A review by slipperose
A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine, Ruth Rendell

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a slow, slow burn of a psychological thriller. The beginning was confusing, as the narrator immediately starts dropping the names of people and places that we have never encounter, but that is by design. Give Rendell/Vine a chance to begin unwinding her mystery. There are layers and layers of ambiguity, differences in perception based on age and gender, and unreliable memories. While dated in its descriptions of feminine beauty, homosexuality, and more, it was somewhat progressive when written. Feels like a foundational work for contemporary crime fiction writers, like Tana French.