Customer Reviews

One Across, Two Down (New Portway Reprints)

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

 

 

This is one of Ruth Rendell's early novels (first published in 1971), a bleak foray into greed and despair. Stanly and Vera live in a North London suburd along with Vera's mother, the caustic Maud, who hates her deadbeat son-in-law with a passion. The feelings are mutual from Stanley, who is constantly planning Maud's demise when he is not obsessed with his favorite hobby - crossword puzzles. As in most Rendell novels, there are few likable characters here with the exception of Vera, the long-suffering wife. In a way, each character gets what they want, but the hands of fate have ways of playing them out in unexpected ways. There is a pervailing atmosphere of doom and gloom that gets darker as the novel progresses and Rendell may get the reader to gain a little sympathy toward Stanley, which is quite an accomplishment.

One Across, Two Down is a light read. Not to say that it's boring because it's not. But the signature Rendell thrills-and-chills isn't here. Oh sure, of course, there's a murder or two, but then there always is with Ms. Rendell's books. Stanley, a crossword puzzle aficionado, is a perennial loser despite his impressive command of the English language. The whole story revolves around him and all throughout this character reminded me of Inspector Clouseau (Pink Panther) - bumbling, egocentric, inept and hilarious. Everything Stanley touches turns to dust or chaos. If you want an undemanding and entertaining Rendell story, try this.

I knew from Rendell's past books that this would end in chaos. There some tense moments, but Stanley ends up getting .... It moves right along and is hard to put down.

It's a good story about people waiting for someone to die so they can inherit money and how easily it can go wrong.

Vera, Stanley's wife, is a docile, meek character at the beginning.... ....Having nosy neighbors was ...downfall.

smooth, if inconsequential narrative. economical with word and psychologically insightful. reminiscent of hitchcock's black and white t.v. tales.