Customer Reviews

The Babes In the Wood; A Chief Inspector Wexford Mystery

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It's raining in Kingsmarkham, blinding driving rain that is hard to see through. The kind of rain that has citizens anxiously awaiting the rise of the river with sandbags. This is the backdrop against which a baby-sitter and two teenage children disappear while the parents are on a getaway in Paris. Chief Inspector Wexford and Inspector Burden investigate the disappearances. There is no lack of motives or suspects here including a religious cult, suspicious neighbors, and an ex-husband.

I generally enjoy Ruth Rendell's Wexford series. With this one I felt I should like it rather than really liking it. I found it a bit hard to get into. The cast of secondary characters is not at all likable; I can't think of a single character that I cared about. The plot got fairly involved, but it was paced fairly well. Wexford's personal life gets quite a bit of ink and that's a good thing because he is a very interesting character. There was a very good twist at the climax. Sometimes when you are reading a series, your expectations are high. Overall, it was not as good as other Wexford books. I felt a bit let down.

"The Babes in the Wood," the latest Inspector Wexford mystery, is a welcomed addition to
the famed Ruth Rendell police procedural series set in England.

Three people have disappeared with few traces. Due to the heavy rains the area of
Kingsmarkam is literally inundated, and it is first assumed, by some, that the three, Joanna Troy,
the baby sittter, and Giles and Sophie Dade, have simply drowned. Of course, Rendell wouldn't
have it so simple and neither would her Inspector. Before long the proverbial body is found and it's
Joanna.

Now the hunt begins for Wexford. Where are the two kids (Giles 15 and Sophie 13)?

Motives for their harm abound. The scene becomes quite complex.

Rendell is simply great with her series; her combination of strong central characters
(Wexford, his family, and Mike Burden, his assistant), a riveting story line, and the usual
outstanding interplay between the characters, the plot, and setting make "Babes in the Wood" a
comfortable companion to the others in this series.

Her fans know that, barring some great literary upheaval, Wexford "will out." The murder
will be solved--this is a given. The author, like others in this genre, most notably P.D. James,
Martha Grimes, and Donna Leon, concentrates on the strength of her central character: his
wisdom and savvy, his personal and internal struggles, his depth of perception, his abilities simly to
solve the case. In addition, Rendell does not hesitate to foray into sensitive and socially significant
issues (spousal and child abuse, racism). Each of her books is an adventure alone, but as the series
progressed the complete picture of a complex and gentle man emerges.

"Babes in the Wood" joints smartly in this stellar series. Wexford, once again, triumphs.
(Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Ruth Rendell's new Inspector Wexford mystery is "The Babes in the Wood," the story of three mysterious disappearances. A babysitter, Joanna Troy, has gone missing with the two adolescents, Giles and Sophie Dade, who were in her care. The neighborhood is flooded after torrential rains and Katrina Dade, Giles's and Sophie's hysterical mother, comes to the tearful conclusion that her children have somehow drowned. Wexford is skeptical about this theory, and he begins his usual thorough investigation.

I have always liked Inspector Wexford. He is a devoted family man who adores his two adult daughters, although he is not blind to their flaws. He is bright, well-read, compassionate, bitingly funny, and tremendously intuitive. Wexford has an uncanny knack for recognizing liars. Since "The Babes in the Wood" is filled with liars, Wexford has many occasions to test his skill at separating truth from fiction.

Rendell does her usual workmanlike and competent job of setting up her complicated plot, and the characters are a varied and lively bunch. The biggest problem with this novel is that the pace is, at times, a bit static. For large portions of the book, Wexford interviews the relatives and acquaintances of the missing people. These interviews are not scintillating enough to keep the book moving at a fast clip.

However, the mystery has an unexpected and clever solution, and Wexford once again proves that he is a shrewd detective and an excellent judge of human nature. Rendell displays her marvelously mordant sense of humor and her jaded view of human nature. She is truly a misanthrope's delight. Most of the characters in "The Babes in the Wood" are selfish, disturbed, or manipulative. Although "The Babes in the Wood" is not Rendell's best work, it is entertaining enough. Devoted fans of the inimitable Inspector Wexford will find it a pleasure to observe the wheels turn as he slowly but surely gets to the bottom of a strange and perplexing case.

Ruth Rendell's latest, "The Babes in the Woods", will delight devoted readers with her usual blend of psychological insight and murder mystery. Unlike some of her earlier, lengthier works, this book moves quickly, as Chief Inspector Wexford deals with the disappearance of two local teenagers and their babysitter. On his own home front, he is puzzled and worried over his adult daughter's choice of boyfriends; this counterplot is woven seamlessly into the main plot, in prime Rendell style.

Rain and more rain falls; a deluge comes upon the area, complicating the investigation and darkening the moods of even the hardiest characters. In true British fashion, they weather the storm; the sun returns, the mystery is solved, and the reader closes the book with a satisfied sigh. "The Babes in the Woods" is a good introduction to new Rendell readers, and is highly recommended to those who already have been enjoying her skillful plotting and agile prose.

Few reading experiences are more steadfast and reliable than a Ruth Rendell novel. There's the content which is engaging and sophisticated without being difficult to pick up where you left off, or to follow. Ruth Rendell is a consummate narrator. I don't know if this is deliberate but it's even published in a size and format designed to be held and read at any moment, on the train, in a bus, airplane or waiting room.

I'm an avid reader of Ruth Rendell, except for the Detective Wexford novels, although I read From Doon With Death. Not being a fan of detective series, I wasn't interested in trying to follow the rest. But when someone handed me THE BABES IN THE WOODS I thought I would give it a try. There's no need to have read any of the previous Wexford novels to follow this one. Three people, a babysitter and her two teenage charges, go missing. The story traces Wexford and his team, their relentless and patient seach for the truth and the very curious people and situations they encounter. We are shown religious fanatics, child abuse, wife beating, alcoholism as well as a few caring, unrewarded individuals. In the background but also menacing is a unusual seasonal flooding which threatens the homes and lifestlyes of all the principal players. Rarely have I read such complete and convincing descriptions of hysterical, narrow-minded or mean-spirited human beings. There are an amazing number of threads connecting this large cast of colourful characters and each thread is clear and entertaining, leaving no confusion or frustration. The narration is so fine, that I was hooked and couldn't put it down.

I think it was Oscar Wilde who wrote in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST that "the good end happily and the bad, unhappily, that is what fiction means" as a joke. However, this is exactly why certain crime fiction is popular and and reassuring. A good story is what I'm looking for and Ruth Rendell always delivers.

I ran across "The Babes in the Wood" in a hotel in Pattaya, Thailand. It was one of only a few English books available. It was worn out and missing a few pages (which I was able to get hold of on Amazon), and after I finished reading, I knew the reason for the wear and tear.

I have to admit this is my first Rendell novel. After finishing this one, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another. There was something comforting in getting through the pages of this interesting mystery. The characters seemed to come to life with Rendell's vivid descriptions and thus I found myself more intrigued than most movies or television shows I have viewed as of late.

Ms Rendell obviously does her research when it comes to the buildings and locations contained in her story. Furthermore, she seems to have a widely varied vocabulary as I found myself making a few trips to search for a few definitions. These facts alone are enough to make Wexford come to life as one of the more sophisticated Inspectors in the realm of crime busting.

My hats off to Ruth Rendell for an excellent read.

Chief Inspector Wexfords' home is surrounded by rising floodwaters, as are the homes of everyone in his town of Kingsmarkam. A distraught and hysterical woman contacts the local police, convinced that her two teenaged children and their babysitter have drowned in the floodwaters, even though there is no reason to place them anywhere near the dangerous area.

M/s Rendell introduces many fascinating-albeit nasty- characters into the story...a weird religous cult who is trying to control the mind of the missing teenaged boy, and the inner workings of the boys seemingly normal family, who are dominated by an aggressive and robustly rude father.

Wexford and his wife Dora are horrified when their daughter Sylvia introduces her latest lover, an abusive man who exerts an unhealthy influence over her to the extent that she disregards her experience with abused women, feeling that it is different in her case.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to other readers of this genre.

Ruth Rendell is one of the best at her craft, and she is in
great form with this one.
Inspector Wexford has gotten a little older, and a bit more
philosophical, but he is still a good, persistent cop, and
he is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.
2 teen-age children, and their "sitter," a young woman who
used to be a school teacher and who now runs her own internet-tutoring business, disappear while the parents are on a trip to
Paris. The investigation is hampered by the wildly dysfunctional parents, and Wexford and his staff have to battle
the parents to get all the information they need.
But the investigation goes nowhere, and it is further delayed
by Wexford's superior who orders him to wait until the current
flood waters recede, thinking all 3 will be found dead in the
floodwaters.
But after the waters finally recede, and some valuable time has
been lost, Wexford is able to pursue the case properly, but the
lost time causes a lot of difficulty, and the people finally
contacted are an odd mix, and they largely seem uninterested
in being forthright and helping.
In addition to the family and friends, the police here have to
contend with some selfish, superior-acting people whose only
concern is not getting "involved" with the police, even to the
extent of giving them vital information, as well as a rather
odd group of people who have formed their own church, and whose
religious practices confound Wexford and staff.
Plus, of course, Wexford has some personal distractions, and
he has to address those at the same time.
But the real Plus of this story is author Rendell's particular
magic in presenting her characters and moving the story along.
This writer is as good as they come in this genre, and it is
such a pleasure to read her story, nearly everyone will enjoy
it. The true fan won't be able to put it down. An absolute
"must" for the mystery reader.

I have to say, I really enjoyed Babes in the Wood, which is the first Ruth Rendell I have ever read. I imagine, based on some of the reviews I have read here, that there are other novels in the Inspector Wexford series that are stronger, but as I have no frame of reference for this series, other than this one novel, I cannot comment as to that. What I can comment to is the fact that Babes in the Woods is a well-written, well-plotted and well-paced mystery. It kept me guessing throughout the novel and the ending made sense without being predictible or overly foreshadowed. The story concerns the disappearance of two teens and their adult babysitter over the course of a rainy weekend. Their mother returns home and jumps to the conclusion that the pair have drowned. As the novel continues, there are many other conclusions reached and discarded, leads followed and abandoned. Babes in the Wood is an excellent mystery and an enjoyable read.

Inspector Wexford is back in dark, somber, and mysterious thriller, where the endless rain muffles all, the town of Kingsmarkham is threatened with flooding, and things are never as they seem. Themes of domestic violence, religious intolerance, and strained family relationships permeate this story of child abduction and murder. Two local teenagers and their babysitter have gone missing, and when the babysitter turns up dead in a quarry, Wexford realizes that he has one of the most baffling cases on his hands.

Tightly plotted, with lots of red herrings throughout, Rendell is in her usual fine form with a story that drifts from the English countryside to cold, crisp Scandinavia. In the course of his investigation Wexford must deal with a neighbor whose alibi is questionable, a religious cult and its sylvan rituals, someone close to the children's family who holds a secret, and the babysitter's ex-husband who reveals the woman's dysfunctional past. Symbolically Babes in the Wood is one of Rendell's best - lots of dark, squally, rainy days and nights where the " whole country seems to be vanishing and sinking under a vast fluidity of water." The rain casts a deepening shadow over the story - suspicion abounds, and the narrative is peppered with sullen, sulky, and devishly selfish characters that seem so embittered and exhausted with life.

In Babes in the Wood we have a much more cynical and world-weary Wexford - still struggling with his food, concerned about his daughter, Silvia's taste in men, and yet ribald, derisive, sardonic, and even flippant about serious things. He's a wonderfully portrayed character who also has many admirable qualities - liberal, compassionate, sensitive and extremely well read. Its been nice to revisit this character after some time and lets hope that Ruth Rendell has not given up on Chief Inspector Wexford. The Babes in the Wood is an extremely accomplished whodunit, and is certainly one of Rendell's darkest and foreboding Wexford mysteries.

Michael