The Second Wexford Omnibus: A Guilty Thing Surprised,No More Dying Then and Murder Being Once Done

by Ruth Rendell

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime

528 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

A.K.A. Barbara Vine

Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE, who also wrote under the pseudonym Barbara Vine, was an acclaimed English crime writer, known for her many psychological thrillers and murder mysteries and above all for Inspector Wexford.

Reviews

[Rose Auburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this one of my most enjoyable reads this year. If you like the genre, I don't think Wexford can be bettered for a well-constructed, nicely executed page turner. The whodunnits are clever, quite a few red herrings in every story and none of the outcomes are far-fetched which can often happen.

The character of Inspector Wexford is very subtly and cleverly drawn in every story, you feel you know him without having to read too much descriptive detail or back story. Little nuances are lightly dropped into each narrative. Rendell's writing is extremely good, some achingly lovely poetic touches (and not just the quotes), in fact, her writing is deceptively good. This, was, for all intents and purposes, for me a good book to get stuck into during late Autumn nights but it's definitely been quite thought-provoking as well and I literally could not put it down. Feel quite bereft now I have. Highly recommended.

[Pat Morris-jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this a 4 star as loved first 2 books. Very much so than the first omnibus. Then came the third. I liked it in principle but how it came to that conclusion seemed beyond me. Anyway 3 and a half for sure.

[Nada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three detective novels in one! How could one resist. Thoroughly enjoyable reading.