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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the most boring book I’ve ever read.
The story behind the murders of a nice family on Valentine's Day is another wonderful psychological thriller. We know the murderers on the first page but why did they do it? Such a nice warm family, so appreciative of their maid's excellent work, so kind and accommodating to her.
(4.5) The craftsmanship (craftswomanship? craftsfolkship?) Ruth Rendell uses to write this nasty little thriller is exquisite. From the opening pages, you know what's going to unfold but it's the HOW that makes this book so good. Even in the brief time you see them, you get a deep sense of who the characters are which makes the plot turns more satisfying.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What an amazing book. The fact that the mystery is solved in the first sentence of the book made for a surprisingly suspenseful read. So many turns of chance and miscommunication throughout the story for the reader to observe, flinching and cringing along the way.
I am madly in love with writing that uses an economy of words, and Ruth Rendell does not disappoint. The beauty and intensity she inspires with such concise, effective phrasing is delicious.
I am madly in love with writing that uses an economy of words, and Ruth Rendell does not disappoint. The beauty and intensity she inspires with such concise, effective phrasing is delicious.
A Judgement in Stone is considered to be one of author Ruth Rendell’s best books. It has a fantastic opening line: “Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write.” Eunice is an uneducated woman who is hired by the wealthy Coverdale family as a live in maid. Eunice is peculiar. She shows little emotion and has trouble relating to people. Her secret shame is she can’t read or write. I had to look up to see when this book was originally published. It was 1977. I thought the way Eunice’s character was described throughout the book was terrible! The whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking maybe Eunice was somewhere on the autism spectrum and it wasn’t her fault she grew up poor and illiterate. Anyway, I’ve checked another book off Amazon’s list of 100 mysteries and thrillers to read in a lifetime.