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_p0ssum_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
bundy23's review against another edition
4.0
Much like the only other Rendell novel I've read I found this to be an incredibly realistic fictional account of a murderer. Nothing particularly exciting happens (other than a rather violent mass murder) and that's how it should be. I'm not sure how so many people consider this a thriller or "suspenseful" but it is absolutely worth your time. 4.4 stars.
hpuphd's review against another edition
4.0
I love the novels of Ruth Rendell, but somehow I managed to miss this earlier (1974) story that begins: “Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write.” The book builds up to that event and its aftermath. The exploration of character is one of the consistent strengths as well as the contrast between the normality of the family and the aberrant woman they employed. The close calls of someone nearly discovering Eunice’s illiteracy add to the powerful suspense of the second half of the book.
gabedubberke's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lolajoan's review against another edition
I'm not going to finish this. It's not Rendell's usual characters, and its premise is that if someone is unfortunate enough to slip through the cracks and be illiterate in 1970's Britain, it'll make them so demented they'll murder the people who are kind to them. Blechhh.
txbooklover's review against another edition
4.0
A good thriller, although it was a long read (almost 800 pages). The book reminded me a little of the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series with a lot of complex characters and settings. The subject matter was a little disturbing and had a couple more graphic parts (pedophiles, dismemberment, etc.). However, the graphic parts were necessary to the storyline. 4/5 stars.
stacialithub's review against another edition
2.0
I read this one for my book club. What a grim book. I did not like it.
The premise of the book is stated in the first sentence, "Eunice Parchmann killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write."
The Coverdales didn't seem very likeable in the beginning (other than Giles, an introverted teen), but I had warmed to them somewhat by the end of the book. Really, though, their story was a depressing march toward death because you already knew what was coming. (Is watching their march toward a gruesome death supposed to be compelling reading? It's not. It's just dark & grim.)
The text itself was too repetitive. Thankfully, the book is under 200 pages. (Another gripe. The title. I'm having a hard time connecting it to the story.)
The only "mystery" part of the book was the police involvement (last 20 or 30 pages), a red herring of two other suspects (who had never been seen or heard from in the entire book up to that point -- a huge issue I have with many mystery writers), & whether or not the police would figure out who committed the killings.
This book is seen as one of Rendell's better works? Not my cup of tea, thanks.
P.S. If you want a mystery where you know "who done it" at the beginning & want to know if the police can figure it out, I would instead suggest [b:The Devotion of Suspect X|8686068|The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo #3)|Keigo Higashino|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1312051518s/8686068.jpg|13558363] by Keigo Higashino.
The premise of the book is stated in the first sentence, "Eunice Parchmann killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write."
Spoiler
Rendell overworked & pounded the illiteracy angle too much. It was tiresome. (I'm a huge literacy advocate, but this was ridiculous.) It also simplifies the killing in that there were two murderers, one definitely unhinged, egging each other on. And, Eunice herself had already been a blackmailer (of acquaintances) and murderer (of her father) long before she ever knew of or killed the Coverdales. So while illiteracy might have been a latent factor, it was not the only one.The Coverdales didn't seem very likeable in the beginning (other than Giles, an introverted teen), but I had warmed to them somewhat by the end of the book. Really, though, their story was a depressing march toward death because you already knew what was coming. (Is watching their march toward a gruesome death supposed to be compelling reading? It's not. It's just dark & grim.)
The text itself was too repetitive. Thankfully, the book is under 200 pages. (Another gripe. The title. I'm having a hard time connecting it to the story.)
The only "mystery" part of the book was the police involvement (last 20 or 30 pages), a red herring of two other suspects (who had never been seen or heard from in the entire book up to that point -- a huge issue I have with many mystery writers), & whether or not the police would figure out who committed the killings.
This book is seen as one of Rendell's better works? Not my cup of tea, thanks.
P.S. If you want a mystery where you know "who done it" at the beginning & want to know if the police can figure it out, I would instead suggest [b:The Devotion of Suspect X|8686068|The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo #3)|Keigo Higashino|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1312051518s/8686068.jpg|13558363] by Keigo Higashino.