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Ruth Rendell - Recommendations please

34 replies

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 27/07/2022 16:53

Thank you :)

Also on Audible please.

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carbuncleonapigsposterior · 26/09/2022 16:12

Asta's Book, The Chimney Sweep's Boy, The Minotaur, The Blood Doctor, King Solomon's Carpet, A Dark Adapted Eye, The Child's Child, No Night is too Long, Going Wrong, The Keys To The Street, those off the top of my head but a lot more too. All fantastic can't remember what name she was writing under for many of these, sometimes I thought her Barbara Vine's were slightly better than her Rendells. I thought she was a fantastic writer under both names, no one writes quite like the way she did. My favourite crime writer by far. Like the poster above, wasn't so keen on her Wexfords.

ageingdisgracefully · 17/09/2022 23:36

One of my faves is A Demon in My View. I'm not keen on the Wexford ones.

RR has a knack of making the mundane very, very chilling indeed.

I want to read them all again now!

DuesToTheDirt · 17/09/2022 19:47

"Going Wrong." It's well creepy.

Footle · 17/09/2022 19:00

Another vote for Asta's Book. I find I've forgotten almost everything about it apart from having enjoyed it. I'll read it again

SeptemberPumpkin · 11/09/2022 19:05

DrDreReturns · 06/09/2022 22:59

I liked a Judgement in Stone best, but they are all good reads. She did a very good job of keeping her books up to date with the times. I'm currently reading Some lie and some die.

"A Judgement in Stone" is one of my favourite books. A Why Done It rather than a Whodunnit, it really is a super read.

the80sweregreat · 07/09/2022 03:21

I liked going wrong too.

DrDreReturns · 06/09/2022 22:59

I liked a Judgement in Stone best, but they are all good reads. She did a very good job of keeping her books up to date with the times. I'm currently reading Some lie and some die.

BrioNotBiro · 06/09/2022 22:56

I thought A Brimstone Wedding is a great book. I thought it would be depressing, about a woman in a nursing home and her carer. But they gradually reveal their lives to each other and we get such a feel for a woman's constrained life 60 odd years ago and parallels/differences today. And, then the dark bit!

GreenClock · 06/09/2022 22:24

Asia’s Book and Going Wrong were my favourites.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 06/09/2022 22:20

I have run out of Audible credits so was looking desperately through the frothy looking "woman tries to have it all" crap and the hideously gory thrillers to try and find something free today. I realised pretty much all RR is free on Audible. I then listened to the entirety of To Doon With Death - I absolutely loved it. Love how it's such a picture of a period in time too, although not one I remember as I am an 80s child.

I read A Dark Adapted Eye a few years ago, and absolutely loved it. I think she was a very talented writer. I'm now a bit annoyed that I have to go to work tomorrow so can't listen to RR for the entire day 🤣

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/07/2022 23:14

A Fatal Inversion is 99p on kindle ATM, I spent a lovely few hours in the garden reading. I had forgotten just how good she is.

rosegoldwatcher · 31/07/2022 22:25

the80sweregreat · 28/07/2022 13:12

I liked her books that feature the Teddy Brex character, but not read any for a long while and I can't recall titles.

The barbara Vine books she wrote are good
' a dark adapted eye' was a great thriller

That was A Sight For Sore Eyes. The (much later) sequel is a Wexford mystery - The Vault. My absolute favourite pair of books by RR.

Clawdy · 30/07/2022 09:06

Asta's Book was a wonderful read.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/07/2022 20:35

The Blood Doctor was great too.

Moonface123 · 29/07/2022 18:55

l liked Ruth Rendell One Across Two Down, also The Crocodile Bird , writing as Barbara Vine.
I think you can still watch The Inspector Wrexford episodes free on Youtube. My Mum is a big fan.

Springduckling · 29/07/2022 18:49

A Fatal Inversion and A Dark Adapted Eye are probably my favourites, I really should read more oh hers.

Hoolihan · 28/07/2022 20:12

Love love love RR & BV - my comfort reads when I want something absorbing but unchallenged! As mentioned A Fatal Inversion is probably my absolute favourite but also love A Sight for Sore Eyes, the Bridesmaid, Adam & Eve & Pinch Me, The Tree of Hands, Live Flesh.

These books got me through many a breastfeeding sleepless night!

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 28/07/2022 20:00

Well that’s me sorted for the next few weeks - got 5 in my library now all free £££

Thanks again. I will return for another load…

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MissBattleaxe · 28/07/2022 16:54

In her prime she was great but I found her later books were terrible (Ahem, Portobello) and could have done with a damn good edit.

My favourites were The Bridesmaid, A Sight for Sore Eyes ( and the follow up but can't remember the name). From her Barbara Vine books I loved The House of Stairs, A Dark Adapted Eye (The TV version was great too), Gallowglass (also great TV) and The Brimstone Wedding. This thread is making me want to go back and read them again!

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 28/07/2022 16:48

👏 Great result!

A Fatal Inversion and A Dark Adapted Eye are both free on Audible at the moment.

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Odile13 · 28/07/2022 16:45

Haven’t re-read them in years but my favourite Ruth Rendell novels were The Bridesmaid and A Sight For Sore Eyes.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 28/07/2022 16:41

Ooh lots if replies and recommendations - thank you.
I’ve listened to a couple of the first Wexfords including Dion With Death and guessed the twist too Pineapple

Off to check out Barbara Vine and some so the titles recommended.

Thanks everyone 💐

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Occitane · 28/07/2022 15:07

Like some previous posters, I don't enjoy her Wexford novels, but love the Ruth Rendell and Barbara Vine books. My favourites are Adam and Eve and Pinch me, a really fantastic book; the Crocodile Bird, the Tree of Hands, a Dark adapted eye is amazing, I also enjoyed Grasshopper, Asta's book, and lots of the other Barbara Vine books, but I can't remember the titles!

Moonlaserbearwolf · 28/07/2022 14:53

Heartstones is a favourite of mine

the80sweregreat · 28/07/2022 14:44

It's strange I can still recall the plot of a dark adapted eye but not many of the others

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