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sardinetin's review against another edition
2.0
Another slightly odd book by Ruth Rendell - definitely not classic crime fiction in the traditional sense.
The story tells of the trials and tribulations of a number of characters at Hexam Place, a wealthy street in the wealthiest part of London. While most of the action focuses on "below stairs" with the Saint Zita Society representing the servants (sometimes in a loose sense of the word) of the street, there is the odd glimpse into life above stairs.
My main issue with this book was that there were simply too many characters introduced from the beginning, which meant it took a while to work out who they all were in relation to each other. I also found it meant that very few of them seemed properly fleshed out, and I didn't really feel like I got much insight into what made any of them tick, which is a shame, as one or two plots strands could have been made more of and made to stand out in their own right. These different plot strands just didn't seem to go anywhere - only accentuated by the open ending.
Odd.
The story tells of the trials and tribulations of a number of characters at Hexam Place, a wealthy street in the wealthiest part of London. While most of the action focuses on "below stairs" with the Saint Zita Society representing the servants (sometimes in a loose sense of the word) of the street, there is the odd glimpse into life above stairs.
My main issue with this book was that there were simply too many characters introduced from the beginning, which meant it took a while to work out who they all were in relation to each other. I also found it meant that very few of them seemed properly fleshed out, and I didn't really feel like I got much insight into what made any of them tick, which is a shame, as one or two plots strands could have been made more of and made to stand out in their own right. These different plot strands just didn't seem to go anywhere - only accentuated by the open ending.
Odd.
alexreadsd9aa4's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
2.0
Oh Ruth Rendell, I don't know how to quit you. You've left behind the subtlety of your prime in favor of lazy stereotypes that often carry a slight whiff of racism, and your intricate and nuanced plots have given way to announcing the culprits from the outset and clumsy set-ups. You still set your books in the contemporary world, but your language choices would be more familiar to someone living five decades ago. Nevertheless, you've retained much of your writing style and a love of oddball characters that make your latest books feel like a karaoke version of the original.
In The St. Zita Society, Rendell tells an upstairs downstairs story told primarily from the view below stairs. In a well-to-do London neighborhood, the help gathers together periodically at the pub on the corner to discuss the various issues to do with life on Hexam Place. Led by June, the geriatric companion to a self-styles princess, she struggles to perform her daily tasks. Then there's Monserrat, the au pair, whose main task is to sneak her employer's lover in and out of the house without the husband's knowledge. There's Dex, who is living on a disability allowance since his release from the mental institute and who now does gardening for some of the residents. So, there's a murder, or two, with a cover-up and a lot of lying. It's an entertaining enough read as long as being surprised by the plot twists is not important and every character behaving exactly as one would suspect given their backgrounds.
In The St. Zita Society, Rendell tells an upstairs downstairs story told primarily from the view below stairs. In a well-to-do London neighborhood, the help gathers together periodically at the pub on the corner to discuss the various issues to do with life on Hexam Place. Led by June, the geriatric companion to a self-styles princess, she struggles to perform her daily tasks. Then there's Monserrat, the au pair, whose main task is to sneak her employer's lover in and out of the house without the husband's knowledge. There's Dex, who is living on a disability allowance since his release from the mental institute and who now does gardening for some of the residents. So, there's a murder, or two, with a cover-up and a lot of lying. It's an entertaining enough read as long as being surprised by the plot twists is not important and every character behaving exactly as one would suspect given their backgrounds.
labtracks's review against another edition
2.0
This was another book club read, not something I would have picked up on my own. After reading the credentials of the author (I have never read her before) I was quite excited to jump right in. I must say I was sadly disappointed. I thought the title a bit confusing since the society really played a very small role in this novel. Other than separating, congregating and introducing the "servants" as the main characters I really didn't see the point of the society itself, it added nothing to this book for me. Maybe I'm missing something.
I also found it hard to stay interested in this book at times. There was really no main character/s that were so central to the novel that you loved them or hated them and wanted to continue reading because of them. It was all just a jumble of people living on the same block. Some of the story lines I was interested in and others I wasn't so reading the book was like a jerky stop-start process as she moved through the different story lines.
I also found it hard to stay interested in this book at times. There was really no main character/s that were so central to the novel that you loved them or hated them and wanted to continue reading because of them. It was all just a jumble of people living on the same block. Some of the story lines I was interested in and others I wasn't so reading the book was like a jerky stop-start process as she moved through the different story lines.
kmac2022's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
deeclancy's review against another edition
5.0
The best crime writers tend to produce books that are as much studies of human nature as who-done-its. This is certainly true of Ruth Rendell. The St. Zita Society is a study of the modern wealthy and their paid help, showing that life is never black and white when it comes to the upstairs-downstairs world. I found it hard to put down.
lanasojat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.0
jhadler's review against another edition
2.0
The author promised a little more than she delivered in the end. Otherwise, a bunch of interesting characters. I've enjoyed some of her other books more.
perednia's review against another edition
3.0
Ruth Rendell is, along with P.D. James, the jewel in the crown of British crime fiction after the first Golden Age. Her Inspector Wexford novels, stand-alones and deliciously creepy tales written as Barbara Vine have garnered fans and favorable critical attention for decades.
In recent years, she has enlarged her range to include stand-alone novels taking place on various London streets. THE ST. ZITA SOCIETY takes place among the posh and would-be posh. Set on Hexam Place, it's an "Upstairs, Downstairs"-style novel in which those in service, and those roped into doing for others, gather at the local.
June has been lady's maid for more than 60 years to Princess Susan, who came by the title from a long-abandoned Italian prince. June forms the St. Zita Society, which she says is named after the patron saint of domestic servants, as a way for the downstairs group to congregate, discuss issues and perhaps go to a show.
Although most of the others don't mind congregating at the local, they're not that interested in any type of society or causing trouble. It's not that they're cowardly. It's that most of them are too wrapped up in themselves or the onus their employers place upon them.
Take Henry, for example. Lord Studley's valet is sleeping with both Lord Studley's wife and his daughter.
June has to walk the dog but her employer, the princess, is taken with June's nephew, Rad, who acts on a TV soap. Preston Still's wife also is taken with Rad. But it's the Stills' au pair, Montserrat, who has to let him in and out off the house across from where June and the princess live. At least Preston and Lucy Still's children are diligently cared for by Rabia, whose traditional Muslim father wants the young widow to get married again. But Rabia also lost her children and Thomas is such a lovely baby who adores her. Thea isn't in service but her landlords seem to think she works for them without pay.
Then there's Dr. Jefferson. His driver, Jimmy, doesn't work too hard but he does put up with Dex the gardener. Dex killed someone once because a voice commanded him to get rid of that evil spirit. Most people don't have faces to Dex, but there is the voice of Peach, sometimes found by dialing random numbers on his mobile, to guide him.
Rendell sets up these dominoes and, with one push, sets them all into inevitable motion. The rest of the novel is a delightfully devilish discourse on how some people get away with things, how some people only seem to get away with things and how some people are doomed.
Along the way, Rendell is as great as ever with her wicked ability to skewer those who need it, add just the right touches of pathos and the occasional moment of genuine sweetness.
If the set-up seems to take a bit, hang on. It's worth it when those dominoes begin to fall.
In recent years, she has enlarged her range to include stand-alone novels taking place on various London streets. THE ST. ZITA SOCIETY takes place among the posh and would-be posh. Set on Hexam Place, it's an "Upstairs, Downstairs"-style novel in which those in service, and those roped into doing for others, gather at the local.
June has been lady's maid for more than 60 years to Princess Susan, who came by the title from a long-abandoned Italian prince. June forms the St. Zita Society, which she says is named after the patron saint of domestic servants, as a way for the downstairs group to congregate, discuss issues and perhaps go to a show.
Although most of the others don't mind congregating at the local, they're not that interested in any type of society or causing trouble. It's not that they're cowardly. It's that most of them are too wrapped up in themselves or the onus their employers place upon them.
Take Henry, for example. Lord Studley's valet is sleeping with both Lord Studley's wife and his daughter.
June has to walk the dog but her employer, the princess, is taken with June's nephew, Rad, who acts on a TV soap. Preston Still's wife also is taken with Rad. But it's the Stills' au pair, Montserrat, who has to let him in and out off the house across from where June and the princess live. At least Preston and Lucy Still's children are diligently cared for by Rabia, whose traditional Muslim father wants the young widow to get married again. But Rabia also lost her children and Thomas is such a lovely baby who adores her. Thea isn't in service but her landlords seem to think she works for them without pay.
Then there's Dr. Jefferson. His driver, Jimmy, doesn't work too hard but he does put up with Dex the gardener. Dex killed someone once because a voice commanded him to get rid of that evil spirit. Most people don't have faces to Dex, but there is the voice of Peach, sometimes found by dialing random numbers on his mobile, to guide him.
Rendell sets up these dominoes and, with one push, sets them all into inevitable motion. The rest of the novel is a delightfully devilish discourse on how some people get away with things, how some people only seem to get away with things and how some people are doomed.
Along the way, Rendell is as great as ever with her wicked ability to skewer those who need it, add just the right touches of pathos and the occasional moment of genuine sweetness.
If the set-up seems to take a bit, hang on. It's worth it when those dominoes begin to fall.