Author: Ruth Rendell
Genre: British Detectives
Status: Read
Presence of Cats: A brief appearance by a ginger named Ginger (very creative...)
Butterball Says:
As I recall, it was a mere one year ago when I lamented the fact that I had gone so very long in life without ever having read the words of one of Britain's finest mistresses of mystery. Ruth Rendell represents quality writing and intriguing plots, the likes of which this cat has not seen since Agatha Christie.
A Guilty Thing Surprised is not the first Inspector Wexford Mystery, and though I have not read any other books in this series, I did not feel this fact hampered my enjoyment in the least.
Because the setting is a manor house in England's green and pleasant land, one is immediately transported to the time of Agatha Christie's writings. Thus, it feels oddly anachronistic when the servants are reportedly listening to The Beatles and stacking the dishwasher.
The copyright date on this book reads 1970, which leads one to believe it is set in perhaps the late sixties: a time of change, when the older generation believes they have betters, and the younger generation believes they can one day become their betters. And perhaps they are correct.When the lady of the house is murdered in the woods, suspicion falls upon the usual suspects: the husband, the family, the servants. Motives abound. Whether she was murdered for love or money, there is no short supply of characters who might have wielded the weapon.
There are hints of piquancy and salacious goings-on behind the scenes, but I must say the resolution is salacious in the extreme! From the very first pages, I thought things were perhaps heading in a direction KitKat would most enjoy. Was I correct in this assumption? Ah, that would be telling!
For now, I'll only say that I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in the world of Inspector Wexford, and I hope to visit again very soon. Highly recommended for lovers of Agatha Christie's masterful works!
