Scan barcode
mary_tbr's review against another edition
3.0
It's a short and classic crime novel, set in a small fictional town in the south of England.
Very British, lots of tea drinking and a perfect read for a rainy sunday afternoon (especially when you wish you you could spend your weekends in an english cottage).
Obviously it's all a bit dated, but also in a good old-fashioned way.
But puuh, I am not used to reading crime novels, so many names to remember!
I'll be reading more of Inspector Wexfords cases, as I heard they get even better.
Very British, lots of tea drinking and a perfect read for a rainy sunday afternoon (especially when you wish you you could spend your weekends in an english cottage).
Obviously it's all a bit dated, but also in a good old-fashioned way.
But puuh, I am not used to reading crime novels, so many names to remember!
I'll be reading more of Inspector Wexfords cases, as I heard they get even better.
katharube's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Slow, with characters written like caricatures and a cringey, "of its time" conclusion. Not awful, but I do wish that I'd used my time differently.
susieliston's review against another edition
3.0
I've launched a project to read at least the first novels of a variety of long time mystery writers, in the hopes of finding a new series. This was not the most riveting of stories, as I didn't have much trouble figuring out a key point, but in 1964 it would have been much more of a shocker. It's clear she can write....I'll read the next one.
cccarney67's review against another edition
Typical British detective story. Quick and light read, perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon.
zelda13's review against another edition
4.0
My first dive into Ruth Rendell's work. Enjoyed it a great deal.
andyshute's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first Ruth Rendell book I’ve read, despite my many years of crime fiction. I loved the Inspector Wexford mysteries on TV as a kid though so I’ve always meant to seek them out.
The first story is a charmingly dated snapshot of what is increasingly a markedly different era, both socially and in terms of writing. There’s not much to signal the great character Wexford would come here but his gruff manner and quite intelligence gradually take over. I’m sure he develops over time but it’s still an assured start.
The mystery feels charmingly mundane though clearly would have been rather sensational at the time. I particularly enjoyed the small town view of 1960s British life, full of reach detail and quaint quirks, seen through a modern lense.
Terrence Hardiman does a solid job of narrating and it’s so short to be almost a novella. Still, a promising start and an interesting lead detective means the next one is ready to be downloaded. Sometimes, this is just what you need.
The first story is a charmingly dated snapshot of what is increasingly a markedly different era, both socially and in terms of writing. There’s not much to signal the great character Wexford would come here but his gruff manner and quite intelligence gradually take over. I’m sure he develops over time but it’s still an assured start.
The mystery feels charmingly mundane though clearly would have been rather sensational at the time. I particularly enjoyed the small town view of 1960s British life, full of reach detail and quaint quirks, seen through a modern lense.
Terrence Hardiman does a solid job of narrating and it’s so short to be almost a novella. Still, a promising start and an interesting lead detective means the next one is ready to be downloaded. Sometimes, this is just what you need.
matthewleechristensen's review against another edition
4.0
A bit dated now but a good English detective novel driven more by character and social concerns than by Christie -style plotting.
shombiswas's review against another edition
4.0
Ruth Rendell is the high-priestess of the country police procedural, and one of the most important names in detective fiction. Her Inspector Wexford is an important mention in the canon of detective fiction. Perhaps what is the most impressive about Ruth Rendell is her exemplary consistency. She has written volumes and volumes of mysteries, but rarely has her standards fallen — one can pick up an Inspector Wexford novel, and be fairly certain of a jolly good ride. And she was not repetitive either — she wrote under the pseudonym Barbara Vine for psychological crime novels, a marked difference from the Inspector Wexford whodunits, and those are rather good too.
Since our recommendation From ‘Doon With Death’ is the first in the series, it would be remiss not to give an introduction to Inspector Wexford. Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford is a middle-aged country policeman. He has a temper, and is not a man to suffer fools lightly. He is a large, ungainly man; grumpy and somewhat curmudgeonly. Just an ordinary policeman, with a stay-at-home wife and two daughters. An ordinary man, doing a job. The standardfare bumbling country policeman? Not quite. Wexford in extremely well-read, he has got a rapier-sharp intellect, is meticulous in his attention to detail, and most importantly, is remarkably persistent.
From ‘Doon With Death’ starts with the murder of Margaret Parsons, a somewhat frumpy, timid woman from Kingsmarkham. She was the epitome of nondescript: conventional, religious, homely and pretty much devoted to her husband, her garden and her church. Her life was an open book, and truth to be said, not a particularly interesting one. The first question the reader will have to deal with is — Who would ever want to murder her? But murdered she is: strangled to death, her body abandoned.As the Inspector investigates the case further, a secret from Margaret Parson’s past life tumbles to life. There’s a stash of books in her library, all of which have passionate notes of love inscribed in them by a former lover, only identified as Doon. Who is Doon? The resolution to the crime hinges on that question, and Inspector Wexford goes about to get to the end of it.
From ‘Doon With Death’ might not be as startling for today’s reader as it might have been for ones who read it in 1964, the year the novel was released, but it is still a mighty fine yarn. It’s a very satisfying detective novel, standalone, and a fine start to an important detective series.
First published at The New Indian Express.
Since our recommendation From ‘Doon With Death’ is the first in the series, it would be remiss not to give an introduction to Inspector Wexford. Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford is a middle-aged country policeman. He has a temper, and is not a man to suffer fools lightly. He is a large, ungainly man; grumpy and somewhat curmudgeonly. Just an ordinary policeman, with a stay-at-home wife and two daughters. An ordinary man, doing a job. The standardfare bumbling country policeman? Not quite. Wexford in extremely well-read, he has got a rapier-sharp intellect, is meticulous in his attention to detail, and most importantly, is remarkably persistent.
From ‘Doon With Death’ starts with the murder of Margaret Parsons, a somewhat frumpy, timid woman from Kingsmarkham. She was the epitome of nondescript: conventional, religious, homely and pretty much devoted to her husband, her garden and her church. Her life was an open book, and truth to be said, not a particularly interesting one. The first question the reader will have to deal with is — Who would ever want to murder her? But murdered she is: strangled to death, her body abandoned.As the Inspector investigates the case further, a secret from Margaret Parson’s past life tumbles to life. There’s a stash of books in her library, all of which have passionate notes of love inscribed in them by a former lover, only identified as Doon. Who is Doon? The resolution to the crime hinges on that question, and Inspector Wexford goes about to get to the end of it.
From ‘Doon With Death’ might not be as startling for today’s reader as it might have been for ones who read it in 1964, the year the novel was released, but it is still a mighty fine yarn. It’s a very satisfying detective novel, standalone, and a fine start to an important detective series.
First published at The New Indian Express.
sandraleivesley's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't read any Ruth Rendell for years but decided to give this first Inspector Wexford book a listen. It's a fairly short book (around 5 1/2 hours) but it packs a lot in. Wexford is asked to investigate the death of an ordinary housewife found dead in local woods, who has some valuable books in her home all signed by 'Doon',
The book is fairly short (around 5 1/2 hours) and is a bit of a slow burner, but was an enjoyable listen. Having been written in 1964 it does seem dated, but this only adds to it's charm, though it must have been quite shocking back then. The book is very well written and all the characters seemed real, though the class differences and attitude to women which were portrayed are dreadful but are realistic for the time. All in all the book had a bit of a 1960s Midsomer Murders vibe for me.
Terence Hardiman's narration is excellent and perfect for the book.
The book is fairly short (around 5 1/2 hours) and is a bit of a slow burner, but was an enjoyable listen. Having been written in 1964 it does seem dated, but this only adds to it's charm, though it must have been quite shocking back then. The book is very well written and all the characters seemed real, though the class differences and attitude to women which were portrayed are dreadful but are realistic for the time. All in all the book had a bit of a 1960s Midsomer Murders vibe for me.
Terence Hardiman's narration is excellent and perfect for the book.