Author:Ruth Rendell
The Rottweiler is a chilling tale of a psychopath and the daily lives of those living in his murderous shadow. Expertly brought to life by multi-million copy and SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author Ruth Rendell, this is perfect for fans of PD James, Ann Cleeves and Donna Leon.
'Compelling and disturbing' -- The Times
'In Rendell's expert hands, you'll want to keep reading until dawn - with the light on' -- Red
'Wonderful at exploring the way private fantasies can clash and explode into terrifying violence' -- Daily Mail
'Rendell at her best' -- ***** Reader review
'Absolutely brilliant' -- ***** Reader review
'I just couldn't put it down'-- ***** Reader review
'I was totally enthralled by this from start to finish'-- ***** Reader review
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The first murder victim had a bite mark on her neck. When the tabloids got hold of the story, they immediately called the deranged killer 'The Rottweiler', and the name stuck.
The latest body was discovered very near Inez Ferry's antique shop in Marylebone. Someone spotted a shadowy figure running away past the station, but couldn't say for sure if it was a man or a woman. There were only two other clues. The murderer seemed to have a preference for strangling his victims and then removing something personal - like a cigarette lighter or a necklace. Trinkets very similar to those mysteriously appearing in Inez's shop. . .
Since her actor husband died, too early into their marriage, Inez supplemented her modest income by taking in tenants above the shop. As her collection of antique trinkets grows, so does Inez's fear that she is harbouring a psychopathic murderer...
Compelling and disturbing
—— The TimesIn Rendell's expert hands, you'll want to keep reading until dawn - with the light on
—— RedRendell skilfully crafts her characters and they breathe feverishly through her imagination
—— The TimesWonderful at exploring the dark corners of the human mind, and the way private fantasies can clash and explode into terrifying violence
—— Daily MailRendell is unrivalled at depicting psychologically warped people and at creating unease through the simplest things. This is another triumph
—— ObserverThrough 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 TimesAtkinson is very good indeed... more satisfying than many detective novels. Everyone who picks it up will feel compelled to follow it through to the last page
—— GuardianBrilliantly playful, witty and original... massive and consistent talent for comedy
—— The ScotsmanIntriguing and affecting... she has also created a compelling central chracter in world-weary private investigator Jackson Brodie, who is determined to bring justice to all the lives that lie fractured around him
—— Red (Book of the Month)Civilised, funny, life-affirming and hugely enjoyable
—— Literary ReviewBrilliantly detailed and unexpectedly funny
—— MirrorPerceptive and engaging
—— IndependentMurder, mystery and Atkinson's skill make for an atmospheric and moving story
—— EveFunny, furious fourth novel rumbustiously drives a path through the genre of detective fiction, demolishing its careful, forensic summation of human behaviour and replacing them with bloody, believable, vigorous tales
—— Rachel CuskVivid, multifaceted... Case Histories manages to be such an ultimately joyful novel.. I found myself captivated throughout by the vivacity and big-hearted humour... skilled juxtaposition
—— WBQNot 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 kind of book you shove in people's faces, saying 'You gotta read this!
—— Entertainment WeeklyPerhaps the most consummately all-round book of the year is Kate Atkinson's One Good Turn, a marvelous thriller so beautifully written you'd stop to admire the prose if you weren't so busy page-turning.... It features a killermost writers would die for, and a plot that touches genius. It's unalloyed pleasure from first to last
—— The Scotsman[Atkinson has a] knack for psychological portraiture and dark humor... Paradoxically, murder has given her a framework that helps liberate her insights on the living, as the lurking presence of corpses reminds readers there are worse offenses than bad parenting and worse fates than unhappy marriages.... Atkinson knows that the line between victim and tormentor can be blurry and that survivors sometimes have good reasons for guilt.... Astutely, Atkinson has noticed that the high-tech lifestyle has given rise to a high-tech deathstyle that makes the old props of detective fiction -- fingerprints, dusting powder, alibis -- as passe as a fedora
—— The New York TimesCrackling one-liners, spot-on set pieces and full-blooded characters help make this another absorbing character study from the versatile, effervescent Atkinson
—— Publishers Weekly'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