New and uncollected tales of murder, mischief, magic and madness.
Ruth Rendell was an acknowledged master of psychological suspense: these are ten (and a quarter) of her most chillingly compelling short stories, collected here together for the first time.
In these tales, a businessman boasts about cheating on his wife, only to find the tables turned. A beautiful country rectory reverberates to the echo of a historical murder. A compulsive liar acts on impulse, only to be lead inexorably to disaster. And a wealthy man finds there is more to his wife's kidnapping than meets the eye.
Atmospheric, gripping and never predictable, this is Ruth Rendell at her inimitable best.
The stories are: Never Sleep in a Bed Facing a Mirror; A Spot of Folly; The Price of Joy; The Irony of Hate; Digby's Wives; The Haunting of Shawley Rectory; A Drop Too Much; The Thief; The Long Corridor of Time; In the Time of his Prosperity; and Trebuchet.
Introduction from Sophie Hannah.
Another excellent collection from Ruth Rendell, and her last. Ten and a quarter tales (and that quarter one packs a punch) ranging from good to outstanding. There are several clever suspense stories, naturally enough, but also one of the best ghost stories I've read in quite a while and a memorable apocalyptic tale. If you love Rendell, you'll love this, and if you're not a fan, you probably shouldn't bother reading any of my reviews of suspense fiction.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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22 August, 2019:
Finished reading
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22 August, 2019:
Reviewed