alisongodfrey's review against another edition
3.0
Not one of my favourite Ruth Rendell books. I did like this Wexford story but the ending was too disappointing.
markdudley's review against another edition
4.0
Best yet (I am reading in order). Certainly the most 'modern' of the eight to date. Wexford is more rounded now, but I am still struggling with Burden.
carrie562's review against another edition
3.0
A good solid murder mystery/crime procedural with Rendell's characteristic emphasis on the psychology of the participants than the details of the crime itself. In fact, I felt she cut some corners here on the plot, because the crime was almost tangential to the story she really wanted to tell and the characters she wanted to explore. At one point, she practically breaks the fourth wall by having Wexford say "I am starting to feel like we are losing sight of [the victim], that she's fading into the background."
lorkay's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
gifflesnooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
4.0
A more fulfilling mystery, although I have the feeling it’s still not her best. I found Wexford’s way of looking at the whole situation, the ins and outs of people’s relationships, their secrets and their desires, rather than just the blood spot on the wall remarkable. However, I think the revealing of the killer was a little disappointing. It’s a fairly short book and the killer is not truly the bad guy, but I just don’t think we were given enough insight into his thought-process to make the killing believable.
hopeevey's review against another edition
3.0
This was not the author's best work. The mystery felt forced and klunky. Some of the characterizations were so based on being told what the person was like they felt weak. That being said, it's still a good book, with some gorgeous writing. The recurring characters have the depth and truth I've come to expect in Ms. Rendell's books.
My big issues with the mystery plot could be a spoiler, so stop here if you don't want to know yet.
Frankly, mystery stories often rely on coincidences - informational deus ex machina, if you will. It's only frustrating in this book because I don't remember the other books in the series needing them.
So, this isn't the best introduction to Ms. Rendell's work, although it does stand alone very well. It is a perfectly pleasant read.
My big issues with the mystery plot could be a spoiler, so stop here if you don't want to know yet.
Spoiler
I figured out pretty early on that there was some sort of switch-up between Nell and Dawn, but I couldn't figure out what it was. At first I assumed the body was actually Nell and Dawn had taken her place... but they didn't resemble each other enough for that, and the body was very definitely Dawn. The key piece of information stayed bottled up until near the end of the book - and it was sheer chance that it came out at all. It was also pure chance that Wexford learned that Zeno wrote his songs based on people's stories. Without those two total coincidences, there couldn't have been a satisfactory conclusion.Frankly, mystery stories often rely on coincidences - informational deus ex machina, if you will. It's only frustrating in this book because I don't remember the other books in the series needing them.
So, this isn't the best introduction to Ms. Rendell's work, although it does stand alone very well. It is a perfectly pleasant read.