Book Review: Tigerlilly’s Orchids by Ruth Rendell

This is the last of the Ruth Rendell or Barbara Vine novels that I need to read to complete my set of reading them, finished on 26 October 2011 in Doha, Qatar. Have enjoyed reading the Ruth Rendell and Barbara Vine novels generally but the real stars are (obviously) the Wexford novels that are great and I hope that there are more to come of these.

As to Tigerlilly's Orchids this novel focuses on the inhabitants of a small block of flats and the neighbours opposite in suburban London. As usual with Ruth Rendell we get into the heads of the characters and learn about their aspirations and their dreams.

We also discover what they think of each other and the tensions that exist.

A flat warming party proves to the catalyst behind a lot of the events, which eventually ends up in murder. Subsequent to the murder we find out Tigerlilly's true identity and what her family are actually doing in their house, it has nothing to do with growing orchids.

I generally enjoy these types of Ruth Rendell or Barbara Vine novels but this one for me just lacks some edge. I like to feel a little uncomfortable with the characters in that they often do something shocking and yet we are led to believe the logic behind their actions then scold ourselves for thinking this. Unfortunately there is no such shock factor in this novel.

7/10 for me.