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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Riveting story! While the killer was identified in the first line, trying to understanding the motive kept me turning pages until the end. The first line - "Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write". The story that follows is a commentary on class, literacy, and the power of fate.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good story, but dated. Lots of references I didn't understand (could have been because it's dated or English, not sure).
A friend gave me her old beat up copy and said 'this book has the best depiction of illiteracy I have ever read'. And I agree (with the added character trait of psychopathy, she's an terrifying character). The details Rendall includes regarding the tricks Eunice uses to hide her illiteracy are fantastic. Really great character development. This was also written back in the day when a good editor was invaluable and it shows. It's wonderfully written and has a tight narrative.
A friend gave me her old beat up copy and said 'this book has the best depiction of illiteracy I have ever read'. And I agree (with the added character trait of psychopathy, she's an terrifying character). The details Rendall includes regarding the tricks Eunice uses to hide her illiteracy are fantastic. Really great character development. This was also written back in the day when a good editor was invaluable and it shows. It's wonderfully written and has a tight narrative.
5 stars for story line but 4 stars because it is a bit of a difficult read.
An incredible mystery novel that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The story is opposite to that of your typical murder mystery. You know that the housekeeper murdered the family she works for and then it takes you through the moments that led to the murders. Every moment adds to the outcome that the reader already knows. When I finally reached the denouement I was so stressed for the family members awaiting their fate!
An incredible mystery novel that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The story is opposite to that of your typical murder mystery. You know that the housekeeper murdered the family she works for and then it takes you through the moments that led to the murders. Every moment adds to the outcome that the reader already knows. When I finally reached the denouement I was so stressed for the family members awaiting their fate!
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book you go in knowing the crime and the perpetrator, but the author does a great job of slowing down time and building tension and creepy mood. Great thriller, just not personally my taste.
My first [a:Ruth Rendell|10890|Ruth Rendell|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1196257541p2/10890.jpg] in years, I think I only read one or two others but she has always remained on my radar...this book reminds me why. A great read and I love the creepiness of it. Although we know from the start what happens, it's the lead up to the event that is done so well. I'll definitely read more of this lady's stuff.
Disturbingly brilliant, it reminds me some of Stephen King's and Gillian Flynn's best moments. It made my stomach turn and at the same time I couldn't stop reading it.
Like A Demon in my View, this is one of Rendell's best works...she always excels at psychological fiction. This novel starts off with the brutal murder of four family members on Valentine's Day...all killed with a single gunshot and all in the span of only a few minutes. When the police superintendent begins to investigate the housekeeper, he finds out a little more about her psychosis than he bargained for.
Comments in <20 words: Absorbing social and character study ironically delivered in printed text, compulsively read in one day.