they haven’t end the book with lot of guess work and probabilities and maybe’s it would have been lot better. If the narration of what actually happened was on flight rather than later I think the book would have been top notch. Even though the ending was not satisfactory I could not give it less stars as the story development and investigation or writing was pretty impressive.
Now, if only they haven’t end the book with lot of guess work and probabilities and maybe’s it would have been lot better. If the narration of what actually happened was on flight rather than later I think the book would have been top notch. Even though the ending was not satisfactory I could not give it less stars as the story development and investigation or writing was pretty impressive.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
3.0
This is a slightly less than average effort by Rendell. It's pretty obvious "whodunnit" and the investigation is way more meandering than necessary. Other than providing the hysterical mother of the missing kids something be hysterical about (Oh, no! The floods! The kids have drowned....I just know it!) there's no point to the whole flood story in the book. The hysterical mother could have been just as hysterical without the rising river...and maybe the plot would have been a bit more on point. And, honestly, I get a little tired of the "repressive religious" people who so often get thrown in as suspects whether they actually did it or not. (Did they? I'm not telling.) The rendering of Joanna's character is interesting--not a standard female type. And Rendell's writing itself is still very good at this stage--I just wish the story had been a little more straight-forward--more true red-herring sidelines and less flooding and family drama for the Wexfords (will Wexford's daughters ever have a happy life?) would go a long way. ★★ and 3/4. [rounded to three here]
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
crowyhead's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderfully complex mystery with very well-drawn characters.
samirakatherine's review against another edition
3.0
I am enjoying Ruth Rendell, definately fun mysteries. Equally definately not great literature.
judythereader's review against another edition
4.0
It's late fall and Kingsmarkham is underwater with floods creeping ever higher. A couple comes home from a trip to Paris and finds their two teenagers and their sitter missing. The quick to find the worst case scenario mother automatically assumes they are all dead and drowned, but Inspector Wexford is not so sure.
I enjoy these novels, even though I often find it easy to solve. Not because there aren't enough red herrings, but because Rendell likes to take on a different social issue in each one. Although, truthfully, she tackles a few in this: partner abuse, fundamental religion, narcissicistic self-entitlement of the modern wealthy, overly protective parents and overly demanding ones.
I make it sound like a social study and that's sort of what a good mystery is too me. Probably why I love Miss Marple so much.
I enjoy these novels, even though I often find it easy to solve. Not because there aren't enough red herrings, but because Rendell likes to take on a different social issue in each one. Although, truthfully, she tackles a few in this: partner abuse, fundamental religion, narcissicistic self-entitlement of the modern wealthy, overly protective parents and overly demanding ones.
I make it sound like a social study and that's sort of what a good mystery is too me. Probably why I love Miss Marple so much.
jojo7's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
reggikko's review against another edition
4.0
One of my favorite Wexford novels. It's been fun rereading these.