Book Review: The Rottweiler by Ruth Rendell

I like to read Ruth Rendell's stand alone novels although the Wexford novels are obviously her best.

In this novel someone in West London is murdering young women but keeping souvenirs of his kills. Rendell moves us from the national level that such a crime would cause to the local level and the effects of the crime on the inhabitants of converted flats above an antiques and curios shop.

The killer is arrogant and makes a mistake that affects the lives of all of the people around him. As ever with Ruth Rendell we are inside the minds of the diverse people we meet in the novel and it is a fantastic perspective that we get of the facts of the case.

The book is a bit long for me but I enjoyed reading this very much.

8/10 for me.

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.

Book Review: The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell

Two pairs of sisters share a house. One of the younger ones has killed her stepfather in the past by holding him underwater in the bath. The mother and sister have covered this up. The mother is now mentally ill and being looked after by her sister (an aunt) in the upper flat.

The other two daughters embark on relationships with men that are very different. These relationships upset the status quo and bring tension to the novel.

Does the sister warn her future brother in law of the earlier event, or does she keep him in the dark? The plot unfolds wonderfully and as ever we are given glimpses into the characters and see the action through their eyes.

8/10 for me.

Book Review: The Vault by Ruth Rendell

The cozy world of Reg Wexford, who is now retired and living in London and Kingsmarkham. He has lost some weight as he has been walking around London a lot but he gets a call for his advice on a current case in London. It concerns some bodies found in a cellar (or Vault as the title of the book) but three of the bodies have been there for about 12 years while one has only been there for two.

Some good old fashioned policing by Wexford moves the case along and solves it. Reg is out pounding the streets and visiting people face to face. He leaves the Internet searches for others.

There are also family issues and a crisis in his family too to keep you on your toes with his family life. He also still visits the pubs and has a glass of wine or two.

I have enjoyed all of the Wexford novels by Ruth Rendell and this is no exception.

8/10 for me.

Book Review: The Minotaur by Barbara Vine

Writing as Barbara Vine, Ruth Rendell take us back to the late 1960's and to a strange house in eastern England. Populated with a highly dysfunctional family of mainly women, Kirsten joins as a helper for the autistic son, John. Her arrival starts to undermine the status quo in the family life.

Add to this the appearance in the village of a bohemian artist/lover and the family are affected even more by him. However, the real spark to the flame is an "accident" to the mother who is hospitalised for a short time. During this period the balance of the family is really put out of kilter.

What happens after this is the murder of one of the family and then another!

The book for me is a bit slow, setting the scene through about 80% of it was too much. It does not really take that long to set the stage and to get to know the characters. This novel seemed to take me a long time to read.

6/10 for me.

Book Review: Thirteen Steps Down by Ruth Rendell

A thoroughly chilling book that features a young killer called Mix Cellini who has a room in an old house with an eccentric old spinster. He is obsessed with the killer Reginald Christie who lived in the same area some fifty years preiously. His landlady had met Chistie once too.

We are inside the minds of the characters and this gives the novel the air of the film 10 Rillington Place. The most frightening thing for me is that we begin to believe in the killer and feel with him. In some ways we do not want him to be caught, we feel his fears as he experiences them.

Normal, righteous people are also in the book and they are like a tide ebbing and flowing into Cellini's life. He fends them off for most of the book to avoid discovery of his crimes. Unfortunately in life people like this exist and the telling of this story is mastery by Ruth Rendell.

9/10 for me.

Book Review: The Thief by Ruth Rendell

This is a pretty short book and it concerns Polly who has a habit of stealing objects from her friends and relatives, then destroying the objects. She then weaves a web of lies and deceit to cover her tracks.

As ever with Ruth Rendell, we are inside the mind of Polly and we get reasons for her actions. We live her fears and take the same decisions with her too.

One day Polly goes too far and steals something from a fellow passsenger on a flight back to London from New York. She tries her usual pattern of behaviour but the other passenger is as strange as Polly and he sets about his revenge. His revenge completely changes Polly's life.

A nice book and 8/10 for me.

New Release: The Vault by Ruth Rendell

The new Ruth Rendell/Inspector Wexford is released today. Go get your copy!!!