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hattie05's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
don’t read!!!
the plot is everywhere and goes of to little side stories which don’t even link to the main focus and is just a waste of time
the plot is everywhere and goes of to little side stories which don’t even link to the main focus and is just a waste of time
mumblingmynah's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Anxiety-inducing. At first I was rooting for Carl but by the end I just thought he was awful. That's not a criticism of the book, I enjoyed turning against him. I also hated Dermot and Sybil, but somehow I really liked Lizzie and her petty schemes.
hoboken's review against another edition
3.0
Her last book - a great loss. Great characters. Fascinating plot but not sure what I think of it. Would love to hear others' comments.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
A special thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ruth Rendell’s final novel DARK CORNERS an intriguing cat-and mouse-game of blackmail and murder. From diet pills, homeopathic cures, a desperate man who needs cash, a tenant, a friend, an opportunist, and a jealous neighbor. A multi-layered evil web of deceit, multiple narratives- a psychological suspense of darkness and madness spirals out of control.
Wilfred Martin collected all sorts of alternative medicines and remedies over the years. He kept them in his bathroom in his home and when he died, the home and its content, was now the property of Carl, his son. Carl’s mother recommended throwing the stuff out as useless clutter. Hindsight, if Carl had only known the results, he would have emptied it as quickly as possible.
Taken over the former family home in Falcon Mews, with his mother in Camden, divorced. Carl forgot about the meds as spent most of his time with girlfriend Nichola, his novel, Death’s Door, which had just been published, and trying to rent the top floor of his house to a tenant for the extra income he needed. After all rents in London, were highly desirable and he was realistic to know he could not live on book sales alone.
His second mistake: He rented to Dermot McKinnon, the first interested person. He just did not want to fool with interviewing a ton of people, and surely this man could pay the rent, as he had a job at the Sutherland Pet Clinic and produced a great reference. The next mistake was saying he could leave the rent in cash or check in an envelope at Carl’s door.
Carl soon begins work on a second novel, and he feels good about it and excited about the upcoming rental income. As far as the meds, he had taken a couple of doses for his cold and cough, but did not pay much attention to any of the others in the cupboard.
He and Dermot do not cross paths often, as Dermot was off to work or church. Carl was on his way to have coffee with his friend, Stacey Warren. They had met at school and gone to university together. Her parents had been killed in a car crash and Stacey had inherited quite a bit of money—enough to buy herself a flat in Primrose Hill. With her beautiful face and slender figure, she was given a significant part in a TV sitcom called Station Road. She became famous; however, soon she began putting on weight. Everyone knows she was getting fat.
Carl was thinking of her problem, and suggested she go on a diet. She had broken up with her boyfriend and loves to eat. Possibly some diet pills? On his way home he started thinking more about Stacey’s problem and goes into his bookshop to see if he could find her a book on the subject. Then later he recalled the pills of his father’s. He got interrupted and forgot about them for the moment.
At first, being a landlord seemed trouble-free and Dermot paid his rent on time. That is for the first months. Now what? He did not like confrontations. However, he could not seem to write thinking about the money. He and his girlfriend were planning on a holiday. Then she planned to move in.
The day before Nichola moved in, Stacey came around and they had planned on going out to eat to a nearby restaurant. Before going out, she used the bathroom and he assumed she was applying more makeup. When he goes in to fetch some antihistamines, Stacey was intrigued and starts looking for diet pills. DNP. Dinitrophenol. He takes them from her and she mentions she guess she can order some online, or he could sell her fifty of these. Sell them? After all Stacey could afford it, so he agreed.
Dermot came in and possibly he overheard. He forgot about the transaction. Nicola moved in, and he was struggling with his novel, with sort of a writer’s block. One morning, he is reading the paper, and there is Stacey—found dead in her flat by a friend who had a key. Police said foul play was not suspected.
How could this be? His mother calls talking about Stacey and he was breaking out in a sweat. They had been best friends. Frantic, could it have been the pills? Immediately he does an internet search to research the diet pills.
Then there is Stacey’s neighbor, Lizzie who used the key to let herself in Stacey’s apartment. She is jealous, conniving, an opportunist. She and Stacey had known each other for years, (or so she says) when she finds her calls the police. She may just move in with the key she found. Like what would happen to the flat? Someone wants to get rid of Lizzie and cat.
Let the blackmail and the games begin! He is now threatening to go to the cops. No more rental income. Dermot plans to live rent free. He will take over his life. After all he overheard the transaction. An investigation. 50 pills—perhaps he intended for her to die. What about his reputation as a brilliant young writer.
Now Stacey’s apartment appears to be taken over by Aunt Yvonne’s son, Gervaise. First he has to go on an archaeological visit to Cambodia. Then his sister moves in. Lizzie in the meantime takes all Stacey’s clothes and luggage and leaves. There is Tom and Dot, thinking Lizzie is off somewhere on holiday. Never explain. Abduction? Another story here.
Dermot is dating Sybil and plans to get married. Dermot turns up dead. Murdered. Now he has his girlfriend Sybil to worry about. When will this nightmare end? She thinks she is taking over her fiance’s tenancy. And she does not want to pay rent? Further blackmail. One blackmail needs to another, getting rid of one, then another...
A domino effect. One person sees or overhears the other. The stories connect. A friend of Lizzie. Carl has had enough of blackmail. He has a tenant. They are paying rent. His girlfriend is gone. He has taking to drinking around the clock. Madness. Guilt. Everyone has a plan and using the other in their own psycho-sadistic way.
A dark, creepy, quirky wacko read of good versus evil, right and wrong –the lines are blurred and one wrong deed leads to more covers ups with mania and madness. Everyone has a motive. For fans of psychological suspense and cozy mysteries. (of course no investigation by any police)
Also listened to the audio narrated by Ric Jerrom, with a quirky London accent; fitting with the crazy cast of characters.
JDCMustReadBooks
Ruth Rendell’s final novel DARK CORNERS an intriguing cat-and mouse-game of blackmail and murder. From diet pills, homeopathic cures, a desperate man who needs cash, a tenant, a friend, an opportunist, and a jealous neighbor. A multi-layered evil web of deceit, multiple narratives- a psychological suspense of darkness and madness spirals out of control.
Wilfred Martin collected all sorts of alternative medicines and remedies over the years. He kept them in his bathroom in his home and when he died, the home and its content, was now the property of Carl, his son. Carl’s mother recommended throwing the stuff out as useless clutter. Hindsight, if Carl had only known the results, he would have emptied it as quickly as possible.
Taken over the former family home in Falcon Mews, with his mother in Camden, divorced. Carl forgot about the meds as spent most of his time with girlfriend Nichola, his novel, Death’s Door, which had just been published, and trying to rent the top floor of his house to a tenant for the extra income he needed. After all rents in London, were highly desirable and he was realistic to know he could not live on book sales alone.
His second mistake: He rented to Dermot McKinnon, the first interested person. He just did not want to fool with interviewing a ton of people, and surely this man could pay the rent, as he had a job at the Sutherland Pet Clinic and produced a great reference. The next mistake was saying he could leave the rent in cash or check in an envelope at Carl’s door.
Carl soon begins work on a second novel, and he feels good about it and excited about the upcoming rental income. As far as the meds, he had taken a couple of doses for his cold and cough, but did not pay much attention to any of the others in the cupboard.
He and Dermot do not cross paths often, as Dermot was off to work or church. Carl was on his way to have coffee with his friend, Stacey Warren. They had met at school and gone to university together. Her parents had been killed in a car crash and Stacey had inherited quite a bit of money—enough to buy herself a flat in Primrose Hill. With her beautiful face and slender figure, she was given a significant part in a TV sitcom called Station Road. She became famous; however, soon she began putting on weight. Everyone knows she was getting fat.
Carl was thinking of her problem, and suggested she go on a diet. She had broken up with her boyfriend and loves to eat. Possibly some diet pills? On his way home he started thinking more about Stacey’s problem and goes into his bookshop to see if he could find her a book on the subject. Then later he recalled the pills of his father’s. He got interrupted and forgot about them for the moment.
At first, being a landlord seemed trouble-free and Dermot paid his rent on time. That is for the first months. Now what? He did not like confrontations. However, he could not seem to write thinking about the money. He and his girlfriend were planning on a holiday. Then she planned to move in.
The day before Nichola moved in, Stacey came around and they had planned on going out to eat to a nearby restaurant. Before going out, she used the bathroom and he assumed she was applying more makeup. When he goes in to fetch some antihistamines, Stacey was intrigued and starts looking for diet pills. DNP. Dinitrophenol. He takes them from her and she mentions she guess she can order some online, or he could sell her fifty of these. Sell them? After all Stacey could afford it, so he agreed.
Dermot came in and possibly he overheard. He forgot about the transaction. Nicola moved in, and he was struggling with his novel, with sort of a writer’s block. One morning, he is reading the paper, and there is Stacey—found dead in her flat by a friend who had a key. Police said foul play was not suspected.
How could this be? His mother calls talking about Stacey and he was breaking out in a sweat. They had been best friends. Frantic, could it have been the pills? Immediately he does an internet search to research the diet pills.
Then there is Stacey’s neighbor, Lizzie who used the key to let herself in Stacey’s apartment. She is jealous, conniving, an opportunist. She and Stacey had known each other for years, (or so she says) when she finds her calls the police. She may just move in with the key she found. Like what would happen to the flat? Someone wants to get rid of Lizzie and cat.
Let the blackmail and the games begin! He is now threatening to go to the cops. No more rental income. Dermot plans to live rent free. He will take over his life. After all he overheard the transaction. An investigation. 50 pills—perhaps he intended for her to die. What about his reputation as a brilliant young writer.
Now Stacey’s apartment appears to be taken over by Aunt Yvonne’s son, Gervaise. First he has to go on an archaeological visit to Cambodia. Then his sister moves in. Lizzie in the meantime takes all Stacey’s clothes and luggage and leaves. There is Tom and Dot, thinking Lizzie is off somewhere on holiday. Never explain. Abduction? Another story here.
Dermot is dating Sybil and plans to get married. Dermot turns up dead. Murdered. Now he has his girlfriend Sybil to worry about. When will this nightmare end? She thinks she is taking over her fiance’s tenancy. And she does not want to pay rent? Further blackmail. One blackmail needs to another, getting rid of one, then another...
A domino effect. One person sees or overhears the other. The stories connect. A friend of Lizzie. Carl has had enough of blackmail. He has a tenant. They are paying rent. His girlfriend is gone. He has taking to drinking around the clock. Madness. Guilt. Everyone has a plan and using the other in their own psycho-sadistic way.
A dark, creepy, quirky wacko read of good versus evil, right and wrong –the lines are blurred and one wrong deed leads to more covers ups with mania and madness. Everyone has a motive. For fans of psychological suspense and cozy mysteries. (of course no investigation by any police)
Also listened to the audio narrated by Ric Jerrom, with a quirky London accent; fitting with the crazy cast of characters.
JDCMustReadBooks
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
2.0
I had low expectations when I began Ruth Rendell's final novel and those expectations were met. I read for nostalgia's sake - Rendell is one of my favorite crime novelists and it's sad to know there will be no more, but I would have been better off rereading one of her earlier books. Which is not to say there was no point to reading Dark Corners. The book is written in her voice, with her ability to put together ordinary people and deeply disturbed individuals, as well as her skill at keeping a plot moving.
On the other hand, this was clearly a book written by an elderly person about young people, and it's set in modern day, so that the characters all behaved oddly, as though they had abruptly time traveled and were still uncertain about the ways the world had changed. They would have fit beautifully in a book set fifty years earlier, but they all seemed more than a little bizarre in 2015. The plot was also weak, not in forward momentum, but in plausibility.
The story revolves around Carl, a novelist who takes a renter for the top floor of his house as he works on his second book. Carl is an odd character; incurious about the world around him in a way that seems unlikely in a writer, with a passive personality, but that's nothing compared to the man he lets the flat to; Dermot is obsessed with religion, and a natural sneak. When he discovers something about Carl, he is quick to blackmail him, and Carl is quick to allow himself to be blackmailed, lacking the imagination necessary to find a solution. Then there's Lizzie, who is living on very little money in a terrible flat. When a friend is murdered, she moves in and uses her dead friend's clothes, make-up and food. She's frivolous and selfish, with a tendency to lie when convenient, and her straight-laced father dislikes her. But her frivolity and fibs will be punished in time.
The plot is weak, and there is so much going on, from muggings to bombs to kidnapping to murder, all smashed together. Rendell at the height of her powers would have woven these disparate threads into something amazing, but this is not a plot that even the most credulous of readers can accept. If you adore Rendell's writing and have read all her other books, you'll be reading this anyway, but this isn't the book to begin with. She has written so many better books.
On the other hand, this was clearly a book written by an elderly person about young people, and it's set in modern day, so that the characters all behaved oddly, as though they had abruptly time traveled and were still uncertain about the ways the world had changed. They would have fit beautifully in a book set fifty years earlier, but they all seemed more than a little bizarre in 2015. The plot was also weak, not in forward momentum, but in plausibility.
The story revolves around Carl, a novelist who takes a renter for the top floor of his house as he works on his second book. Carl is an odd character; incurious about the world around him in a way that seems unlikely in a writer, with a passive personality, but that's nothing compared to the man he lets the flat to; Dermot is obsessed with religion, and a natural sneak. When he discovers something about Carl, he is quick to blackmail him, and Carl is quick to allow himself to be blackmailed, lacking the imagination necessary to find a solution. Then there's Lizzie, who is living on very little money in a terrible flat. When a friend is murdered, she moves in and uses her dead friend's clothes, make-up and food. She's frivolous and selfish, with a tendency to lie when convenient, and her straight-laced father dislikes her. But her frivolity and fibs will be punished in time.
The plot is weak, and there is so much going on, from muggings to bombs to kidnapping to murder, all smashed together. Rendell at the height of her powers would have woven these disparate threads into something amazing, but this is not a plot that even the most credulous of readers can accept. If you adore Rendell's writing and have read all her other books, you'll be reading this anyway, but this isn't the book to begin with. She has written so many better books.
ewg109's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh. So much about his was just off. The language was weird and jilted. The characters were reprehensible and not in a good way. Even Nicola was an idiot. Her boyfriend is clearly having a complete nervous breakdown and she’s just all “tra La La let’s go to the pub”. And good god. The plot. I can’t figure out what the whole Lizzie storyline is about? Like why? What? The kidnapping? What the hell does it have to do with anything?
Is this social commentary? Did I miss something?
Is this social commentary? Did I miss something?
rocketiza's review against another edition
2.0
Never really felt like the guilt and depth needed in the book was captured, and the b-plots that connected to a felt unnecessary when it all came together, and at times more interesting the main story.
book_em_wendy's review against another edition
3.0
I love Ruth Rendell’s work but this was not my favorite. Too many pointless subplots. A 2 star book propped up to 3 stars because it’s the last book from a fantastic author.
hconnellyal's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0