"The Monster in the Box" is an English psychological murder mystery staring Inspector Wexford. Inspector Wexford is lots different from the American detectives in other books that I've been reading lately. His main technique is to ask suspects and witnesses lots and lots of questions and then ponder their answers. This is not to say the book is boring. It is very interesting. The emphasis is not on the action, its on the characters and their motivations, background, and character.

This book has a serial murderer who Wexford thinks may have been killing or 30 years or more. The book involves a possible honor killing, an escaped pet lion, familial coverups, and lots and lots of questions.

Inspector Wexford is totally unlike some of the American detectives in fiction. He seems to have a stable home life, doesn't drink to excess and he manages his business without getting into a fist fights or a gun battles or seducing the principal suspect. Somehow, he is an interesting guy anyway.

I found the book quite compelling. It is the 22nd Inspector Wexford novel. I'll be reading more. ( )

Excellent Wexford and Burden story. Reflects back upon Wexford's young adult life as a new policeman and early love life. Comments upon the many changes since then which leads one to do the same. There are two different yet similar cases - Wexford's belief that a man has killed several people, the first victim in his first case, and Hannah Goldman's belief that an immigrant family is conspiring in a forced marriage of their 16-year old daughter. Both cases initially lack hard evidence and in the end are unexpected connected. A great read. ( )

Everything Ruth Rendell writes is magical, and her latest, The Monster in the Box, is no exception. We're back with Chief Detective Inspector Wexford again, but this time he's reminded of the deep past, back when he was a young police officer and a young woman was strangled in her own home. Wexford became convinced then, and remains convinced now, that a particular man was responsible, but he had no proof. Over the years, he lays several other murders at this man's door, but again can never prove anything. When the man shows up in Kingsmarkham again, after many years away, Wexford can only watch and wait, and hope that he can catch the man out before there's another death....Marvelous writing as always with Rendell, and some interesting musings on "culture clashes" in a multicultural society - recommended! ( )