Named as a life peer in the House of Lords in 1997, Ruth Rendell is also a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master and the winner of three Edgars and four Golden Dagger Awards. Her Inspector Wexford mysteries thrill audiences around the globe with their complex plots and nuanced characters. As a favor to his wife, Inspector Wexford agrees to investigate the case of a missing husband. After gathering evidence, Wexford seems pretty certain that Joy Williams' husband simply ran off with a younger woman. But when Rodney Williams is found stabbed to death, Wexford does a little more digging. It seems that the murder is tied to a militant feminist group working in the area. They call themselves the Arria and they've taken the raven as their symbol.
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"For a good mystery, you can't go wrong with Rendell. The fun part is figuring out what the twist is; everything is laid out for you! Good training for thinking 'outside the box'. A man leading a double life is murdered, but which family to concentrate on? And what about the girlfriend? "
— Mary (4 out of 5 stars)
" I will be reading more Inspector Wexford mysteries. This was a good read, though a bit harsh on feminism. "
— Jay, 2/20/2014" Detective story with a few twists. Lots of literary references that went over my head, not being a real Brit Lit pro. I liked it, though, "
— Pattyb, 2/20/2014" I was somewhat enjoying it until the end when it got disgusting and creepy. Ugh. "
— Erin, 2/18/2014" This book was a quick read, and well-written, but I was a bit turned off by the "scary feminists" who were the main suspects. The book jacket and title emphasize the connection to ravens, but the actual logo of this group was a raven with a human face--in other words, a harpy. I may have been reading too much into this, but I couldn't help feeling like the story and characterizations of the novel were an attack on feminism. Boo. "
— Janice, 2/15/2014" This was a good read and I didn't predict the murderer, but I did suss out the essential plot element long before Wexford did - then maybe we are supposed to guess that. Characters were interesting, but I found the whole raven angle a bit dated and over-the-top - in fact, I'm not sure feminists were EVER really quite that rabid. It did make a good story however and the contrast of the two mothers' characters was interesting and effective. Poor old bald Rodney... "
— Sara, 2/15/2014" I will be reading more Inspector Wexford mysteries. This was a good read, though a bit harsh on feminism. "
— Jay, 2/14/2014" I have yet to read a poor Ruth Rendell mystery. in fact I have enjoyed reading them all. Not all at once but over the years. "
— Lili, 2/14/2014" kind of forgettable as far as the Wexfords go, but I continue to love this series and hope I never run out of Wexfords to read! "
— YiShun, 2/11/2014" I enjoyed the writing and most of the story but the ending was a little too convoluted. "
— Diane, 2/8/2014" I re-read this after many years. It was first published in the mid-1980s. Some of the attitudes now appear quite dated, but still a good story. "
— Kathleen, 2/5/2014" Gosto bastante de Ruth Rendell, mas ela tem livros melhores do que este. No entanto, foi um livro que li bem. "
— ClaudiaR, 2/3/2014" The ending twist is very nicely done to allow the reader to figure out just soon enough to feel slightly smug, but not soon enough to ruin things. "
— Rachel, 2/1/2014" I started with this book and then read all the Adam Dalgliesch books. I still remember them the most fondly. If you like someone like Stephanie Plum do NOT read this book. "
— Kay, 2/1/2014" This book was a quick read, and well-written, but I was a bit turned off by the "scary feminists" who were the main suspects. The book jacket and title emphasize the connection to ravens, but the actual logo of this group was a raven with a human face--in other words, a harpy. I may have been reading too much into this, but I couldn't help feeling like the story and characterizations of the novel were an attack on feminism. Boo. "
— Janice, 1/30/2014" This was my first Ruth Rendell writing as Ruth Rendell book, but I've previously read several of her Barbara Vine books. An Unkindness of Ravens was a standard police procedural, featuring a bunch of characters who are apparently regulars, including the main detective, Chief Inspector Wexford. The Barbara Vine books are more dark, psychological thrillers. I think I prefer those, but this was an entertaining mystery nonetheless. The plot involves a husband who's vanished and a group of militant feminists (really!). It was written in 1985, and a typewritten note / typewriter is one of the clues, so there was a somewhat amusing discussion of the idiosyncrasies of typewriters. "
— Theryn, 1/22/2014" I've read excellent books by Ruth Rendell, but this isn't one of them. It was even too annoying to be a good airplane book, which is unfortunate since I had it with me on two long flights. The murder mystery might have been quite intriguing if (a) Chief Inspector Wexford were not such an insufferable prig, and (b) key interviews weren't concealed until the resolution. "
— Sharon, 1/21/2014" Another terrific Inspector Wexford book. "
— Ellen, 1/19/2014" The absurd, insulting ending to this book completely mitigates the decent novel that came before. I would not recommend this book to anyone. "
— Liz, 1/18/2014" Interesting social commentary of a sort, tossed in with the mystery. "
— Margie, 1/17/2014" A rare misstep for Ms. Rendell. "
— Kate, 1/14/2014" ok, interesting in parts, but predictable. "
— Leslie, 1/11/2014" A rare misstep for Ms. Rendell. "
— Kate, 1/4/2014" I have yet to read a poor Ruth Rendell mystery. in fact I have enjoyed reading them all. Not all at once but over the years. "
— Lili, 12/22/2013" For a good mystery, you can't go wrong with Rendell. The fun part is figuring out what the twist is; everything is laid out for you! Good training for thinking 'outside the box'. A man leading a double life is murdered, but which family to concentrate on? And what about the girlfriend? "
— Mary, 12/7/2013" Completely didn't see the ending coming. Quite clever. "
— Patty, 12/5/2013" Never knew that a group of ravens was called an "unkindness". "
— Bob, 12/2/2013" Um enredo perturbante! "
— Babete, 12/2/2013" Way too dated. Wish I had read it in 1985. "
— Sandra, 11/22/2013" Kept me guessing. I like a mystery that does that. Didn't figure it out until I was 2/3 of the way through the book. "
— Carmen, 11/14/2013" Detective story with a few twists. Lots of literary references that went over my head, not being a real Brit Lit pro. I liked it, though, "
— Pattyb, 9/22/2013" Um enredo perturbante! "
— Babete, 9/17/2013" Rodney Williams's disappearance seems typical to Chief Inspector Wexford -- a simple case of a man running off with a woman other than his wife. But when another woman reports that her husband is missing, the case turns unpleasantly complex. "
— Eddy, 9/2/2013" I like Ruth Rendell, I do. I enjoy reading her writing as she writes very well, but I find her books to be disconcertingly unemotional, and in particular in this book the characters are not very likeable and the plot less than exciting. "
— Manda, 7/17/2013" kind of forgettable as far as the Wexfords go, but I continue to love this series and hope I never run out of Wexfords to read! "
— YiShun, 7/16/2013" Completely didn't see the ending coming. Quite clever. "
— Patty, 6/4/2013" For a good mystery, you can't go wrong with Rendell. The fun part is figuring out what the twist is; everything is laid out for you! Good training for thinking 'outside the box'. A man leading a double life is murdered, but which family to concentrate on? And what about the girlfriend? "
— Mary, 6/3/2013" Ruth Rendell writes nice English mysteries and this is one of them. Apparently a flock of ravens is called an "unkindness". "
— Robert, 5/4/2013" I know this woman is a legend in Britain, but this book didn't stand the test of time for me. It's about bigamy, and incest. Or is it? Sub-plot of Burden's wife going nuts expecting birth of a female child. Writing a bit convoluted for me. Plot interesting, of course. "
— Rosina, 3/30/2013" I know this woman is a legend in Britain, but this book didn't stand the test of time for me. It's about bigamy, and incest. Or is it? Sub-plot of Burden's wife going nuts expecting birth of a female child. Writing a bit convoluted for me. Plot interesting, of course. "
— Rosina, 2/26/2013" Ruth Rendell writes nice English mysteries and this is one of them. Apparently a flock of ravens is called an "unkindness". "
— Robert, 1/1/2013" ok, interesting in parts, but predictable. "
— Leslie, 11/20/2012" In general okay read. It takes some interesting turns, but overall suffers from a completely predictable plot. "
— Karen, 10/31/2012" This is the first of her Inspector Wexford stories I have read. I thought it was an intelligent, literate, and entertaining story. "
— Don, 9/14/2012" Gosto bastante de Ruth Rendell, mas ela tem livros melhores do que este. No entanto, foi um livro que li bem. "
— ClaudiaR, 7/6/2012" This is one of the Inspector Wexford series and it's very good. "
— Lynn, 6/28/2012" Inspector Wexford series - He is chief detective inspector in England and a bigamist is killed and the two wives are suspects. "
— Peter, 6/21/2012" I was somewhat enjoying it until the end when it got disgusting and creepy. Ugh. "
— Erin, 2/24/2012" I enjoyed the writing and most of the story but the ending was a little too convoluted. "
— Diane, 2/1/2012" kind of forgettable as far as the Wexfords go, but I continue to love this series and hope I never run out of Wexfords to read! "
— YiShun, 10/20/2011" This is one of the Inspector Wexford series and it's very good. "
— Lynn, 10/8/2011" I like Ruth Rendell, I do. I enjoy reading her writing as she writes very well, but I find her books to be disconcertingly unemotional, and in particular in this book the characters are not very likeable and the plot less than exciting. "
— Manda, 6/18/2011" The ending twist is very nicely done to allow the reader to figure out just soon enough to feel slightly smug, but not soon enough to ruin things. "
— Rachel, 6/3/2011" ok, interesting in parts, but predictable. "
— Leslie, 5/1/2011" ok, interesting in parts, but predictable. "
— Leslie, 5/1/2011" I like Ruth Rendell, I do. I enjoy reading her writing as she writes very well, but I find her books to be disconcertingly unemotional, and in particular in this book the characters are not very likeable and the plot less than exciting. "
— Manda, 2/25/2011" I like Ruth Rendell, I do. I enjoy reading her writing as she writes very well, but I find her books to be disconcertingly unemotional, and in particular in this book the characters are not very likeable and the plot less than exciting. "
— Manda, 2/25/2011" Detective story with a few twists. Lots of literary references that went over my head, not being a real Brit Lit pro. I liked it, though, "
— Pattyb, 1/28/2011" Detective story with a few twists. Lots of literary references that went over my head, not being a real Brit Lit pro. I liked it, though, "
— Pattyb, 1/28/2011" Another terrific Inspector Wexford book. "
— Ellen, 1/11/2011" The ending twist is very nicely done to allow the reader to figure out just soon enough to feel slightly smug, but not soon enough to ruin things. "
— Rachel, 6/28/2010" The ending twist is very nicely done to allow the reader to figure out just soon enough to feel slightly smug, but not soon enough to ruin things. "
— Rachel, 6/28/2010" For a good mystery, you can't go wrong with Rendell. The fun part is figuring out what the twist is; everything is laid out for you! Good training for thinking 'outside the box'. A man leading a double life is murdered, but which family to concentrate on? And what about the girlfriend? "
— Mary, 1/1/2010" Never knew that a group of ravens was called an "unkindness". "
— Bob, 12/9/2009" Never knew that a group of ravens was called an "unkindness". "
— Bob, 12/9/2009" I started with this book and then read all the Adam Dalgliesch books. I still remember them the most fondly. If you like someone like Stephanie Plum do NOT read this book. "
— Kay, 6/17/2009" A rare misstep for Ms. Rendell. "
— Kate, 8/12/2008" The absurd, insulting ending to this book completely mitigates the decent novel that came before. I would not recommend this book to anyone. "
— Liz, 2/3/2008Ruth Rendell (1930–2015) wrote more than sixty novels in a career spanning fifty years. She won numerous awards for her writing, including three Edgars—the highest accolade from Mystery Writers of America—as well as four Gold Daggers and a Diamond Dagger for outstanding contribution to the genre from England’s prestigious Crime Writer’s Association. She was also the winner of the MWA Grand Master Award. A longtime member of the House of Lords, she lived in London.
Davina Porter has been enthralling listeners for over twenty-five years with her ability to mine the psychological depths of the characters she reads and bring them convincingly to life. In 2006, she won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Female Narration and in 2004 for Best Inspirational Literature Narration. She has been honored as an AudioFile Golden Voice and has won nineteen AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actress, she has appeared on stage at the Vineyard Playhouse and the Square One Theater, among others.