Rating: 
Summary: a must read
Review: I remember my first Inspector Wexford mystery novel: "Some Lie and Some Die." Up till then I had been living on a strict diet of Agatha Christies. Through the Wexford books, a whole new modern world of crime opened up before me, and I was hooked. And I've been a fan ever since. Ruth Rendell's Wexford mystery novels are not like most police procedurals in that they're a lot more character driven then the others, and that Wexford and his team spend a great deal of time trying to establish exactly what kind of people the victims and suspects are/were -- who they are, their past, their involvement with others and what they're capable of. If you're the kind of reader that finds such things fascinating, then "Babes in the Wood" will be a treat to read. But if you prefer constant action and an extremely fast paced kind of book, then you might want to borrow this book from the library instead.It's been raining cats and dogs for weeks, the River Brede has burst its banks, and the people of Kingsmarkham are hunkering down in order to deal with the flooding. And in the midst of all this, a mother 'phones up claiming that her two children are missing and that she thinks that they've drowned. Mr. & Mrs. Dade had decided to go away to Paris for a weekend, leaving their 16 year old son Giles, and their 13 year old daughter, Sophie, in the charge of friend, Joanna Troy. But when the parents returned from their trip, they found their house empty with so sign of Joanna or the teens. A hysterical Mrs. Dade believes that her children have drowned in the river. And while Chief Inspector Wexford doesn't believe that that theory holds any water, (it's too shallow and both the Dade children were, apparently, excellent swimmers), he does get the Subaqua Task Force to check out the woman's fears. The Task Force finds no bodies: wherever the trio are, they're definitely not in the river. As the days pass, and the police are still unable to locate either Joanna or the Dade teens, Wexford begins to fear for the teenagers and to wonder about the people involved in this case, from the very angry Mr. Dade, his very hysterical wife, the missing Giles who has just recently joined a new Christian group, and in the center of it all the elusive Joanna who seems to have few friends and was a bit of a loner... "The Babes in the Wood" is the kind of unassuming book that manages to ensnare so that before you know, you've spent the entire day being enthralled by all that was unfolding before your eyes. Ruth Rendell is a magnificent story teller. The prose style is elegant yet uncomplicated, and the twists and turns in the plot was continuous, unexpected and intriguing. What I especially like about the Wexford books is the manner in which the authour goes into the whys and wherefores of the crime as well of all the characters involved in the story. But this is done so unobtrusively and is incorporated into the story as a whole. With fully realised character portrayals, an interesting storyline, and well paced unfolding of the plot, "The Babes in the Wood" was a truly satisfying read.
Rating: 
Summary: ¿I only wanted to shut out the weather.¿
Review: Inspector Wexford is back in dark, somber, and mysterious thriller, where the endless rain muffles all, the town of Kingsmarkham is threatened with flooding, and things are never as they seem. Themes of domestic violence, religious intolerance, and strained family relationships permeate this story of child abduction and murder. Two local teenagers and their babysitter have gone missing, and when the babysitter turns up dead in a quarry, Wexford realizes that he has one of the most baffling cases on his hands. Tightly plotted, with lots of red herrings throughout, Rendell is in her usual fine form with a story that drifts from the English countryside to cold, crisp Scandinavia. In the course of his investigation Wexford must deal with a neighbor whose alibi is questionable, a religious cult and its sylvan rituals, someone close to the children's family who holds a secret, and the babysitter's ex-husband who reveals the woman's dysfunctional past. Symbolically Babes in the Wood is one of Rendell's best - lots of dark, squally, rainy days and nights where the " whole country seems to be vanishing and sinking under a vast fluidity of water." The rain casts a deepening shadow over the story - suspicion abounds, and the narrative is peppered with sullen, sulky, and devishly selfish characters that seem so embittered and exhausted with life. In Babes in the Wood we have a much more cynical and world-weary Wexford - still struggling with his food, concerned about his daughter, Silvia's taste in men, and yet ribald, derisive, sardonic, and even flippant about serious things. He's a wonderfully portrayed character who also has many admirable qualities - liberal, compassionate, sensitive and extremely well read. Its been nice to revisit this character after some time and lets hope that Ruth Rendell has not given up on Chief Inspector Wexford. The Babes in the Wood is an extremely accomplished whodunit, and is certainly one of Rendell's darkest and foreboding Wexford mysteries. Michael
Rating: 
Summary: Slow-moving mystery
Review: Inspector Wexford is called upon to investigate the disappearance of two young teenagers and their babysitter. The teens' parents are an unlikeable couple who are out of town for the weekend and return to find their house empty. After some investigation, Wexford finds that there is suspicion that the father is being abusive to the daughter Sophie, and the son, Giles, is involved with a fundamentalist religious group. Through interminable chapters, the investigation drags on and at last a body is found in a deserted car. This discovery only leads to more questions which are finally answered by people who were nearby when the crime was committed. Perhaps die-hard Ruth Rendell fans will find this book interesting, but to me it was very slow-moving.
Rating:
Summary: Slow-moving mystery
Review: Inspector Wexford is called upon to investigate the disappearance of two young teenagers and their babysitter. The teens' parents are an unlikeable couple who are out of town for the weekend and return to find their house empty. After some investigation, Wexford finds that there is suspicion that the father is being abusive to the daughter Sophie, and the son, Giles, is involved with a fundamentalist religious group. Through interminable chapters, the investigation drags on and at last a body is found in a deserted car. This discovery only leads to more questions which are finally answered by people who were nearby when the crime was committed. Perhaps die-hard Ruth Rendell fans will find this book interesting, but to me it was very slow-moving.
Rating:
Summary: Expecting better
Review: It's raining in Kingsmarkham, blinding driving rain that is hard to see through. The kind of rain that has citizens anxiously awaiting the rise of the river with sandbags. This is the backdrop against which a baby-sitter and two teenage children disappear while the parents are on a getaway in Paris. Chief Inspector Wexford and Inspector Burden investigate the disappearances. There is no lack of motives or suspects here including a religious cult, suspicious neighbors, and an ex-husband. I generally enjoy Ruth Rendell's Wexford series. With this one I felt I should like it rather than really liking it. I found it a bit hard to get into. The cast of secondary characters is not at all likable; I can't think of a single character that I cared about. The plot got fairly involved, but it was paced fairly well. Wexford's personal life gets quite a bit of ink and that's a good thing because he is a very interesting character. There was a very good twist at the climax. Sometimes when you are reading a series, your expectations are high. Overall, it was not as good as other Wexford books. I felt a bit let down.
Rating:
Summary: The Babes in the Wood
Review: Ruth Rendell is a prolific writer of mysteries, and has now written 19 in the Chief Inspector Wexford series. This one has two plots interwoven. One involves Wexford and his family, and one of his daughters who is in a relationship with someone he doesn't like. The other is the disappearance of two local teenagers and their adult "babysitter." This takes place at a time when there is heavy rain and flooding for Wexford to contend with on both a personal and professional basis. This is a must read for Rendell and Wexford fans.
Rating:
Summary: None Better
Review: Ruth Rendell is one of the best at her craft, and she is in
great form with this one.
Inspector Wexford has gotten a little older, and a bit more
philosophical, but he is still a good, persistent cop, and
he is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.
2 teen-age children, and their "sitter," a young woman who
used to be a school teacher and who now runs her own internet-tutoring business, disappear while the parents are on a trip to
Paris. The investigation is hampered by the wildly dysfunctional parents, and Wexford and his staff have to battle
the parents to get all the information they need.
But the investigation goes nowhere, and it is further delayed
by Wexford's superior who orders him to wait until the current
flood waters recede, thinking all 3 will be found dead in the
floodwaters.
But after the waters finally recede, and some valuable time has
been lost, Wexford is able to pursue the case properly, but the
lost time causes a lot of difficulty, and the people finally
contacted are an odd mix, and they largely seem uninterested
in being forthright and helping.
In addition to the family and friends, the police here have to
contend with some selfish, superior-acting people whose only
concern is not getting "involved" with the police, even to the
extent of giving them vital information, as well as a rather
odd group of people who have formed their own church, and whose
religious practices confound Wexford and staff.
Plus, of course, Wexford has some personal distractions, and
he has to address those at the same time.
But the real Plus of this story is author Rendell's particular
magic in presenting her characters and moving the story along.
This writer is as good as they come in this genre, and it is
such a pleasure to read her story, nearly everyone will enjoy
it. The true fan won't be able to put it down. An absolute
"must" for the mystery reader.
Rating:
Summary: a quick read, unusual for Rendell
Review: Ruth Rendell's latest, "The Babes in the Woods", will delight devoted readers with her usual blend of psychological insight and murder mystery. Unlike some of her earlier, lengthier works, this book moves quickly, as Chief Inspector Wexford deals with the disappearance of two local teenagers and their babysitter. On his own home front, he is puzzled and worried over his adult daughter's choice of boyfriends; this counterplot is woven seamlessly into the main plot, in prime Rendell style. Rain and more rain falls; a deluge comes upon the area, complicating the investigation and darkening the moods of even the hardiest characters. In true British fashion, they weather the storm; the sun returns, the mystery is solved, and the reader closes the book with a satisfied sigh. "The Babes in the Woods" is a good introduction to new Rendell readers, and is highly recommended to those who already have been enjoying her skillful plotting and agile prose.
Rating:
Summary: a quick read, unusual for Rendell
Review: Ruth Rendell's latest, "The Babes in the Woods", will delight devoted readers with her usual blend of psychological insight and murder mystery. Unlike some of her earlier, lengthier works, this book moves quickly, as Chief Inspector Wexford deals with the disappearance of two local teenagers and their babysitter. On his own home front, he is puzzled and worried over his adult daughter's choice of boyfriends; this counterplot is woven seamlessly into the main plot, in prime Rendell style. Rain and more rain falls; a deluge comes upon the area, complicating the investigation and darkening the moods of even the hardiest characters. In true British fashion, they weather the storm; the sun returns, the mystery is solved, and the reader closes the book with a satisfied sigh. "The Babes in the Woods" is a good introduction to new Rendell readers, and is highly recommended to those who already have been enjoying her skillful plotting and agile prose.
Rating:
Summary: A babysitter and her two charges mysteriously disappear.
Review: Ruth Rendell's new Inspector Wexford mystery is "The Babes in the Wood," the story of three mysterious disappearances. A babysitter, Joanna Troy, has gone missing with the two adolescents, Giles and Sophie Dade, who were in her care. The neighborhood is flooded after torrential rains and Katrina Dade, Giles's and Sophie's hysterical mother, comes to the tearful conclusion that her children have somehow drowned. Wexford is skeptical about this theory, and he begins his usual thorough investigation. I have always liked Inspector Wexford. He is a devoted family man who adores his two adult daughters, although he is not blind to their flaws. He is bright, well-read, compassionate, bitingly funny, and tremendously intuitive. Wexford has an uncanny knack for recognizing liars. Since "The Babes in the Wood" is filled with liars, Wexford has many occasions to test his skill at separating truth from fiction. Rendell does her usual workmanlike and competent job of setting up her complicated plot, and the characters are a varied and lively bunch. The biggest problem with this novel is that the pace is, at times, a bit static. For large portions of the book, Wexford interviews the relatives and acquaintances of the missing people. These interviews are not scintillating enough to keep the book moving at a fast clip. However, the mystery has an unexpected and clever solution, and Wexford once again proves that he is a shrewd detective and an excellent judge of human nature. Rendell displays her marvelously mordant sense of humor and her jaded view of human nature. She is truly a misanthrope's delight. Most of the characters in "The Babes in the Wood" are selfish, disturbed, or manipulative. Although "The Babes in the Wood" is not Rendell's best work, it is entertaining enough. Devoted fans of the inimitable Inspector Wexford will find it a pleasure to observe the wheels turn as he slowly but surely gets to the bottom of a strange and perplexing case.
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