Bizarrely compelling listen!

I’m new to Rendell and been really enjoying the Wexford series when I stumbled across this simply because it was in the ‘ included ‘ section.
Not a gentle listen and a disturbing subject but so tense and compelling I was captivated.
Certainly not what I was expecting but highly recommended.

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Too harsh

Couldn’t keep going with this one had to give up at chapter 9. Couldn’t stand hearing the narrator any longer it’s all too aggressive no light & shade very wearing to listen to

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Convaincant et différent

Une merveilleuse représentation de l'obsession et de l'illusion de soi. Je l'adore et je le réécouterai.

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Over the top story and narration

I’ve read and listened to many of the author’s books and this is the first one I felt lacked her usual subtlety of characterisation. Most of the people in the story are caricatures not least Guy the unrequited lover of Leonora. The never ending repetition of his obsessive and paranoid behaviour became tedious. There is no variation in the tone of the book not helped by the excessively expressive narration that kept at fever pitch for most of the book.

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1 person found this helpful

I love Ruth Rendell but…

I literally can listen to RR back to back for weeks on end and often do but this book had me at a loss. First of all it’s really hard to listen to …the reader has decided to read it in a voice that is permanently so filled with vitriol that it becomes dull….there’s no contrast EVER. But it’s RR so I battled through.
Sadly I’d guessed all the ending wayy before it ended. This has never happened to me before in an RR book. I have never thought of Rendell as predictable. Her endings are always succinct and I love that …all tidied up, the end; no faffing about just the END. But there is normally a twist, a turn or a nuance that you hadn’t considered. Not with this one.
Disappointing and tbh hard work

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Mind twister

Another mind absorbing story from Ruth Rendell, her story telling is deep and her understanding of human nature second to none.

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Narration

Good story as are all Ruth Rendell for me. But i found the narration too strident and harsh. Not easy to listen too.

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3 people found this helpful

Ruth Rendell at her best!

A great novel and storyline. Ruth Rendell excels at these stand alone books, many of which were written under her pseudonym Barbara Vine.

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Going Wrong

As well as reading the print edition in the past, I believe that I've also seen a TV adaptation of this novel. Both were entertaining.

Guy Curran: a successful, wealthy, if not shady, businessman from West London remains obsessed with his teenaged sweetheart, Leonora, whom he still meets for a Saturday lunch, once a week. When Leonora rebuffs his declarations of love and falls for another man, Guy's jealously overwhelms his existence.

Yes, it's typical psychological Rendell - London location: check; psychopathic central character: check; underworld connections: check. It's good though and having being written in the late 19 80s, really encapsulates the urban zeitgeist.

The narrator, Dermot Crowley, was flexible and talented. A great listen.

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I liked it more as I progressed

You know it’s not going to end well - the hint is in the title - but it was a nice little surprise, or rather not nice, but clever. Skilful manipulation of us as readers/listeners and characters were well drawn and performed. I did wonder why Leonora was so acquiescent, but it’s all explained in the end

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