I needed a gripping book for a bus ride. This Rendell jumped out at me. Perfect! As I neared the city I read faster and faster, trying to find out more before I had to disembark. I finished it over the next couple days, neglecting housework to do it (though I don’t need much excuse). I’m not giving too much away by saying the baddies get caught and it all finishes neatly, well except for the dead people. Lovely, I can’t stand being left hanging at the end of my quick reads. This was one in the Wexford series, for thiose for whom that means something.
Racism, or more precisely the subtle racist behaviours of non-racists, was a key themes throughout. I found this a little laboured. Surely that’s a positive sign that we, as a society, have moved forward a bit on this issue in the 15 years since the book was written…
Definitely worth the read (Chapter Two’s Nick has taken my advice; I actually read it first, he just put it on the computer before me).

Filed under: Kate's list by kate