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beemini's review against another edition
4.0
I borrowed this book after seeing it had won an Edgar Prize, and because I had yet to read any Ruth Rendell, who I have just learned about but who is apparently one of the best English mystery writers. I've read that this is one of the first mysteries (published in 1993) not to have an unambiguous explanation for all plot points, and one can see how Rendell influenced contemporary mystery writers like Tana French, with layers of ambiguity, the unreliability of memory, and psychological depth. Also present are the English obsessions with class, status, and manners, village gossip, a rich sense of WWII slice-of-life detail, and an examination of interwar and post-war gender roles. Repression is the name of the game. It was a leisurely read, at times so vague I had to double back and check names, but always in control of itself.
alnotai's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.25
johnnyforeign's review against another edition
3.0
I've read a number of Ruth Rendell's books and loved almost all of them, but this was my first book by her as Barbara Vine, and I didn't care for it so much. First, I think it is a bit unfair that she holds off from revealing the precise nature of the crime until the very end of the book. This makes the story one big tease, which I found annoying. Second, I thought there were far too many characters and sub-plots, all of which detracted from the overall narrative drive. Third, the narrative jumps all over the place in time, which becomes confusing. On the plus side, many of the characters were well-drawn and interesting, and Rendell's/Vine's writing is sharp and witty throughout.
magnetgrrl's review against another edition
4.0
This is such an odd novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I doubt I could recommend this to anyone. I would certainly say, if you typically read YA or admittedly have a short attention span, then this one isn't for you. The term "slow burn" only hints at the pace. It's not unenjoyable, but I think almost something out of another era of writing - and even then, actually quite unique, in terms of how most mysteries go.
There's absolutely no big reveal in this book. There's hardly even a minor reveal. At best, I can say that, at the beginning, there are major events that happened in the past, which you are told up front, and some details you do not yet know, which raises curiosity and draws you forward. Some of those details come about, drip by drip, every 50 to 100 pages, eventually, and some are still left unrevealed even at the end (although not in a way that's disappointing). I can honestly say I haven't ever read a book like this that managed to keep me engaged, while telling me almost NOTHING, well, ever.
It's not exactly loaded with atmosphere, either. Sometimes books can hang without a plot or much action if they are just generally creepy, and this doesn't qualify. It has an atmosphere, but it's utterly mundane - the world of late 30's to mid 40's middle- and upper-class Britain. I actually think this book is more of a character study of a murderess than any kind of mystery. It has a lot to say about family and relationships and just 'how things were then' as well - which is something I'm not sure people are all that interested in these days, that kind of story. Or at least people aren't interested if the 'then' referred to isn't at all exotic or foreign. But I can easily imagine this, if it were ever adapted to film, as a vehicle for a really great aging actress, playing Vera, and a younger one, playing Faith (in the flashbacks), in sort of deep drama Merchant-Ivory piece. It could be fantastic - I wish it existed.
I'm by no means a careful reader, often greedily skimming pages to get to the answer to a question I have, or what happens next or the next juicy bit. But I think this book is meant for those with a keen eye for detail. My perspective on this, looking back, is that at first, I didn't even know who Vera had killed, and thought this book would be about finding out something shocking like - it was really someone else all along who committed the murder. Then I was led very slowly to eliminate possible victims (although the whole time I kept thinking to myself 'wait, did we already know it wasn't so and so, and I just missed that bit or is this really new information?') until I finally realized who she must have killed, and then even beyond the actual telling of it, the central mystery became why, but that question is left unanswered. I'm still wondering about it. Maybe because you're left wondering, in much the same manner as your narrator, and positing theories, is why it's still captivating without ever really going anywhere. How this book worked on me, I cannot say. That's the real mystery of this one. I can only say that it, inexplicably, did work on me, despite everything.
There's absolutely no big reveal in this book. There's hardly even a minor reveal. At best, I can say that, at the beginning, there are major events that happened in the past, which you are told up front, and some details you do not yet know, which raises curiosity and draws you forward. Some of those details come about, drip by drip, every 50 to 100 pages, eventually, and some are still left unrevealed even at the end (although not in a way that's disappointing). I can honestly say I haven't ever read a book like this that managed to keep me engaged, while telling me almost NOTHING, well, ever.
It's not exactly loaded with atmosphere, either. Sometimes books can hang without a plot or much action if they are just generally creepy, and this doesn't qualify. It has an atmosphere, but it's utterly mundane - the world of late 30's to mid 40's middle- and upper-class Britain. I actually think this book is more of a character study of a murderess than any kind of mystery. It has a lot to say about family and relationships and just 'how things were then' as well - which is something I'm not sure people are all that interested in these days, that kind of story. Or at least people aren't interested if the 'then' referred to isn't at all exotic or foreign. But I can easily imagine this, if it were ever adapted to film, as a vehicle for a really great aging actress, playing Vera, and a younger one, playing Faith (in the flashbacks), in sort of deep drama Merchant-Ivory piece. It could be fantastic - I wish it existed.
I'm by no means a careful reader, often greedily skimming pages to get to the answer to a question I have, or what happens next or the next juicy bit. But I think this book is meant for those with a keen eye for detail. My perspective on this, looking back, is that at first, I didn't even know who Vera had killed, and thought this book would be about finding out something shocking like - it was really someone else all along who committed the murder. Then I was led very slowly to eliminate possible victims (although the whole time I kept thinking to myself 'wait, did we already know it wasn't so and so, and I just missed that bit or is this really new information?') until I finally realized who she must have killed, and then even beyond the actual telling of it, the central mystery became why, but that question is left unanswered. I'm still wondering about it. Maybe because you're left wondering, in much the same manner as your narrator, and positing theories, is why it's still captivating without ever really going anywhere. How this book worked on me, I cannot say. That's the real mystery of this one. I can only say that it, inexplicably, did work on me, despite everything.
wendydt's review against another edition
5.0
Over the last few years I have been reading my Ruth Rendell books in chronological order. All complete this is my first Barbara Vine. What a treat. I could see the style coming through in the Rendell books which explains why her switch to Vine was so well executed. The story plods along with little time bombs of information. Each character beautifully formed from a jigsaw of the comments and reactions. I first read this book in 1991 but didn't remember anything about it and it was a pleasure to read it as if it were new.
melpen's review against another edition
4.0
This was my second reading. I just love the way this story unfolds.
staticdisplay's review against another edition
4.0
so interesting to present the story of a murderer (this thing which becomes the defining aspect of any person when applied) through an examination of her most banal activities and relationships. also preserves the social norms/overall moment in history (during and shortly after WWII). also a very sad story.
*the descriptions of aging are horrendous, particularly with women, although the men aren't spared. not sure if this was some kind of social commentary or an expression of the author's own relationship with aging seeping through.
*the descriptions of aging are horrendous, particularly with women, although the men aren't spared. not sure if this was some kind of social commentary or an expression of the author's own relationship with aging seeping through.
dixiemac's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0