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laila4343's review against another edition
4.0
One of the better Inspector Wexford books so far. Mike Burden becomes a therapist of sorts to this unhinged young man he suspects of murder. Wexford's daughter is the target of a car bomb, in which Wexford himself in hurt. There's a lot going on in this book but the threads all come together brilliantly in the end.
daryl_mystery's review against another edition
3.0
In The Veiled One, Chief Inspector Wexford and his longtime assistant Inspector Mike Burden investigate the murder of an older woman found strangled (or garroted) to death in a drab parking garage. Although Rendell demonstrates her usual mastery of psychology, both normal and abnormal, the plot creaks from the contrivances the writer forces on it. Simply put, too much happens by coincidence, which, in part, necessitates a long-winded denouement.
Early on, Wexford is removed from the investigation, bringing Burden front and center. Perhaps overly eager to prove his worth, Burden's prime suspect--actually his only suspect--is Clifford Sanders, a sad, obviously disturbed young man with the mother from hell. Burden pursues his quarry with a dogged enthusiasm that Inspector Javert might have envied. Again and again, Burden interrogates the young man for hours on end, certain that with the next interrogation, he'll finally confess. But somewhere along the way, their roles are reversed, with surprising and tragic consequences.
So despite its structural problems, the novel is worth reading, if only for those luscious scenes between Burden and Clifford.
[bookcover:The Veiled One|361611]
Early on, Wexford is removed from the investigation, bringing Burden front and center. Perhaps overly eager to prove his worth, Burden's prime suspect--actually his only suspect--is Clifford Sanders, a sad, obviously disturbed young man with the mother from hell. Burden pursues his quarry with a dogged enthusiasm that Inspector Javert might have envied. Again and again, Burden interrogates the young man for hours on end, certain that with the next interrogation, he'll finally confess. But somewhere along the way, their roles are reversed, with surprising and tragic consequences.
So despite its structural problems, the novel is worth reading, if only for those luscious scenes between Burden and Clifford.
[bookcover:The Veiled One|361611]
davidlz1's review against another edition
3.0
Classic whodunit. I thought it was well-written and quite entertaining. Read it over the course of three evenings and was sufficiently entertained. One of the best things about reading Ms. Rendell's novels is that she brings into them the psychological element. That really adds a new dimension to mystery reading.
stagasaurus's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this. As a knitter though, the only thing a metal circular needle would be good for is garroting someone. They are horrible to knit with. Personally I prefer plastic cables with either rosewood or Californian birch needles.
blueyorkie's review against another edition
3.0
This story had me guessing from beginning to end. I loved some of the dark and damaged characters in this story, most of whom would have been good candidates for the murderer.
ncrabb's review against another edition
3.0
Gwen Robson is well and truly dead, and she has gone largely unnoticed even by the usually observant Inspector Wexford. He had driven through that garage earlier, but he was concerned about family things. Police have charged his TV-actress daughter, Sheila, in a situation in which she damaged a fence surrounding a nuclear facility as part of a protest in which she participated.
Gwen Robson’s body is there sure enough. She has been garotted, and her nearly severed head and body are nestled between cars.
The young man goes by Clifford. He is the ultimate mama’s boy living as he does as an adult in mom’s house, enduring, even in his adulthood, her punishments. Clifford is the guy who found Gwen’s body, and it becomes abundantly clear to even the most casual reader that he’s not stable at all and not a reliable character.
After a family gathering in which Wexford’s daughter, Sheila, has dropped by, Wexford offers to juggle cars so she can more easily be on her way. Without thinking much about it, he snatches up her keys, fires up her car, and engages the reverse gear. But something feels off about the experience; something feels funny; something about the car just doesn’t feel right somehow. Acting on instinct, Wexford manages to fling himself out of the vehicle seconds before it blows up and destroys half his house and the entirety of Sheila’s car. Wexford lives, but it is his assistant, Mike Burden, who must do most of the detective work on the Gwen Robson case. As Wexford slowly recovers, he is intent on finding the terrorists who destroyed his daughter’s car. Who would do such a thing?
This is classic Rendell with its multi-layered information that the author gradually peels back for you. You won’t see the end coming by any means, and you’ll marvel at Rendell’s ability to observe the world and interpret it to you with such literary skill.
Gwen Robson’s body is there sure enough. She has been garotted, and her nearly severed head and body are nestled between cars.
The young man goes by Clifford. He is the ultimate mama’s boy living as he does as an adult in mom’s house, enduring, even in his adulthood, her punishments. Clifford is the guy who found Gwen’s body, and it becomes abundantly clear to even the most casual reader that he’s not stable at all and not a reliable character.
After a family gathering in which Wexford’s daughter, Sheila, has dropped by, Wexford offers to juggle cars so she can more easily be on her way. Without thinking much about it, he snatches up her keys, fires up her car, and engages the reverse gear. But something feels off about the experience; something feels funny; something about the car just doesn’t feel right somehow. Acting on instinct, Wexford manages to fling himself out of the vehicle seconds before it blows up and destroys half his house and the entirety of Sheila’s car. Wexford lives, but it is his assistant, Mike Burden, who must do most of the detective work on the Gwen Robson case. As Wexford slowly recovers, he is intent on finding the terrorists who destroyed his daughter’s car. Who would do such a thing?
This is classic Rendell with its multi-layered information that the author gradually peels back for you. You won’t see the end coming by any means, and you’ll marvel at Rendell’s ability to observe the world and interpret it to you with such literary skill.
annedyne's review against another edition
5.0
Intricate and bizarre, yet very human and very entertaining - brilliant
I think this is the best Ruth Rendell I've read to date - and that's saying a lot. I watched this intricate jewel of a puzzle unwind before me, mesmerized by the craft of it, and yet peered out from Wexford's or Burden's eyes through every weird, tender, horrifying, hilarious, delicious moment to the utterly satisfying reveal.
I think this is the best Ruth Rendell I've read to date - and that's saying a lot. I watched this intricate jewel of a puzzle unwind before me, mesmerized by the craft of it, and yet peered out from Wexford's or Burden's eyes through every weird, tender, horrifying, hilarious, delicious moment to the utterly satisfying reveal.
ava_catherine's review against another edition
4.0
Chief Inspector Wexford is investigating the murderer of a housewife in the parking lot of a shopping center when his daughter's car is bombed. The book is a psychological mystery. I like the study of characters and their motives.
jlmb's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable mystery. A bit too much Burden and not enough Wexford, for my liking. Still, a diverting way to pass the time.