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jennereads's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Ruth Rendell novel that I have read under her Barbara Vine alter ego, but it was definitely classic Rendell. It is nearly a murder mystery in reverse with all the lovely (or horrifying) psychological accompaniments. How does murder affect a person? Why are some only troubled by fear of discovery and not the crime itself? How many subtle affects can a crime have on a person who believes they are in the clear?
There are so many other fascinating ways to look at a mystery than as a simple whodunnit. It amazes me that Rendell is able to reveal the basic crime and the guilty persons and still create a high level of suspense until the last page. There are moments where the various points of view border on confusing, but overall this is a compelling novel.
There are so many other fascinating ways to look at a mystery than as a simple whodunnit. It amazes me that Rendell is able to reveal the basic crime and the guilty persons and still create a high level of suspense until the last page. There are moments where the various points of view border on confusing, but overall this is a compelling novel.
bookfann's review
dark
emotional
tense
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
centique's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ruthiella's review against another edition
4.0
I put this book on my TBR years ago because I read somewhere (in a blog or goodreads maybe) that this was a better, more realistic version of Tana French’s The Likeness. My assumption was that this was also a mystery with a doppelgangers (a la Brat Ferrar), but it’s not that.
The book opens with the remains of a human skeleton being found buried on the grounds of a country home in Suffolk. Naturally the police investigate. The story then slowly unfolds in flashbacks and forwards between 1986 London and 1976 Suffolk.
Fatal Inversion is an intense psychological suspense story. There is a murder but the focus is less on who did it and why (although that is eventually revealed) and more on how this murder has poisoned the lives of those who were witness to the crime and its cover-up. I can see the Tana French comparison a bit, you have young adults (18-25) living in a house which is sheltered and suspended from the outside world and a lot of emotional manipulation going on in that close environment. But personally if I had to compare this book to any other that I have read, it would be Sarah Water’s The Little Stranger because of the ever building sense of dread and the way the survivors are figuratively haunted in the aftermath.
The book opens with the remains of a human skeleton being found buried on the grounds of a country home in Suffolk. Naturally the police investigate. The story then slowly unfolds in flashbacks and forwards between 1986 London and 1976 Suffolk.
Fatal Inversion is an intense psychological suspense story. There is a murder but the focus is less on who did it and why (although that is eventually revealed) and more on how this murder has poisoned the lives of those who were witness to the crime and its cover-up. I can see the Tana French comparison a bit, you have young adults (18-25) living in a house which is sheltered and suspended from the outside world and a lot of emotional manipulation going on in that close environment. But personally if I had to compare this book to any other that I have read, it would be Sarah Water’s The Little Stranger because of the ever building sense of dread and the way the survivors are figuratively haunted in the aftermath.
han_cat's review against another edition
3.0
One of the better group of friends, big old house in the country, back in time books I've read. As you come to expect with Vine/Rendell the characterisation and plot is top notch. And she does the dark, twisted side of human nature so well. Just maybe too well? Finishing this I felt a bit grubby & depressed.....
chonkooch's review
i got bored less than 30 pages in lmao. also this book is racist
gmh711's review against another edition
3.0
Goodreads' page for Barbara Vine, aka Ruth Rendell, reads "Books such as...A Fatal Inversion...inhabit the same territory as her psychological crime novels while they further develop themes of family misunderstandings and the side effects of secrets kept and crimes done. "
That quote just about sums it up. Her writing allows the reader to inhabit the psyche of her characters.
That quote just about sums it up. Her writing allows the reader to inhabit the psyche of her characters.
vickie's review against another edition
3.0
Comments in <20 words: Past crime not hugely engaging, but realistic person-of-colour identity struggles got my attention.
jcprewett's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5