Ruth Rendell - Recommendations please

[FormerlySpeckledyHen]

Thank you :)

Also on Audible please.

No Ruth fans out there ?

I've just finished reading From Doon with Death, which was the first Wexford mystery. I had a general idea of who the murderer could be (trying not to give it away) by about half way through. Worth a read if only to see how long Wexford novels have been going (it's set pre-decimalisation).

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

I never liked the Wexford books but I loved her writing as Barbara Vine, I think my favourite was A Fatal Inversion.

Thanks OP, I've not read any for years, I might download something and start again.

Was just popping on to say ‘A dark adapted eye’ the80s

I loved it.

I didn't mind the Wexford books.
I'm
Just bad at remembering titles.
She was a great writer , but some of the plots could be a bit slow sometimes. She was good at describing characters and events that seemed real if that makes sense ? She was aware of social divisions.

I like the non-Wexford psychological thrillers written under her own name. Very similar to Patricia Highsmith in how you get completely pulled into the mindsets of obsessive characters as the tension ratchets up. The Bridesmaid and Live Flesh are the best of these, but she wrote quite a few. Barbara Vine novels are good too - also psychological thrillers but have more of a focus on the relationships between people and buried secrets, whereas the RR thrillers are more about what happens when someone who has lost touch with reality finally goes too far. My favourite Vine is A Fatal Inversion, and I loved Grasshopper too. Both great, intricate plots.

If you like short stories with a twist, RR wrote some fantastic ones. There are a couple of collections.

I wasn’t keen on her later work - I think her peak was in the 90s.

Oh yes, me too.

I have loved everything! A Fatal Inversion is my favourite.

Barbara Vine was not her real name, Barbara was her middle name and Vine was a great grandmother.

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

Heartstones is a favourite of mine

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!

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 💐

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

👏 Great result!

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

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!

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…

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!

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

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.

The Blood Doctor was great too.

Asta's Book was a wonderful read.

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.

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.

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 🤣