Death Notes

Rating:
Summary: A problem with tempo
Review: A routine, throw-away tale bearing all the hallmarks of an author who feels comfortable enough to just keep churning 'em out. One example: the Wexfords, in California, telephone home and reference is made to the time difference, remarking that the UK is 8 hours behind California. It should of course be the other way round! This mistake is repeated several times. In a mystery, everything can be a clue and this is just the sort of thing a reader will take note of. Well, the reader needn't bother -- the author didn't.

Rating:
Summary: A problem with tempo
Review: A routine, throw-away tale bearing all the hallmarks of an author who feels comfortable enough to just keep churning 'em out. One example: the Wexfords, in California, telephone home and reference is made to the time difference, remarking that the UK is 8 hours behind California. It should of course be the other way round! This mistake is repeated several times. In a mystery, everything can be a clue and this is just the sort of thing a reader will take note of. Well, the reader needn't bother -- the author didn't.

Rating:
Summary: An engrossing page turner of monumental proportions
Review: I USUALLY DON'T FOLLOW EVEN MODERATELY COMPLICATED PLOTS, BUT IN THIS BOOK I SEEM TO HAVE DONE SO. BRAVO FOR HER ABILITY TO COMPLICATE YET SIMPLIFY. THIS IS RARE ANYWHERE. A MODERN MYSTERY THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE VERY GOOD. RARE TOO, THAT.

Rating:
Summary: Rendell Deserves an Encore!
Review: Inspector Wexford finds that this is one of his most challenging cases. In "Death Notes," he is called to investigate the death of noted musician Sir Manuel Camarque, whose body has been found floating in the lake near his country house. Naturally, everyone wants it ruled "accidental death," but Wexford senses that something, indeed, is not right. Two suspects come immediately to his mind: the aging victim's young fiance and the other his daughter! Both, indeed, have struck discordant tones and the harmony of the of the work is most out of tune! Ruth Rendell, however, doesn't keep the investigation in Kingsmarkham for this one, as California and the south of France also play geographical roles as well. No matter. Rendell is at home whereever her setting and "Death Notes" is well-written and easily captures the reader's attention. Rendell is a master of the police procedural and with her indomitable inspector, this episode in a long running series is right on key! ([e-mail])

Rating:
Summary: Rendell Deserves an Encore!
Review: Inspector Wexford finds that this is one of his most challenging cases. In "Death Notes," he is called to investigate the death of noted musician Sir Manuel Camarque, whose body has been found floating in the lake near his country house. Naturally, everyone wants it ruled "accidental death," but Wexford senses that something, indeed, is not right. Two suspects come immediately to his mind: the aging victim's young fiance and the other his daughter! Both, indeed, have struck discordant tones and the harmony of the of the work is most out of tune! Ruth Rendell, however, doesn't keep the investigation in Kingsmarkham for this one, as California and the south of France also play geographical roles as well. No matter. Rendell is at home whereever her setting and "Death Notes" is well-written and easily captures the reader's attention. Rendell is a master of the police procedural and with her indomitable inspector, this episode in a long running series is right on key! ([e-mail])

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, but ultimately forgettable
Review: Sir Manuel Camargue is found dead in the lake near his estate. Is it an accident, or is it murder? Mix in a too-young fiancee, Inspector Wexford, a daughter who may not be a daughter, and a trip to the south of France and you have another very readable Rendell. Very typical for her work, never getting far from the mold-- I find that her best books are the ones that deviate in some way from the typical Wexford mysteries.

Rating:
Summary: Still very fine, but not great...
Review: This is still a fine, engaging mystery, but to be honest Put on By Cunning does lack the special little ingredient that marks out Rendell's best Wexford stories. Wexford himself doesn't seem quite as sharp, not quite such a presence, and there is nothing in this book that really makes it stand out as unique among her work, although as I say it is still a fine enough mystery and better than most books on the market today. I certainly don't think it could be much longer than it is (which is not something you could say of msot of her work - most of them beg to be lengthier, and the reader desperately wishes they were so, to prolong the experience. Wisely, though, Rendell keeps them at the length which is necessary) as it is not as hugely interesting as some of her books.

It tells the story of the investigation into the death of renowned flautist Sir Manuel Camargue, who is found dead in a snow-drift having ventured outside his house during the night. At first it seems a straightforward case of death by misadventure; a nice easy case for Wexford to tie up. However, Wexford has his niggling doubts, which are strengthened by the return of Camargue's estranged daughter, now his heiress, after a considerable absence of 19 years.

As I say, Put on By Cunning is a fine enough novel by any standard, but just not quite as engaging or special or interesting as Rendell's novels usually are. Certainly not the one to start with. This probably requires an already healthy appreciation of the series.