Reviews

Et L Eau Devint Sang by Rendell, Ruth Rendell

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krobart's review against another edition

3.0

Rendell does a great job of portraying a slew of repellent characters, including self-obsessed Ismay; Edmund’s clinging, whiny mother; and Ismay’s selfish, manipulative boyfriend Andrew. The worst is Marion, the woman Edmond’s mother would like him to date. She likes to befriend elderly people she thinks will put her in their wills, and then she perhaps poisons them.

See my complete review here:

http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-waters-lovely/

jenmcmaynes's review against another edition

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3.0

I’d describe this more as a study of guilt, and of damaged people, than a thriller or mystery. It was mostly enjoyable, though a series of improbable coincidences near the end lessened my enjoyment. Ismay, Heather, and Edmund were broken but mostly sympathetic characters, but Irene, Marion, Fowler, and Andrew were pretty repellent. Given the amount of time spent with some of these lesser but not as nice characters, it isn’t surprising that the book ended up a bit of a slog for me.

margaret21's review against another edition

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1.0

Ho hum. A bit of a holiday read. I usually enjoy Ruth Rendell's books, but in this acase, there was little mystery, and the outcome was fairly predictable. The characters were usually unlikeable, and cardboard cut-outs at that. Dialogue was stilted. But it was well written enough to keep me turning the pages in the middle of the night when sleep was elusive, and I'll read Ruth Rendell again. Just not this one.

lakecake's review against another edition

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3.0

The premise of The Water's Lovely is really intriguing, but unfortunately, in execution it's not as good as it could be. For the entire novel, you're made to wonder "did she or didn't she" and when the reveal finally comes it should leave you breathless....but it doesn't. It's dealt with almost as an after-thought, like "Oh yeah, we should wrap that part up." Maybe it's because there are so many other too-coincidental-to-be-true storylines that weave in and out of that central mystery--it kind of loses its punch. The interactions between the characters are spot-on, and that's what made the book for me.

agmaynard's review against another edition

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mysterious

3.0

Audio, capably narrated by Rosalyn Landor. Disreputable characters shine, and the chief question of culpability carried me through, though some happenstances and circumstances a bit much.

megmcardle's review against another edition

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4.0

There are few authors writing in any genre that hold a candle to Ruth Rendell when she is at her best. Although she has a long-running traditional procedural mystery series featuring Inspector Wexford, in my opinion it is her stand-alone books written either as Rendell or Barbara Vine that best showcase her talents. She is one of the the best plotters in the business, setting up her characters and intrigues like an enormous chessboard where she knows the endgame before she lays a finger on the first pawn. This could make some readers feel somewhat manipulated, but I am always amazed. There is nothing wasted, no detail that does not have meaning, and this makes for a gripping read. Her latest would be a great entry into the Rendell/Vine universe. The The Water's Lovely, Ismay and Heather are sisters bound together by the death of their stepfather when they were children. His death and the possibility that Heather was responsible color the sisters' rapport as adults as well as so many of their other relationships. But what really happened that night? You'll want to read to find out.