A New Lease of Death: An Inspector Wexford Mystery Audiobook (Unabridged)

" The second of the Wexford series, I believe. Literary pretensions aside, there is much to recommend here, but what is it with Rendell and her Ophelia-esque ingenues? I sure hope she grows out of this tendency in time. . . . "

" Just what I want in a mystery. "

" More of a psychological thriller than a mystery. And Inspector Wexford wasn't really even in it that much! But it's still a compelling story about a 15-year-old murder case. Was the right man hung for the crime? "

" The 2nd in an incredible series - what a story teller!!! "

" Not very interesting or remarkable. Indeed I can hardly remember it. "

" It was rather a slow start, but once I got in to it, I really enjoyed the book. "

" An early inspector Wexford book with not much of Wexford in it. "

" Clunkiest of the Wexford novels. Maybe it gets better, but I set it aside after about 100 pages. "

" Some of the important plot elements of this book will not ring true to anyone under 60 as the world changed dramatically just as this book was published in 1967. If you can set your mind to the early 1960's (1967 is probably a couple years too late) you will enjoy the puzzle. "

" Early Rendell/Wexford. Interesting. Worth the read. "

" agree with other reviewers who found the emphasis on the vicar -- telling the story mainly thru his viewpoint, rather than Wexford's -- to be less enjoyable than a typical Wexford book. Rendell still writes circles around most other mystery writers, however. "

" An odd Wexford tale in that most of the detecting is done by a vicar with assistence from his son and discussions with Wexford/Burden et al. In the TV version the vicar had a briefer presence and the detecting was handed to Mike Burden who, naturally, got much of it wrong. Fun to read. "

" An interesting cold case, that kept me guessing, and being wrong each time. A very well done story and interesting ending. I enjoy the style of writing by most English mystery authors. "

" An odd little mystery: implausible, predictable, yet strangely compelling and with some moments of real originality and depth. "

" picked it up at the Scottsville Library, well it's a first. It's #2 for Wexford. 1969. Rendell has been writing for some time. "

" Better than "A Speaker of Mandarin" -- this had good scenes, better characters, and a more interesting story. Somehow it seemed to lose a little steam in the denouement, though. A good read, but couldn't quite find a fourth star in it. "

" Written in the 1960s, it is a simpler mystery format, where the surprise outcome turns on the understanding of a single phrase. The central premise of the story reflects an acceptance of early 20th century social mores that would now appear hugely outdated. "

" Slightly disappointed with this one. Not nearly enough Wexford. "

" Absolutely stunning -- just what I look for in a mystery. Leaner and more direct than some of he later books, but still rich with character and psychology and intersecting lives. "

" An Inspector Wexford mystery in which he plays a secondary role. A clergyman tries to show that a man executed for murder was not guilty, so his son can marry the convicted man's daughter. "

" Now I have to decide between reading the rest as audio, so I get to hear the accents, or on paper, so I can go faster. Hmmm. "

" A bit disappointing after the Barbara Vine book. Inspector Wexford was a peripheral character, the main being a rather annoying vicar. "

" The second of the Wexford series, I believe. Literary pretensions aside, there is much to recommend here, but what is it with Rendell and her Ophelia-esque ingenues? I sure hope she grows out of this tendency in time. . . . "

" Enjoying reading Rendell’s Wexford books in order. This one focuses much more on Burden than on Wexford. "

" Formerly released as A New Lease of Death. Listened to audio book. "

" An odd little mystery: implausible, predictable, yet strangely compelling and with some moments of real originality and depth. "

" This is the second novel in the Inspector Wexford mystery series. It's slow moving, but full of interesting twists and turns. As always with Ruth Rendell, she does great character development ... they truly become alive to the reader. Anita "

" Not very interesting or remarkable. Indeed I can hardly remember it. "

" It was rather a slow start, but once I got in to it, I really enjoyed the book. "

" Early Rendell/Wexford. Interesting. Worth the read. "

" Better than "A Speaker of Mandarin" -- this had good scenes, better characters, and a more interesting story. Somehow it seemed to lose a little steam in the denouement, though. A good read, but couldn't quite find a fourth star in it. "

" An early Inspector Wexford mystery where Wexford appears only in a supporting role. Not as accomplished in terms of craft as Rendell's later work, but the tale of the mystery that unfolds is first rate. "