The best-selling author of Harm Done and A Sight for Sore Eyes, Ruth Rendell has written dozens of gripping works under her own name and as Barbara Vine. She has received three Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America and four Dagger Awards from England's Crime Writers Association. How frightening can a book be? Ambrose Ribbon, self-appointed editor and grammar police, is about to find out. He has spent years pointing out mistakes to writers and their publishers. So when he picks up the latest supernatural thriller from a best-selling author, its typos and lapses of logic are no surprise. Its story, however, slyly begins to poison Ribbon's life. Piranha to Scurfy is just the first story in this collection of nine gems from the grand mistress of suspense. Jenny Sterlin's finely crafted narration highlights the richness of each character and the subtle psychological shifts.
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"The best thing about this book is the last story, "High Mysterious Union", which is really more of a novella and is very reminiscent of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and just as compelling.By the way, and without giving anything away, the book title refers to an encyclopedia volume." — Marlene (4 out of 5 stars)
"The best thing about this book is the last story, "High Mysterious Union", which is really more of a novella and is very reminiscent of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and just as compelling.By the way, and without giving anything away, the book title refers to an encyclopedia volume."
" Enjoyable collection of short stories. The title story is the best - very strange! "
" a quick read, interesting stories, as it says on the catalog page - psychological fiction "
" Sunday, 26 October: I purchased this book of short mysteries for summer reading and I just began reading it today. "
" Compared to rendell's full stories, this collection of short stories was not representative of her best writing. "
" I liked these short stories an they made a change from the usual Inspector Wexford series. I particularly liked the story relating to the title of the book which is quite unusual but you read the story it makes far more sense. "
" Rather Poe-esque collection of short stories. "
" Best was the last story. It was about a isolated town in England and reminding me somewhat of the movie "The Village." Although Ruth Rendell writes suspense and mysteries, the first story (a tell-tale heart homage) and the last are the only two in that catagory. "
" A collection of short stories, the last being my favorite, written in an Alfred Hitchcockesque voice. Loved it. "
" heard this on CD, absolutely loved it. Stately, indirect, scary, mysterious, worrisome stories by the master, er, mistress. "
" Depressing stories about miserable people. They did not strike me as particularly creepy. "
" This is one of Ruth Rendell's best short story collections. Lots of memorable little gems here. "
" Not as good as The Fallen Curtain; this volume is boring and not worthy of being regarded as mystery nor thriller. Better off called short stories, and even then, few of the stories managed to hold my attention. "
" The title story was great but the rest were predictable and depressing. If you're view of life is that the negative thing is bound to happen and good is only in your imagination, and all people are too weak to tell the truth, this is the book for you! "
Ruth 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.
Jenny Sterlin, winner of several Earphones Awards, has more than ninety audio titles to her credit, including Laurie R. King’s popular Sherlock Holmes / Mary Russell series. Before beginning her narration career, she helped found England’s experimental Living Theatre.
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