Rating: 
Summary: As mysteries go, this is one of the best.
Review: *A Fatal Inverstion* does not follow any of the formulas so common in today's mystery fiction. Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell) tells a uniquely horrifying and suspenseful story. Moving between the present and the past (ten years ago when the obligatory deaths occurred) in a very fluid and dynamic way, she makes the characters and events of this wonderful book come alive (no pun intended). I wanted to know what happened, and what was *going* to happen...and I wasn't sure I *really* wanted to know --- how horrible would it be? I could not put this book down!
Rating:
Summary: As mysteries go, this is one of the best.
Review: Fatal Inversion is the most intelligent and satisfying murder mystery I have ever read. Everything fits. The characters are well drawn and consistent; the mood is just right; the story addictive; and the ending a pure pleasure. I particularly love the way prejudices and societal ills are neither glossed over nor elaborated upon. In all respects, the story completely smashes the theory that we all get what we deserve. In fact, only those with a conscience ever do. Ain't that just like life?
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent story that never plays to the reader.
Review: Fatal Inversion is the most intelligent and satisfying murder mystery I have ever read. Everything fits. The characters are well drawn and consistent; the mood is just right; the story addictive; and the ending a pure pleasure. I particularly love the way prejudices and societal ills are neither glossed over nor elaborated upon. In all respects, the story completely smashes the theory that we all get what we deserve. In fact, only those with a conscience ever do. Ain't that just like life?
Rating: 
Summary: Painful experience
Review: First, there are only two reasons I even completed the book: I wasn't going to let a bad writer get the best of a good reader, and I didn't have much other choice for books written in English at that time. Contrary to the other reviewers' opinions, I think the characters show very little development. They remain self-centered hedonists the entire time and do the things self-centered hedonists do. Ms. Vine tried to give the novel a dark and foreboding tone, but only succeeded in suffocating the reader with a wet blanket of boredom. While she could have redeemed the book with better descriptions of the settings and changes in that, she only made half-hearted attempts to do so. I have not read any other Vine/Rendell books, but my advice is to pass this one until you've read another. I hope it is just one bad book amongst some good ones.
Rating:
Summary: Dance To The Music Of Time
Review: The ephemeral bygone quality of Ms. Vine's characters during their summer long idyll at Wyvis Hall reminded me of Anthony Powell's dream-like but objective viewings. The author toys with us in this complex novel. The reader spends two-thirds of the book not mulling over what has happened, but what is going to happen.New owners of beautiful Wyvis Hall uncover human bones in the pet cemetery on the grounds of the estate. This sets in motion events which have been hidden for the past eleven years. The story goes back and forth from the present to the fateful summer of 1976. The tale is told from the viewpoints of Adam, Rufus and Shiva. Adam earns his father's undying enmity by inheriting his great-uncle's estate Wyvis Hall when he is 19. Adam with casual friend, Rufus drives down from London just intending to have a look at the property and going on for holidays in Greece. The estate works its magic on the young men and their stay extends to the entire summer. They sell off items in the house to keep themselves in money, drink quantities of wine, laze about and keep the world at bay. The party enlarges to include Zosie, a fey childlike homeless girl, Shiva, a highly proper Indian and his companion, the mystic Vivienne. The reader knows something is going to happen this summer because of the prologue when the bones are discovered. But what? We know the event has had a profound effect upon Adam and Shiva that has entirely changed their lives. Rufus seems to have escaped unscathed and is living according to his original plan. None of the characters are particularly likable, let alone lovable. We don't connect with them, but do feel this terrible unease as the tale unfolds. The buildup is masterful, the horror is cataclysmic and the epilogue is chilling. Contrary to a few of the reviews posted here, this book does not have a "happy" ending at all. Ms. Vine/Rendell deserves all the prizes she received for this craftily constructed novel. Some of the issues touched upon are profound; yet we are never allowed to be sidetracked into a case of the existential vapors. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Dance To The Music Of Time
Review: The ephemeral bygone quality of Ms. Vine's characters during their summer long idyll at Wyvis Hall reminded me of Anthony Powell's dream-like but objective viewings. The author toys with us in this complex novel. The reader spends two-thirds of the book not mulling over what has happened, but what is going to happen. New owners of beautiful Wyvis Hall uncover human bones in the pet cemetery on the grounds of the estate. This sets in motion events which have been hidden for the past eleven years. The story goes back and forth from the present to the fateful summer of 1976. The tale is told from the viewpoints of Adam, Rufus and Shiva. Adam earns his father's undying enmity by inheriting his great-uncle's estate Wyvis Hall when he is 19. Adam with casual friend, Rufus drives down from London just intending to have a look at the property and going on for holidays in Greece. The estate works its magic on the young men and their stay extends to the entire summer. They sell off items in the house to keep themselves in money, drink quantities of wine, laze about and keep the world at bay. The party enlarges to include Zosie, a fey childlike homeless girl, Shiva, a highly proper Indian and his companion, the mystic Vivienne. The reader knows something is going to happen this summer because of the prologue when the bones are discovered. But what? We know the event has had a profound effect upon Adam and Shiva that has entirely changed their lives. Rufus seems to have escaped unscathed and is living according to his original plan. None of the characters are particularly likable, let alone lovable. We don't connect with them, but do feel this terrible unease as the tale unfolds. The buildup is masterful, the horror is cataclysmic and the epilogue is chilling. Contrary to a few of the reviews posted here, this book does not have a "happy" ending at all. Ms. Vine/Rendell deserves all the prizes she received for this craftily constructed novel. Some of the issues touched upon are profound; yet we are never allowed to be sidetracked into a case of the existential vapors. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This is another excellent book from Ruth Rendell...the plot creeps along like a wounded shadow, unsettling the reader as ONLY Rendell can. The characters are developed very well, quirks and all. The writing is brilliant, and Rendell manages not just to make Wyvis Hall a brooding force over the novel, but almost a character all in itself. the book is mysterious, suspenseful, beautifull written, with a powerful narrative drive, and with some really great twists along the way which challenge all our assumptions about what we have read. The final chapter is positively chilling.
Rating:
Summary: Painful experience
Review: This is the first Barbara Vine book I've read and I really enjoyed it. I found the first couple of chapters hard to get through, but I'm so glad I did stick with it. Vine does a good job of going back and forth between the present and the past, though occasionally I had to reread a little bit to fully stay on track. The end certainly had a wonderfully suspenseful twist that leaves a person wanting more.
Rating: 
Summary: WOW...powerful ending and wonderful story-telling
Review: This is the first Barbara Vine book I've read and I really enjoyed it. I found the first couple of chapters hard to get through, but I'm so glad I did stick with it. Vine does a good job of going back and forth between the present and the past, though occasionally I had to reread a little bit to fully stay on track. The end certainly had a wonderfully suspenseful twist that leaves a person wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: A mystery that keeps you guessing
Review: Unless you are aware that the book itself IS a mystery, and read the crucial 2 questions on the backof the book and continually remind yourself of them, the first 3 quarters of the book seem like theyre heading in the direction you want and expect them to...but if youre not alert and pondering, the end will grab you like a string...the persn you don't expect, the person who is accused of killing the person who you didnt expect...its all baffling for a traditional mystery, but it even has a happy ending to go along with it!
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