Author:Ruth Rendell
From multi-million copy and SUNDAY TIMES bestselling authorRuth Rendell, Shake Hands For Ever is a taut and tense story of obsession, love and greed. Perfect for fans of PD James, Ann Cleeves and Donna Leon, this is a page-turner you won't be able to put down...
'The most brilliant mystery novelist of our time' -- Patricia Cornwell
'[Wexford] has become an old friend who gets better with age' -- Herald
'A real who dunnit. Real people and real situations and a REAL twist at the end' -- ***** Reader review
'Brilliant' -- ***** Reader review
'Kept me guessing right to the end' -- ***** Reader review
'First class writing' -- ***** Reader review
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Angela Hathall is found strangled in her bed but, shockingly, the murder of this meek and solitary woman sparks little emotion from her husband. Called in to investigate, Wexford's curiosity only deepens when he discovers that the Hathall household has been meticulously cleaned but for a single distinctive palm print.
As the case develops Wexford is increasingly frustrated by the seemingly pointless nature of the murder. There is no motive, no weapon and no suspect. Nothing except the unidentified print.
But despite the sparse evidence, Wexford is convinced Hathall is hiding something. So when Wexford is taken off the case he decides to take matters into his own hands...
One of the best novelists writing today
—— P.D. JamesThe most brilliant mystery novelist of our time
—— Patricia CornwellProbably the greatest living crime writer in the world
—— Ian Rankin[Wexford] has become an old friend who gets better with age
—— HeraldRendell has quite simply transformed the genre of crime writing. She displays her peerless skill in blending the mundane, commonplace aspects of life with the potent murky impulses of desire and greed, obsession and fear
—— Sunday TimesThrough the quality of her writing she's raised the game of the crime novel in this country
—— Peter JamesRendell's mesmerising capacity to shock, chill and disturb is unmatched
—— The TimesUnguessable and brilliant
—— ListenerChief Inspector Wexford is Rendell’s most enduring and best creation
—— Daily TelegraphThis mystery's surprising twists will make your jaw drop
—— CosmopolitanPerfect pitch, characters we can recognize as versions of ourselves, a plot in which a vague sense of suspense almost instantly appears and then grows with the speed of a waterslide... lip-smacking good
—— Chicago TribuneLisa Unger comes on strong... A tightly written thriller... Beautiful Lies maintains a high adrenaline level throughout as Jones draws ever closer to learning the dark secrets of her childhood and to discovering who is behind a scheme that changed her life. The book's characters are fully formed, and the action is depicted with satisfying breathlessness
—— San Francisco ChronicleAn intriguing plot, clever twists, surprise elements, believable characters and unexplained history explored... A real page-turner
—— ChoiceOne of Britain's finest thriller writers
—— Time OutNesbo effortlessly shows what can be done with the classic detective story, employing clever tricks to maintain almost unbearable suspense
—— Joan Smith , Sunday Times, Christmas round upConsolidated his reputation as a Scandinavian novelist ready to fill any Larsson-shaped holes. Nesbo, one ex-rock star who can write, fuses urgent storytelling with a keen engagement with social issues
—— Barry Forshaw , Independent, Christmas round upA superb, tasty, huge page-turner... Seriously scary but a superior thriller
—— Vince Cable , Evening Standard, Christmas round upMy big book discovery this time was The Snowman by Jo Nesbo - it's about a Norwegian detective who has to investigate a series of gruesome murders. What could be better for holiday entertainment
—— Bruno Tonioli , Mail on SundayTHE NEXT STIEG LARSSON
—— Independent[A] dark, chilling, page-turner
—— Deborah D. Rogers , Times Higher Education, *Summer Reads of 2021*'Civilised, funny, life-affirming and hugely enjoyable. I can't recall reading crime fiction quite like this before- honest, ironic, and cheerfully unselfconscious. I urge you to share my surprise and delight.'
—— Philip Oakes, Literary ReviewOne of the most brilliantly playful, witty and original writers we have.
—— Scotsman'At heart a comic novelist, who explores the relationship between comedy and crime... In Case Histories, these skills have found their literary home.'
—— Heather O’Donoghue, Times Literary Supplement'Sharp humour, together with a number of unexpected twists, make this a typically pacey and intelligent read.'
—— Daily MailNot just the best novel I have read this year...but the best mystery of the decade. There are actually four mysteries, nesting like Russian dolls, and when they begin to fit together, I defy any reader not to feel a combination of delight and amazement. Case Histories is the literary equivalent of a triple axel. I read it once for pleasure and then again just to see how it was done. This is the mind of book you shove in people's faces, saying 'You gotta read this!'
—— Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly