Customer Reviews

Ruth Rendell Mysteries Collection

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

 

 

This isn't a "complete" collection and doesn't claim to be - and it's not an Inspector Wexford Collection either. Acorn can't release titles for which they do not own the rights. This is simply a pull-together of the previously released "Ruth Rendell Mysteries" which is exactly what it claims to be and is not an unusual practice in the DVD industry. I don't understand how it being what it says it is merits a one star rating. The rating should be based on what the set is and not what it isn't.

I agree, there is no reason for this release. It is just a rehash of previous US DVD releases. It is not a true "Ruth Rendell" collection, as it omits the UK broadcast episodes "Talking to Strange Men", "The Strawberry Tree". "Heartstones" and "Thornapple". It also fails, as it includes episodes 21-23 of the "Inspector Wexford" mysteries, all previously issued several times, but again ignores the first 20 episodes of this great series. So... Acorn has re-released the same 17 DVDs they and others released before and still haven't released the other 24 episodes that were shown on UK tv. BIG WHOOP!

The item description is very clear on this page. I knew what mysteries were in it from the get-go. Acorn released these in single sets over the course of time and now this is their collection of those 4 sets in one collection...that isn't a trick. I have many sets from many distributors exactly like this. It's a collection of the stuff they have. I'm guessing it's difficult to go back and get episodes that belong to different companies...why would they want to give them up to someone else? These mysteries deserve 5 stars and the set itself is a great piece. There was never a claim that there are new episodes, read carefully. Some people (like me) prefer to have one large set instead of separate pieces. That's what this is. The one star reviews claiming this is a trick are unfair.

It's a shame so much production time and money is spent re-releasing the same ole material. It's obvious the Rendell series are in high demand, just read the reviews!! Since all British mystery series are high in demand on dvd and the Wexford tv series is long overdue for release, you'd think Acorn would spend money more wisely and boost their sales by releasing NEW material and stop dropping us in it with incomplete series releases.

My father used to say, "When the your life gets crazy and chaotic and feels out of control, read a good murder mystery and it will put everything back to order."

I laughed then but now see his wisdom: The only reality is what we choose to perceive. My discovery of the murder mysteries of British writer Ruth Rendell - especially the inspector Wexford stories -- has only reinforced my dad's wise words: A good detective makes sense of the apparent chaos.

Rendell, who will be 81 in February, has for over 40 years created stories of insightful psychological behavior as well as believable plots with wicked ironies and startling twists. Her dark tales nicely reflect the social and technological changes of the last decades.
Earlier this year, Acorn Media released an 11-volume DVD set, "The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Collection" that features 17 full-length mysteries based on her award-winning fiction. The series aired on public television in the 90's. (Sadly, only three of them are Inspector Wexford tales -- I think 23 Wexford stories have been produced).
Volume 1: "Master of the Moor," "Vanity Dies Hard," "The Secret House of Death" and "The Double." Each titles runs about two and a half hours.

Volume 2: "Bribery & Corruption," "Front Seat," "A Case of Coincidence" and "A Dark Blue Perfume," "May & June" and a favorite "The Orchard Walls' -- set during the London blitz, 16-year-old Jenny is sent from London to live with her mother in the country where she senses disturbing and deadly secrets among her reserved relatives.
Volume 3: "Going Wrong," "Harm Done," and another favorite "The Fallen Curtain" -- as a boy, Richard Clayton was abducted, but he can't remember what happened during the brief terror. The mystery haunts him until he reaches the brink of manhood. This is a terrific psychological mystery with a resolution that remains elusive. Also "Lake of Darkness" and "You Can't Be Too Careful" the latter titles each with run times of about two and a half hours.


Set 4: "Simisola" (two and a half hours) and "Road Rage" (almost three and a half hours).
The Rendell collection provides almost 30 hours of engaging English murder mysteries that are perfect to loll away a nippy winter weekend. Extras are minimal, but there is a nice widescreen feature (all the other titles are full frame) "Super Sleuths: Inspector Wexford." Let's hope a complete collection of Rendell's Wexford stories is on the horizon from Acorn.

I have only watched two of the collection so far but have been delighted with those two. One thing that is very nice touch is that each mystery is in three parts. Therefore, one is able to watch for an hour, or two or three
























































I have only watched the first two mysteries in the collection. I am delighted with those and would highly recommend them to anyone who likes Ruth Rendell and or English Mysteries.
One nice touch is that each story is divided into three parts so one is able to watch for an hour or two or three, as time allows.
These mysteries are so compelling that I believe I may have "hooked" my husband into watching them with me. No easy task, taking him away from Football!!!

I rented all of these sets (and loved all of them) and am now thrilled to be able to buy them together at a discounted price. I understand some of the frustration from folks who've purchased these sets indivudally at much higher prices but it's not uncommon for distributors to combine sets together in a "complete" package of everything they have available after marketing them individually. As others have mentioned, this does not purport to be an all-encompassing collection of either Wexford or Rendell mysteries - it is simply (and as advertised) a "Ruth Rendell Mysteries Collection". If you don't already own these sets, this is an amazing bargain. If you do - you obviously enjoy them, so why give this great compilation only one star? It seems unfair to mislead others into thinking that these are second- or third- rate productions when they are anything but that.....

I can appreciate a re-release/more copies made when they are still selling them and there aren't any others available or they are in demand and haven't been available for years. However, I too am sick of the idiot dvd companies picking and choosing to spend money on things are widely available in another format or thinner boxes or the same freakin' seasons in a slimmer package or a fatter package or a full set of what's already currently available or wasting money on blu-ray releases when clearly DVD is not going away - no offense - I don't care if they do both - but they are making every effort to do away with dvd even when we clearly want shows on dvd.......wasting money time after time and pretending it wouldn't be financially viable to release what we want in it's original form...while fans await so very many series and the rest of the episodes of so many series - whether British Mysteries that I love or other old shows that I love and were partially released eons ago and never completed or disappeared into a vault and were never even considered for release no matter how many fans want them.

I am fed up with basically EVERYONE in the business-in every country!

Did not expect this sad selection of anti-heroes who may be either victims or enablers to plots that consistently defy justice.
The production and acting is of good English quality but is not enough to overcome these sorry stories.
There is sufficient sex or sex related violence in each episode to satisfy those voyeuristically inclined.
The price of this collection is too high, after watching half of the shows I said enough and have put it a way forever.

I returned these DVD's after viewing the first few disc's, The stories are warped and do not leave you entertained. This was the experience we had after watching a few episodes - they are not "Christie" like in either plot or acting.

So if your looking for a entertaining,cozy mystery - along the genre of Foyle, Poirot, or Midsomer - This DVD collection is NOT it.