Road Rage

Rating:
Summary: Engaging mystery
Review: I'm not usually a reader of the "murder mystery" genre of fiction, but I picked this book up the other day when I was desperate for something to read on the train trip to work. Luckily, it was quite a good book, and engaged my attention to the point that I was almost sorry when my trip came to an end. The story was original and made me want to keep reading to find out how it would end.

Rating:
Summary: Typical English mystery with great prose.
Review: Not the best from this author. Act 1 is very slow. Act 2 speeds up the pace. Act 3 is excellent.I will read her again. A good read, but not terrific!

Rating:
Summary: Rendell scores again
Review: This time Chief Inspector Wexford has a crisis on his hands which is more of a personal nature. A group of environmental extremists calling themselves "Sacred Earth" have kidnapped five people to protest the building of a major freeway. One of the hostages happens to be Wexford's wife Dora. As precious time ticks away, Wexford and his crime team attempt to locate the kidnappers with the clues they have at hand before it is too late. As always, Rendell's writing is superb. The characters are well rounded with deep psychological motivations. Wexford's private torment while trying to keep up his professional front is as always, very admirable. If the torment of his wife being kidnapped is not enough, he is also dealing with the birth of a grandchild.This latest Ruth Rendell novel is a good fast read and is very satisfying.

Rating:
Summary: Rendell scores again
Review: This time Chief Inspector Wexford has a crisis on his hands which is more of a personal nature. A group of environmental extremists calling themselves "Sacred Earth" have kidnapped five people to protest the building of a major freeway. One of the hostages happens to be Wexford's wife Dora. As precious time ticks away, Wexford and his crime team attempt to locate the kidnappers with the clues they have at hand before it is too late. As always, Rendell's writing is superb. The characters are well rounded with deep psychological motivations. Wexford's private torment while trying to keep up his professional front is as always, very admirable. If the torment of his wife being kidnapped is not enough, he is also dealing with the birth of a grandchild. This latest Ruth Rendell novel is a good fast read and is very satisfying.

Rating:
Summary: Not her best!!
Review: Very bad effort from a MASTER. For someone else, this would be good, but from the Queen of SUSpense, Psychology, and Mystery? Pedestrian story of greenpeace like group of malcontents, making protest, environmental issues, etc. but Rendell never does get beneath the surface headlines. Please try her other books, she is the best mystery/suspence/psychology novelist.

Rating:
Summary: Not the best
Review: When selecting a book I look for author first and then read the opening section of the first chapter. I have always found that Ruth Rendell's opening lines make me want to read more. Her characters are well crafted and you can get a sense of realism that many authors fail to achieve. This time though the book concentrates more on the feelings of Inspector Wexford and less on character & plot development. The side plots did not blend together into a seamless whole and it was hard to link the different plots together. There are times when the book is very tense but mostly it lacked the energy to keep you enthralled. I felt I wanted to get to the end of the book to see how it all fitted together but was left with a disappointing "Oh is that it?"

Rating:
Summary: A very Intriguing Inspector Wexford mystery
Review: ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
~ * ~ This wasn't my abspolute favorite Ruth Rendell, but it is still a very good Inspector Wexford mystery. It is not necessary to be familiar with Wexford and his assistant, Burden... this book may be a good introduction to the series for many.
~ * ~
This book is more interesting and suspenseful, because Wexford's own wife is kidnapped. Naturally his worries about her safety make it difficult to head up the investigation. Without giving away the plot, it's ok to say that he will need to rely on his wife as a witness, and her memory of small details becomes critical.
~ * ~ As always, the ending is surprising. Ruth Rendell is a master of plot twists and turns that keep us guessing.
~ * ~ My personal favorite of the Wexford and Burden series is " No More Dying Then", which focuses more on Mike Burden's problems after the death of his wife.
~ * ~
However "Road Rage" is definitely an enjoyable and suspenseful read, and a great sample of Inspector Wexford. I recommend it highly for mystery lovers.

Rating:
Summary: A very Intriguing Inspector Wexford mystery
Review: ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
~ * ~ This wasn't my abspolute favorite Ruth Rendell, but it is still a very good Inspector Wexford mystery. It is not necessary to be familiar with Wexford and his assistant, Burden... this book may be a good introduction to the series for many.
~ * ~
This book is more interesting and suspenseful, because Wexford's own wife is kidnapped. Naturally his worries about her safety make it difficult to head up the investigation. Without giving away the plot, it's ok to say that he will need to rely on his wife as a witness, and her memory of small details becomes critical.
~ * ~ As always, the ending is surprising. Ruth Rendell is a master of plot twists and turns that keep us guessing.
~ * ~ My personal favorite of the Wexford and Burden series is " No More Dying Then", which focuses more on Mike Burden's problems after the death of his wife.
~ * ~
However "Road Rage" is definitely an enjoyable and suspenseful read, and a great sample of Inspector Wexford. I recommend it highly for mystery lovers.