Reviews

A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell

kaplanm1's review against another edition

4.0

Haunting. Story grips you and makes you want to read and read

ripbar's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

paulataua's review against another edition

4.0

Within the first short paragraph we are told who committed the murder, who was murdered, and where and why they were murdered. We are even given the name of the accomplice in the crime. The paragraph ends, however, with

’But there was more to it than that.’

What follows explores the strange events that lead up to the crime, including the introduction of the completely weird June Smith from the post office, and exposes the reasons behind the rather unusual motive given at the outset. It’s an engaging novel which has a growing tension that leads to an explosive end. Well worth reading .

aphatius's review against another edition

dark tense medium-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

3.75

violetsnotebook's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

5.0

rukistarsailor's review against another edition

3.0

From a technical standpoint, A Judgement in Stone is great. Revealing the murder itself and that Eunice Parchman is a murderer from the beginning creates the effect in which the reader is suspensefully counting down until the actual murder, which I think is ingenious. Even when I knew the murder was coming, I still felt quite disturbed when it actually happened. The dramatic irony/black comedy ending was nice, though.
Idk, I have mixed feelings about this one, mainly because I felt like I couldn't extract an overarching message from A Judgement in Stone.

hi_miche's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

claire_s's review against another edition

dark mysterious

3.0

bthegood's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

Well written and engaging story.  Eunice cannot read, she doesn't want anyone to know.  She goes to work for a family and events follow that lead to a tragic ending for the family.

glowe2's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 I enjoyed the book and the author was able to keep you interested in the book even though you know from the beginning who committed the crime. I did struggle to comprehend how anyone could exist in a modern society without even a rudimentary ability to read but I'm sure people find ways to adapt.
I thought the last chapter (all of two pages!) which explained what had happened to some other characters in the story was very poignant. The line of how Melinda's boyfriend had graduated, was now dating another woman and had nearly forgotten her really hit me on how life goes on. You forget the tragedies and keep trying to find happiness.