Road Rage

Non gli appioppo un bell'1 solo perchè lo riservo alle cose totalmente illeggibili. Ma questo libro è decisamente mediocre. Forse la storia ci potrebbe stare, ma raccontata così non ha la minima tensione. Per la gran parte è narrata in via indiretta, cioè un ostaggio torna dalla prigionia e racconta alla polizia (dialoghi infiniti). Si arriva all'assurdo che viene sottoposta a ipnosi e pure quella racconta in differita, al marito ispettore in quel momento altrove impegnato... La soluzione è banale, molto politically correct.
La Rendall è una giallista di fama, e l'altro che ho letto - La morta non sa leggere - era molto interessante. Questo è a dir poco dilettantesco.

This is a particularly compelling offering from Ruth Rendell: I stayed up way too late to find out what would happen. The story focusses on protests against the government's plan to build a highway right through the woods near Chief Inspector Wexford's town; the protests very quickly turn very nasty. I won't say how, since the unfolding of plot is one of the chief delights in reading a Rendell. This one is particularly engrossing, and the ending is both unexpected and completely convincing. ( )

When this was written, environmental protests on the scene of major roadbuilding schemes were headline news in the UK. Rendell has taken a topical theme and turned it into a good murder mystery (impressive twist - I didn't guess it) as well as indulging her penchant for outlandish character names. Very readable, and one of the best Wexfords IMO. ( )

Thriller/murder mystery - there is an environmentalist sit-in style protest going on about a motorway development. Some people disappear, and turn out to have been taken as hostages. There are some deaths before the kidnappers are traced. There was some interesting stuff about Wexford, his family and colleagues, but I wasn't grabbed by the plot somehow. I feel I should have been, but somehow I wasn't. ( )

The publishers blurb says that Ruth Rendell is "one of the greatest novelists presently at work in our language". This must explain why I found this copy in a charity op shop at 10 cents. Probably a true reflection of the books literary value. A very weak and predictable plot - hardly a thriller. It is on the list of books to dispose off if I have storage problems. ( )