Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by saareman
Simisola by Ruth Rendell
5.0
Race Relations + Wexford’s Laws 4, 5 & 6
Review of the Audible Studios audiobook edition (May 15, 2009) narrated by [a:Christopher Ravenscroft|80670|Christopher Ravenscroft|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], of the original hardcover from Hutchinson (UK) (September 24, 1994)
[A solid 4, but the narration performance kicks this up to a 5, see below for more on that]
Wexford takes a strong personal interest when his new family physician Dr. Raymond Akande and his wife report their teenage daughter as missing. The Akandes are among the few black residents of Kingsmarkham at the time and Wexford overcompensates in his efforts in providing police assistance for their distress. He blunders badly though when the body of a dead black girl is found, by assuming it must be the missing teenager. It turns out the teenager is still missing and there is now a separate murder case to deal with.
The investigation takes some very dark turns and discoveries before the answers to both mysteries are found. Several characters are portrayed as unsympathetic, leading to an increasing list of suspects and motives. The usual tiresome subplot of Wexford's daughters involved eldest daughter Sylvia and her husband Neil in financial difficulties. But Sylvia does provide Wexford with a clue that leads him to the solution to his case.
The front cover of the original Hutchinson (UK) 1994 hardcover. Image sourced from Wikipedia By http://pictures.abebooks.com/BOOKFEVER/6651360265.jpg, Fair use, Link.
This was Wexford #16 in the series of 24 novels. I had previously skipped over #15 to #18 as they were proving difficult to source. No convenient Kindle eBooks exist and the Toronto Public Library online search & hold system was struck down in October 2023 (which is still ongoing) by a ransomware attack (rumoured to be Russian based) which prevents you from locating and placing books on hold throughout the system (short of physically going around Toronto to each branch personally and searching the shelves by hand). I've decided to complete my Wexford/Rendell binge by sourcing the audiobooks which are not ideal as I am also trying to spot Wexford's personal Laws and Rules along the way. Listening on audio might cause me to miss them.
On the Berengaria Ease of Solving Scale® I found this to be a difficult solve, a 9 out of 10, due to some quite clever misdirection. The actual culprit(s) came out of left field for me after I thought I had it all figured out.
The narration by Christopher Ravenscroft (who played DI Mike Burden in the TV series) was excellent in all voices in this edition. He was especially good at mimicking the West Country burr of actor George Baker (who played Chief Inspector Wexford in the TV series), so that actually made it sound as if both actors were performing the narration.
Wexford's Laws
There were several Wexford's Laws mentioned in this book. Wexford's Laws are quirky thoughts or observations that Wexford makes. The previous book [b:Kissing the Gunner's Daughter|83407|Kissing the Gunner's Daughter (Inspector Wexford, #15)|Ruth Rendell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390777408l/83407._SY75_.jpg|2238644] (Wexford #15, 1992) had none, the book before that [b:The Veiled One|361611|The Veiled One (Inspector Wexford, #14)|Ruth Rendell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389107440l/361611._SY75_.jpg|3092764] (Wexford #14, 1988) contained Wexford's Third Law. So I’ve numbered these new ones accordingly as the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Laws.
Trivia and Links
Simisola was adapted for television as part of the Ruth Rendell / Inspector Wexford Mysteries TV series (1987-2000) as Season 9 Episodes 3 to 5 in 1996 with actor George Baker as Chief Inspector Wexford. I could not find a free posting of it on YouTube. Here in Canada it is available on the Britbox streaming service.
Review of the Audible Studios audiobook edition (May 15, 2009) narrated by [a:Christopher Ravenscroft|80670|Christopher Ravenscroft|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], of the original hardcover from Hutchinson (UK) (September 24, 1994)
‘I’m sorry to trouble you with this, Mr Wexford, but I hoped you might help me.’ Wexford waited. ‘It’s probably nothing.’
Those words, no matter how often he heard them, always caused a small shiver. In his experience, it was nearly always something and, if brought to his attention, something bad.
[A solid 4, but the narration performance kicks this up to a 5, see below for more on that]
Wexford takes a strong personal interest when his new family physician Dr. Raymond Akande and his wife report their teenage daughter as missing. The Akandes are among the few black residents of Kingsmarkham at the time and Wexford overcompensates in his efforts in providing police assistance for their distress. He blunders badly though when the body of a dead black girl is found, by assuming it must be the missing teenager. It turns out the teenager is still missing and there is now a separate murder case to deal with.
The investigation takes some very dark turns and discoveries before the answers to both mysteries are found. Several characters are portrayed as unsympathetic, leading to an increasing list of suspects and motives. The usual tiresome subplot of Wexford's daughters involved eldest daughter Sylvia and her husband Neil in financial difficulties. But Sylvia does provide Wexford with a clue that leads him to the solution to his case.
The front cover of the original Hutchinson (UK) 1994 hardcover. Image sourced from Wikipedia By http://pictures.abebooks.com/BOOKFEVER/6651360265.jpg, Fair use, Link.
This was Wexford #16 in the series of 24 novels. I had previously skipped over #15 to #18 as they were proving difficult to source. No convenient Kindle eBooks exist and the Toronto Public Library online search & hold system was struck down in October 2023 (which is still ongoing) by a ransomware attack (rumoured to be Russian based) which prevents you from locating and placing books on hold throughout the system (short of physically going around Toronto to each branch personally and searching the shelves by hand). I've decided to complete my Wexford/Rendell binge by sourcing the audiobooks which are not ideal as I am also trying to spot Wexford's personal Laws and Rules along the way. Listening on audio might cause me to miss them.
On the Berengaria Ease of Solving Scale® I found this to be a difficult solve, a 9 out of 10, due to some quite clever misdirection. The actual culprit(s) came out of left field for me after I thought I had it all figured out.
The narration by Christopher Ravenscroft (who played DI Mike Burden in the TV series) was excellent in all voices in this edition. He was especially good at mimicking the West Country burr of actor George Baker (who played Chief Inspector Wexford in the TV series), so that actually made it sound as if both actors were performing the narration.
Wexford's Laws
There were several Wexford's Laws mentioned in this book. Wexford's Laws are quirky thoughts or observations that Wexford makes. The previous book [b:Kissing the Gunner's Daughter|83407|Kissing the Gunner's Daughter (Inspector Wexford, #15)|Ruth Rendell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390777408l/83407._SY75_.jpg|2238644] (Wexford #15, 1992) had none, the book before that [b:The Veiled One|361611|The Veiled One (Inspector Wexford, #14)|Ruth Rendell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389107440l/361611._SY75_.jpg|3092764] (Wexford #14, 1988) contained Wexford's Third Law. So I’ve numbered these new ones accordingly as the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Laws.
She addressed Karen, to whom she seemed to have taken a fancy. ‘He’s ninety-two, you know.’ ‘Ninety-three,’ said Mr Hammond, thus confirming Wexford’s Law that it is only when under fifteen and over ninety that people wish to add years to their true age. [Wexford's Fourth Law by my count.]
Laurette Akande shrugged and looked away. Wexford thought he might make it one of his laws – he had a mental catalogue of Wexford’s first law, second law, and so on – that if after the first two or three expressions of regret you stop apologizing to someone you have offended, they will soon start apologizing to you. [Wexford's Fifth Law by my count]
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Another of Wexford’s laws was that no truthful person ever makes this remark. It is exclusively the province of liars. [Wexford's Sixth Law by my count]
Trivia and Links
Simisola was adapted for television as part of the Ruth Rendell / Inspector Wexford Mysteries TV series (1987-2000) as Season 9 Episodes 3 to 5 in 1996 with actor George Baker as Chief Inspector Wexford. I could not find a free posting of it on YouTube. Here in Canada it is available on the Britbox streaming service.