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Best Ruth Rendell's books

23 replies

piscis · 18/10/2019 15:13

I have just finished The Lake of Darkness by Ruth Rendell and really enjoyed it.

What are her best books? I would like to read more books from her and looking for recommendations (but not the Inspector Wexford ones)

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Lllot5 · 18/10/2019 15:20

Sight for sore eyes. Secret house of death. The bridesmaid. To fear a painted devil. The face of trespass.
Buy everything and anything she has ever written she’s a genius.
Don’t forget Barbara Vine ones too.

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HappyDinosaur · 18/10/2019 15:25

I love Ruth Rendell, agree with pp that Sight for sore eyes is a good one, as is The Bridesmaid. I also like listening to them as audio books on YouTube.

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pallisers · 18/10/2019 15:25

A Dark Adapted Eye is brilliant. (that may be barbara vine)

You'd like Josephine Tey too

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HerBigChance · 18/10/2019 15:36

Lake of Darkness is superb

Asta's Book
Face of Trespass
A Fatal Inversion (as Barbara Vine)

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Lllot5 · 18/10/2019 15:44

Chimney sweepers boy.
You don’t even know how good it is when you’re reading it only when you’ve finished and you miss it.

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Caribbeanescape · 18/10/2019 15:52

My favourite one is Adam and Eve and Pinch Me, and I also love The Crocodile Bird.

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AnyFucker · 18/10/2019 15:53

Any of 'em

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HerBigChance · 18/10/2019 15:56

I'm planning an autumn re-read of some of the ones I've got, which is loads.

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SenecaFalls · 18/10/2019 15:59

I've read them all, some many times, but my top three or so favorites are all Wexford books so I can't help you, OP.

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SenecaFalls · 18/10/2019 16:03

A Judgement in Stone (Wexford makes an appearance but it's not really a Wexford) is one of my favorites.

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SorbetK6 · 18/10/2019 16:14

Talking to Strange Men.

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SorbetK6 · 18/10/2019 16:15

Asta's Book. But that might be Barbara Vine.

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piscis · 18/10/2019 16:43

I have started reading The bridesmaid.
I have downloaded the ebook from my library, I have only read a few pages but looks promising.

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HerBigChance · 18/10/2019 16:53

Oh yes, A Judgement in Stone is terrific.

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Phoebesfleas · 18/10/2019 16:56

The Tree of Hands is an emotive read, it gave me the horrors as DS was a toddler when I read it.

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Phoebesfleas · 18/10/2019 16:57

Also 13 Steps Down!

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piscis · 18/10/2019 17:24

The tree of hands sounds good!
I want to read them all but don't have the time...

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rosegoldwatcher · 18/10/2019 20:40

Ruth Rendell - my favourite of all time! Thank you Op for starting this thread.
If you loved A Sight for Sore Eyes you MUST read The Vault, even though it is a Wexford book. He has retired in this one (I think) and on a visit to London where he becomes involved with the discovery of bones in a coal cellar... It is really the sequel to a Sight for Sore Eyes. Really good.
I think that I have read everything she wrote, as herself and as Barbara Vine and always preferred the non-Wexfords.
Particular favourites are Live Flesh, Talking To Strange Men and Going Wrong.

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Fornit · 19/10/2019 12:51

Asta's Book (As Barbara Vine)

So many good books to choose from though.
Audible versions tend to be pretty good too.

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efeslight · 19/10/2019 21:29

After reading this thread, i browsed through my Ruth Rendell collection and reread the tree of hands after quite a few years. Very good, generally prefer Barbara Vine but what a great writer she was.

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DorisDay88 · 20/10/2019 08:33

What a great thread! I was introduced to her books about 35 years ago and think I've read all of them, love Barbra Vine ones particularly
Decided I needed to start de clutter my book case but couldn't bare to get rid of Ruth's books . I took a pile of my de cluttered books to the charity table at our local Dunelm and on the table was at least 20 Ruth Randell books- many I hadn't got. Had to buy them and have now decided to collect the lot and read them in date order.
Some things are meant to be Wink

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Welshwabbit · 21/10/2019 13:36

My favourite Wexford is "An Unkindness of Ravens", although I have a soft spot for the very first one, "From Doon with Death". My favourite stand-alones are "A Dark-Adapted Eye" and "A Fatal Inversion" (both writing as Barbara Vine). The latter in particular has the most fantastic tense, claustrophobic atmosphere.

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Welshwabbit · 21/10/2019 13:38

Oh, and "A Judgement in Stone" is also great.

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