From Doon With Death: A Wexford Case - 50th Anniversary Edition (Wexford, 1)

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I dislike detective series, I find it to be lazy writing more often than not and generally stay away from them. The husband describes their banal marriage and life, full of routine and absent of extravagances, as proof that her being missing is a big concern.

The home life is completely absent and the character is not given to quoting Shakespeare or other classics. I was a little less fond of the use of a trap which is used to prove a case – something that I think is usually pretty uninventive and underwhelming in these sorts of stories. Next time you meet someone who seems without a single redeeming feature, muse upon what might be found out about them during a murder investigation!Although the identity of the victim's lover "Doon" would not be much of a surprise to the 21st century reader, at the time of its release it was considered ground-breaking and daring, and this novel immediately garnered Rendell international critical attention.

Parsons led an extremely uneventful life, being a lay preacher, but Inspector Wexford is intrigued when he is looking through her belongings and fine a number of expensive antique books all inscribed 'From Doon to Minna'. The humanity of Wexford shows not only his impatience when his time is wasted but also his compassion while still following the letter of the law. As it becomes clear that there is indeed foul play, of course we find that this ordinary housewife had a more interesting history than initially suspected. Here’s the big thing that came out of my reading this book: The afterword in the edition I read discusses Rendell’s attitude toward the Shocking Content and how it is in line with what was believed to be Right and True at the time the book was written.If you’re worried about spoilers, just stop reading this review now and give it a few months before you decide to read the first of Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexford mysteries. Ruth Rendell’s references to Victorian poetry of love’s longing plays well considering the grief-stricken husband who’s lost his wife.

This was written in 1964 and my dad would have been 43 and Wexford was 52 so they were close in age.Since this was the initial novel featuring Inspector Wexford, I suspect that as her series expanded, her detective grew more interesting to readers.