Customer Reviews

From Doon with Death

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"From Doon With Death" is Ruth Rendell's first novel, and also marks the literary debuts of protagonists Chief Inspector Reg Wexford, and his partner in crime solving, Inspector Mike Burden. At this somewhat late date in life, I thought it about time I explore Ms. Rendell's mysteries, and her psychological thrillers, which receive such rave reviews. "From Doon With Death" was my recent introduction to the author's work. I believe in starting at the beginning. Now I understand what all the fanfare is about. This is an excellent mystery - and it is only her first effort. I know she has matured greatly as a writer in the forty plus years since she published this book in 1964. I look forward to following her development as a writer as I continue to read her books, authored under the name of Barbara Vine, as well as Ruth Rendell.

Margaret Parsons and her husband of six years, Ronald, have recently moved to Kingsmarkham in Sussex. They are a happily married, rather introverted couple, and keep to themselves most of the time. Although Margaret is a lay preacher at the local Methodist Church, and has some acquaintances there, the two have not made any friends yet. They are definitely not wealthy and live a very frugal existence. Ronald works for the Southern Water Board at Stowerton and Margaret is a homemaker, a good one too. Their large, ugly house, is not well constructed, nor does it have a refrigerator, washing machine or other modern conveniences. It does contain, however, a small but very expensive collection of Victorian literature and poetry, bound in suede, scented leather and watered silk. All are inscribed, on the fly leaves, from Doon to Minna, and the messages are personal, romantic, and intense, to say the least.

At the book's beginning, a frantic Ronald Parsons telephones Inspector Mike Burden, a neighbor, to tell him that his wife hasn't come home that evening. The body of the thirty-two year-old woman, is found the next day, strangled in a near-by wood. She had left home with only her keys and purse, not even her coat. When the valuable book collection is discovered in a trunk in the attic, the investigation take on a new nature. Who are Minna and Doon? And who was Margaret Parsons?

Although the seemingly prim and proper Mrs. Parsons is dead when the story begins, the author paints a vivid portrait of the victim in retrospect, through the testimonies of those questioned in connection to the crime. Chief Inspector Wexford, with his countrified ways and off-beat humor, is a meticulous detective, if somewhat eccentric. Inspector Burden, also very competent, makes a wonderful straightman and side-kick. The narrative is taut, the characters diverse and original, and the mystery suspenseful. I couldn't figure out who did it. Ms. Rendell also writes a scathing commentary about the idle rich. This is a book that stands the test of time and continues to rivet its readers. I highly recommend it.
JANA

This is the first of Ruth Rendell's books and we are thrust into the death of Margaret Parson's. All we have are the inscriptions in books from Doon, who is Doon and what is the link to Margaret? I was so pleased to come across this novel. the first in the series of Wexford novels. This book will have you wondering who is Doon ? and you won't know till the final pages. A very good first novel and as we know the rest is history.

"From Doon with Death" is Ruth Rendell's introduction of Inspector Reg Wexford, sidekick Sgt. Burden and the town of Kingsmarkam. All in all, it's a very good detective story with indications of the darker directions that Rendell would take the Wexford series and other books in subsequent years. For Rendell fans, there's a terrific essay on all of her work--almost to date--by critic Daniel Mallory that is almost worth the price of the book by itself.

This is the first in the Wexford series and, I understand, Rendell's first novel. From the first page, the reader is dying to know who Doon and Minna are and how they relate to the murder of a reportedly plain and uninteresting woman. It wasn't until I neared the end that I was able to guess at any part of the solution. The tension and pace of this novel is just right -- amazing, especially for a first novel. One of the things I like best is that it hasn't been padded with the filler to which most writers resort in order to produce a 300-page book. In this shorter novel, every word counts and is worth reading. Now how often can you say that?

This is the first book in the Wexford and Burden series by Rendell and it is a good read. The plot revolves around a missing housewife and distraight husband who is trying to find her. The trail weaves among many different people and ends in a surprise.

This novel was written in 1964 and might seem a little bit outdated to some readers and the two main detectives are not developed yet. However, the story moves along well and keeps one interested til the end. A good start to a great series.

This is a cleverly written Inspector Wexford mystery. The book is well-written and has an ending that is hard to guess. This book is compact and it does not waste words, chapters or characters. Each scene is important in the development of the story.

For well over thirty years I have been reading novels by Ruth Rendell and her nom de plume. Spotting FROM DOON WITH DEATH on the bookshelves, I was thrilled to come across one of her early works. Excitement and anticipation, however, soon led to a perfunctory interest. Rendell is an excellent writer, skilled at her craft, but early on it wasn't difficult to identify who Doon was. The suspense was therefore muted and the denouement all too predictable. Had her characters been more complex, this aspect would have at the very least sustained my interest. As it is, they all seemed rather superficially developed, and finally uninteresting.

From Doon with Death: The First Inspector Wexford Novel, by Ruth Rendell is a pretty decent murder mystery. I have had Ms. Rendell on my "to read" list for a long while. I finally read the book after having read numerous professional reviews of the author being one of the best in the genre. I must say that the book itself was rather average. However, as a fan of British mystery series, I know that it takes several novels for a character to grow and develop. I will certainly read on and try to enjoy the other Wexford novels. As to the story itself, there is an interesting mystery with some memorable characters. I was able to figure out the "who" in the "who done it" a little early than usual.

This is a three star book that seemingly only beckons at the greatness that purportedly follows.

Actually this is not Inspector Wexford's first case, but the first that Rendell wrote with him as the main character. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, this was her first mystery, period. And it's surprisingly dull, as far as I'm concerned. The "shocking" conclusion to me was obvious from the first few chapters -- I can't tell you why without giving it away -- and now, 30 years later, not so shocking. In fact, by today's standards, it's pretty tame, even quaint. The caliber of Rendell's work soars with her next mystery "Wolf to the Slaughter" and from there she just gets better and better. But this first effort didn't do it for me. Don't base your opinion of Rendell on this book -- unless you love it, of course! -- but do check out the rest of the Wexford mysteries, which are sublimely written and -- yes, truly -- shocking in their conclusions!

Unlike other reviewers, I did not find this book dull or uninteresting. My word for it would be comfortable. There is nothing to try and figure out except, of course, who is the murderer.

The characters are very well defined and the plot is straight forward. All you have to do is arrange yourself comfortably and read -- a couple of hours will do it -- a fairly short book by today's standards---coming in at a little over 200 pages.

Even after 50 years or so, the story is still interesting but only mildly shocking. Reading so much of Rendell and being bored out of my skull when she launches into politics etc, I felt happy the whole time reading this short book. It took me back to a time when reading for pleasure was just that--pleasure. There are no hidden agendas or causes to hawk, just a nice little English village murder with a small cast of suspects. (Somewhat like a neat little Christie novel)

Loved it!!