The Chimney Sweeper's Boy

Rating:
Summary: Readable but relatively uninteresting
Review: Vine's characters are almost all unlikeable and their problems are delivered in a way that's ridiculously obvious. This prevents any depth -- and thus any sympathy. More importantly, the "mystery" of the book is not only anticlimactic but absurd. If anything led up to it, I would be more forgiving. But it seems as if Vine needed a neat way to wrap it up and used the first thing that popped into her head.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Vine's novels usually leave me breathless with admiration, but I found this positively tame compared to most of her earlier work. The basis of the plot (biographical research uncovering a mystery) is intriguing, and as usual the characters are fascinating enough (though not overly so this time), but the story develops slowly, and above all clumsily, the nature of the final revelation being a far cry from most of her flawless closing downs. The ending came as no huge surprise to me either, which is most unusual for Vine, being a mistress of skillful deception. There are a few nice touches though, particularly 'the game'. Worth reading if primarily for the marvellous literary style and narrative on display.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Offering by Barbara Vine
Review: When Ruth Rendell writes as Barbara Vine, she truly writes with a different voice. As Barbara Vine, her books are denser, deeper psychological thrillers that may or may not have anything to do with crime proper. In The Chimney Sweeper's Boy, this is much the case. It is absorbing, heart-breaking and an absolute page-turner to the very end (which is a somewhat predictable shocker). A marvelous book.

Rating:
Summary: Another from the master
Review: While the mystery of Gerald Candless' life was fairly transparent, Barbara Vine takes the reader on a ride that is smooth, assured and compelling. I am grateful that Ruth/Barbara is so prolific. She and PD James top my list of favorite mystery authors. I may have enjoyed Anna's Book and Brimstone Wedding more than this release, but Chimney Sweeper's Boy is still heads above the rest of most popular mystery fiction.