A good read, but at the same time a bit boring. Slow, but full of suspense. Not the best Vine I have read. ( )

if you like A Spot of Bother + suspense

6.09 ( )

One of her best - about time she returned to form

Excellent psychological exploration from Barb, aka Ruth Rendell. The complex plot rolls out slowly, and there are numerous characters to keep track of. All become clearer with every detail the narrator methodically reveals. I am, however, disappointed that Vine chose to resurrect the hackneyed "sexually repressed psycho spinster librarian" stereotype. I expect better from her. Nevertheless, as absorbing and enjoyable as virtually anything she's written.

Not my favourite Barbara Vine book, this seemed to lack something compared to some of her other books. The book tells the story of an MP whose married mistress is killed in the course of staged abduction arranged for her as a birthday present. Although initially the story is not connected with him, it was quite obvious from the start that the story was going to come out at some stage, and the only real mystery was how. I also found the character of Jane a bit too overly pathologically sad, lonely and bitter. Overall, I was disappointed by this as I am usually a fan of Barbara Vine. ( )