A review by dennisfischman
Shake Hands Forever by Ruth Rendell

3.0

Upon re-reading, I found the ending fiendishly clever, all the more so since it depended on one character being unusually honest and another being truly in love (which are not normal elements of Rendell's characters' psychological makeup). I enjoyed the literary references, including the title. I found Wexford's frustration with the mystery so convincing that I became frustrated myself, as one of his surmises after another exploded in his face.

I could have done without all the bus and train and taxi nonsense, reminiscent of Agatha Christie at her worse and the kind of thing that Dorothy Sayers made fun of herself for doing when she had Harriet Vane puzzling over timetables.

Dora Wexford is not well served by either her husband or the author.