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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

THE HOUSE OF STAIRS by BARBARA VINE


I did not know that Barbara Vine was also Ruth Rendell whom I have read though this was a first from the Barbara Vine reads.

From the very onset you know that a murder has been committed, we also know the murderer. What we do not know who was murdered and in what circumstances. It is very slowly unravelled. You know that all the other characters in the book, page by page, know about the murder, and all the details everyone knows except you the reader.

I began to build up the circumstances under which the murder took place but I could'nt figure out the
who till very very late in the story and this was the interesting bit. The story was descriptive - of places, people and surroundings so that you felt very much as if you were part of the scene throughout.  The book has been described as a psychological thriller. I would add suspense as well. You almost never know what is going to happen till the end.

10 comments:

  1. I really like the way this book seems to roll out. The cover is very cool as well.

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  2. Hello Mystica, I had no idea that Ruth Rendell wrote under another name. I love a good mystery.
    X

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  3. I've read some Ruth Rendell, but I also didn't know she was Barbara Vine. And I've read a lot of mysteries, but never one in which the murderer is known and the victim is not! That's very cool. I'll look for this in the library tomorrow.

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  4. Sounds very intriguing, Mystica. I've been so negligent in my appreciation of Ruth Rendell aka Barbara Vine. Haven't read any of her work in many, many years if I ever did. I can't quite remember. But I'm pretty sure I must have.

    At any rate, I'm adding this title to my list. I like the unique idea of not knowing who the victim was.

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  5. This sounds suspenseful.....I'm always so impressed with how many books you read I need to start making more time for this...Have wonderful weekend!

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  6. I didn't know Ruth Rendell wrote under a pen name either. This sounds interesting.

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  7. oh it sounds so interesting!!

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  8. I hope you win-I just read The Rose Garden and adored it.

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  9. Thanks so much for coming over and saying "hi"! Looks like you are quite the reader. I used to always have a book that I was reading when life was a little less busy for me. I do miss it. Reading is so important. In ministry here in Colorado we have met many that have not had the blessing of knowing how to read.

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  10. I love Barbara Vine's atmospheric novels. I don't think I've read this one but I've read quite a few.

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