Tag Archives: Ruth Rendell

Ruth Rendell, “Tigerlily’s Orchids”

Posted on March 10, 2013 by carolwallace

OK, here’s a question. You pick up a new Ruth Rendell mystery, let’s say Tigerlily’s Orchids. The first character you meet, Olwen, is lucidly determined to drink herself to death. And furthermore, “On the whole Olwen was indifferent to other … Continue reading →

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Susan Hill, “A Question of Identity”

Posted on January 4, 2013 by carolwallace

Why is Susan Hill not yet a household name in the U.S.? She is as good a writer, as reliably satisfying and interesting, as her peers Elizabeth George, Deborah Crombie, Ruth Rendell (though admittedly not as weird as the last). … Continue reading →

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Ruth Rendell, “The St. Zita Society”

Posted on August 25, 2012 by carolwallace

Oh, Ruth Rendell, how do you do it? Your industry is a reproach to all of us who write fewer than two books a year. Your dark imagination is disturbingly inventive, and the consistently high quality of your story telling … Continue reading →

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Ruth Rendell, “The Vault”

Posted on July 4, 2012 by carolwallace

We’re getting on in years, Ruth Rendell, Reg Wexford and I. I sort of dropped the ball on the Wexford novels, one of the most consistently satisfying police procedural series. I left Reg out there in Kingsmarkham, his Southern English … Continue reading →

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Barry Unsworth “Losing Nelson”

Posted on May 26, 2012 by carolwallace

A few weeks ago, around the time of the publication of Bring Up the Bodies, Newsweek published Hilary Mantel’s list of five excellent historical novels. Naturally I paid attention. Losing Nelson was the first of them to arrive at my … Continue reading →

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April Smith, “Good Morning, Killer”

Posted on October 3, 2011 by carolwallace

April Smith’s Good Morning, Killer has made me think hard about the creepiness factor in crime novels. Actually, it might have been reading Smith back to back with Lee Child — I have just experienced a lot of mayhem at … Continue reading →

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