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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Weakest Wexford Mysteries, September 14, 2010
NO MORE DYING THEN is really not on the same level as the rest of Inspector Wexford series. The story drags on in the most boring way one can imagine. The introduction of clues that should point us to the solution of the mystery is so heavy-handed that it's hard not to guess what happened pretty early into the book. It seems like the mystery is completely secondary here to the detailed and unappetizing exploration of Burden's repressed sexuality. Mike Burden is portrayed as a disgusting, hateful creep in this novel. He mistreats his lonely orphaned children, acts horribly towards his sister-in-law, and wishes that the woman he wants to marry should never recover her lost son because if she does, that will mean an extra mouth for Burden to feed. What kind of a nasty individual wishes out of greed that a mother would lose her little son forever? What kind of a creepy police officer uses the grief of a crime victim to have sex with her? Before I read this novel, I used to like Burden as a character. Now, I will never be able to read another Wexford mystery without shuddering in disgust every time Burden is mentioned. Wexford doesn't get a lot of space in this novel. He appears a couple of times, wondering why Burden is behaving in such a nasty way, and then disappears again. His family isn't mentioned at all. The dialogues between Wexford and Burden that usually liven up the series aren't there either. It's not a good sign when a reader puts aside a mystery novel with only 15 pages to go and forgets about it for over a week. This is exactly what I did. You know how it's going to end anyways, so it makes no difference when or whether you get to those final boring pages of a boring book. As much as I love this author, I have to say that this book is a complete waste of time.
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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A worthy addition to the Wexford series, January 14, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: No More Dying Then: An Inspector Wexford Mystery (Paperback)
No More Dying Then is worth reading. It stands on it's own, and it is a worthy addition to the Wexford series. I've been reading Rendell for a couple of years now, primarily because Elizabeth George's work is so often compared to hers. I find the comparison complimentary to both authors. Rendell's early work, including No More Dying Then, is less complex in plot and character development than both her later work and all of George's work. Regardless, Rendell's stories are interesting, and her characters are believable. No More Dying Then is generally a satisfying work. The relationships and thought-processes are well-crafted and authentic. The red herrings are fun, and the ending is a bit of a suprise. Plus, there is enough bizarre and deviant behavior to entertain a second milennium audience without excruciating detail, for those of us who prefer not to know too much... I have been reading Rendell's work in order of publication (a personal preference when authors are as prolific as she), and I have thoroughly enjoyed the development of both Wexford and Burden. I get the feeling that Rendell likes her main characters and cares about their lives. As a result I care about them, and want to know more about them.
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Poignant and suspenseful fiction., May 24, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: No More Dying Then: An Inspector Wexford Mystery (Paperback)
Written around 1970, this mystery about the abduction and possible murder of two children in Sussex holds up today. In fact, one major plotline reminded me of the 90s bestseller, *The Deep End of the Ocean.* Rendell's writing is often compared, justifiably, to P.D. James'; her grasp of psychology, particularly the psychology of grief and loneliness, is profound and poignant. From the characters of Inspector Burdin and his sister-in-law Grace to those of the villain(s) and victim(s), Rendell has rendered real sensate beings whose pain and terror we share.
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