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Inspector Wexford
Means of Evil and Other Stories
Here are five classic Wexford cases that display his remarkable ingenuity — and that of his creator. Ranging from the more everyday crimes of passion and violence in quiet Kingsmarkham, to a bizarre murder in Yugoslavia, each is a case which challenges Detective Chief Inspector Wexford's considerable imagination and resourcefulness, and the patient reasoning of the long suffering Burden.
176 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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293 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Rendell
447 books1,615 followersA.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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 2, 2022
What a treat to discover 5 short stories, each a case for Chief Inspector Wexford. I have loved reading through this series and hadn't realized there were more stories to discover. From the Author's Note: "The stories should be read as if each were a little novel in the series."
Means of Evil - This may be an exaggeration, however it made me laugh out loud: "Have you ever noticed what thin pale weeds these health-food people are? While the folks who live on roast beef and suet and whisky and plum cake are full of beans and rarin' to go."
Chief Inspector Wexford and his sidekick, Inspector Burden, are described as "a tramp and a Beau Brummell." Furthermore, "the dandy relied on the tramp, trusted him, understood his powers and his perception." It's Burden's groundwork and Wexford's astute powers of deduction that make them such a formidable team.
Old Wives' Tales - This tale is full of fantastic phrases and descriptions of folk. Take this one for instance, I don't remember reading anything quite like it.....
"He reminded Wexford of an aged rabbit, a rabbit with myxomatosis perhaps. It was partly the effect of the brown woolly cardigan and the furry slippers, and partly the mustache and the unshaven bristly chin."
Another description that enthralled me was of an elderly lady, "She had a powdery, violet cashew, creamy smell, which might equally well have been associated with a very clean baby. Her legs were neat and shapely in grey stockings, her hands in white gloves with tiny darns at the fingertips, her coat silky navy-blue over blue flowery pleats, and her face withered rose leaves with rouge on."
How do they take their tea? Well, we read that "Roy swigged his tea."
Ginger and the Kingsmarkham Chalk Circle - This story was particularly clever and demonstrated Wexford's skills at getting to the bottom of things and uncovering the incredible truth. He examines a baby blanket "coming to the conclusion of a few minutes' scrutiny of its its texture and its label, that it was made of pure wool, had been manufactured in Wales, was old but clean and had been mended in one corner by someone who was no tyro [novice] when it came to handling a darning needle."
Achilles Heel - Takes us up and away from Kingsmarkham and lands us in Dubrovnik, Croatia where the Wexfords have gone on holiday. While his wife Dora tans a lovely nut brown, Wexford grumbles, "my nose is beginning to feel like a fried egg."
Wexford makes a friend who shows him the hospitality of the region. "Racic drank slivovic. The fiery brandy with its under taste of plums was forbidden to Wexford who had to watch his blood pressure. He even felt guilty when the white wine called Posip which Racic ordered for him arrived in a tumbler filled to the brim."
When the Wedding Was Over - "Matrimony," said Chief Inspector Wexford, "begins with dearly beloved and ends with amazement." He refers to traditional religious wedding ceremonies as, "white wedding grubbins."
Finally, I loved that the 'fruits' of Dora's pottery class, "bruised-looking and not invariably symmetrical, were scattered haphazardly about the room like windfalls."
Means of Evil - This may be an exaggeration, however it made me laugh out loud: "Have you ever noticed what thin pale weeds these health-food people are? While the folks who live on roast beef and suet and whisky and plum cake are full of beans and rarin' to go."
Chief Inspector Wexford and his sidekick, Inspector Burden, are described as "a tramp and a Beau Brummell." Furthermore, "the dandy relied on the tramp, trusted him, understood his powers and his perception." It's Burden's groundwork and Wexford's astute powers of deduction that make them such a formidable team.
Old Wives' Tales - This tale is full of fantastic phrases and descriptions of folk. Take this one for instance, I don't remember reading anything quite like it.....
"He reminded Wexford of an aged rabbit, a rabbit with myxomatosis perhaps. It was partly the effect of the brown woolly cardigan and the furry slippers, and partly the mustache and the unshaven bristly chin."
Another description that enthralled me was of an elderly lady, "She had a powdery, violet cashew, creamy smell, which might equally well have been associated with a very clean baby. Her legs were neat and shapely in grey stockings, her hands in white gloves with tiny darns at the fingertips, her coat silky navy-blue over blue flowery pleats, and her face withered rose leaves with rouge on."
How do they take their tea? Well, we read that "Roy swigged his tea."
Ginger and the Kingsmarkham Chalk Circle - This story was particularly clever and demonstrated Wexford's skills at getting to the bottom of things and uncovering the incredible truth. He examines a baby blanket "coming to the conclusion of a few minutes' scrutiny of its its texture and its label, that it was made of pure wool, had been manufactured in Wales, was old but clean and had been mended in one corner by someone who was no tyro [novice] when it came to handling a darning needle."
Achilles Heel - Takes us up and away from Kingsmarkham and lands us in Dubrovnik, Croatia where the Wexfords have gone on holiday. While his wife Dora tans a lovely nut brown, Wexford grumbles, "my nose is beginning to feel like a fried egg."
Wexford makes a friend who shows him the hospitality of the region. "Racic drank slivovic. The fiery brandy with its under taste of plums was forbidden to Wexford who had to watch his blood pressure. He even felt guilty when the white wine called Posip which Racic ordered for him arrived in a tumbler filled to the brim."
When the Wedding Was Over - "Matrimony," said Chief Inspector Wexford, "begins with dearly beloved and ends with amazement." He refers to traditional religious wedding ceremonies as, "white wedding grubbins."
Finally, I loved that the 'fruits' of Dora's pottery class, "bruised-looking and not invariably symmetrical, were scattered haphazardly about the room like windfalls."
February 11, 2017
Needed a palate cleanser after a crappy book and Rendell never disappoints, short or long form. This collection is dedicated specifically to Reginald Wexford, her intrepid investigator and a character I very much enjoy. He may not have the magician's panache of Sherlock, but he does have superlative detecting abilities based largely on his powers of observation, really paying attention, processing the information. etc. And these abilities are tempered by genuine interest in the world around him, kindness, lack of judgementalism, respect not just for the letter of the law but justice itself, gentle humor and consideration for others. The quintessential gentleman and a scholar with a keen mind and a good heart. The sort of qualities I admire most in a person. So, of course, it's enjoyable to see the world through Wexford's eyes as written by the ever so talented Ruth Rendell. Nothing uber violent or mind blowing here, no car chases or action scenes, just some great stories of quiet as it were detection. Lovely collection for mystery fans. Recommended.
February 13, 2017
My first experience with Rendell. Five long Inspector Wexford short stories, all slightly different, all very traditional, all well written and thoughtful. My favorite is "Ginger and the Kingsmarkham Chalk Circle." I'm not clear on Wexford's personality yet, but I'm sure that will come in time--he obviously has one, as do all the other inhabitants of Kingsmarkham.
Anyone have a recommendation for the best Ruth Rendell or Barbara Vine books?
Anyone have a recommendation for the best Ruth Rendell or Barbara Vine books?
December 19, 2015
Nigel Anthony 5 Hours 31 MinsDescription: Nigel Anthony's reading sets this recording of five short mysteries by Rendell above others in the genre. Chief inspector Wexford and inspector Burden investigate poisonings, baby-swapping, theft, and forgery in "Means of Evil," "Old Wives Tales," "Ginger and the Kingsmarkham Chalk Circle," "Achilles Heel," and "When the Wedding Was Over." The venues vary in these classic English mysteries from Kingsmarkham to the south of France and California, but the characters, for the most part, lack development somewhat. Puzzle-solving listeners may enjoy these short, flat pieces,but they are perhaps not the best examples her work.
3* From Doon With Death (Inspector Wexford, #1)
3* A New Lease of Death (Inspector Wexford, #2)
3* Wolf to the Slaughter (Inspector Wexford, #3)
2* The Best Man to Die (Inspector Wexford, #4)
3* A Guilty Thing Suprised #5
3* No More Dying Then (Inspector Wexford, #6)
3* Murder Being Once Done (Inspector Wexford, #7)
3* Some Lie and Some Die (Inspector Wexford, #8)
3* Shake Hands Forever (Inspector Wexford, #9)
3* A Sleeping Life (Inspector Wexford, #10)
3* Put on by Cunning (Inspector Wexford #11)
1* Speaker of Mandarin (Inspector Wexford, #12)
3* An Unkindness of Ravens (Inspector Wexford, #13)
3* The Veiled One (Inspector Wexford, #14)
3* Kissing the Gunner's Daughter (Inspector Wexford, #15)
3* Road Rage (Inspector Wexford, #17)
3* Harm Done (Inspector Wexford, #18)
3* The Babes in the Wood (Inspector Wexford, #19)
3* End in Tears (Inspector Wexford, #20)
3* Not in the Flesh (Inspector Wexford, #21)
1* The Monster in the Box (Inspector Wexford #22)
2* The Vault (Inspector Wexford, #23)
2* No Man's Nightingale (Inspector Wexford #24)
3* Means Of Evil - Wexford Short Stories
February 8, 2017
Five Inspector Wexford cases in short story form, and in the final one, Wexford’s deputy, Mike Burden, remarries. All terrific stories, sort of a quickie version of the fully realized novels. Ruth Rendell’s writing never stops amazing me. I have even found a word in this book – philonomatous – that I can’t find a definition for! It refers to a couple who named their children Janina, Cunegonde, and Amyas. I infer that since the prefix philo refers to having a love of something, and nomatous contains the syllable nom, which means “name,” then the word must refer to their love of names, or a love of unusual names.
August 13, 2016
If this turns out to be the last Rendell I read, at least it was more time with Wexford.
I've read every novel of Ruth Rendell's, including her last written before her demise. So when I found this short story collection in Powell's in June, I was thrilled. I savored each one, using them as palate cleansers between books. Now, I'm done.
I think I'll undertake re-reading Rendell's catalog next year, a book or two a month, chronologically. That way, I may find more short stories I may have missed.
In the meantime, I am grateful for every second of my time I have spent reading and talking about her work.
I've read every novel of Ruth Rendell's, including her last written before her demise. So when I found this short story collection in Powell's in June, I was thrilled. I savored each one, using them as palate cleansers between books. Now, I'm done.
I think I'll undertake re-reading Rendell's catalog next year, a book or two a month, chronologically. That way, I may find more short stories I may have missed.
In the meantime, I am grateful for every second of my time I have spent reading and talking about her work.
January 14, 2013
Quite enjoyable. Nice little snippets of Wexford. Some of the wrap-ups seemed a bit Sherlock Holmes-ish - a neat little bow right at the end, but as these were short stories, that's not entirely inappropriate.
May 29, 2020
This rare gem contains five shorts featuring Rendell's Inspector Wexford, each as complex and satisfying as a novel. If there is a weak spot, it is the first story, so if it doesn't grab you, keep reading. Mesmerizing.
May 16, 2025
This book contains five stories (three of almost novella length) featuring Chief Inspector Wexford. They are~
1. Means of Evil;
2. Old Wives' Tales;
3. Ginger and the Kingsmarkham Chalk Circle;
4. Achilles Heel;
5. When the Wedding Was Over.
All the stories bear Rendell's signature style of dry wit, solid writing, and acute observations. Out of these, the third one (exclusively written for this collection) was the best in my opinion.
Recommended.
1. Means of Evil;
2. Old Wives' Tales;
3. Ginger and the Kingsmarkham Chalk Circle;
4. Achilles Heel;
5. When the Wedding Was Over.
All the stories bear Rendell's signature style of dry wit, solid writing, and acute observations. Out of these, the third one (exclusively written for this collection) was the best in my opinion.
Recommended.
November 17, 2022
Penkios trumpos istorijos apie inspektorių Veksfordą – labai faina, tik gaila, kad dvi iš jų jau buvau skaičiusi kituose rinkiniuose. Ramiai, su vaizdingais (bet nepernelyg vaizdingais) personažų aprašymais, kur protmūšyje galinti pasirodyti smulkmena padeda atskleisti tiesą.
January 10, 2022
Turns out there’s some port and cheese after the main food has been consumed. And it definitely makes up for the naff dessert.
Four splendid stories, plus a fifth and last one that was OK, if a little anticlimactic. The one set on holiday in Yugoslavia was quite poignant, for various reasons. Nicely drawn scenery, nicely drawn local Anglo-Saxon-Lit-Professor-turned-boatman, sparkle and mystery harking back not merely to the pre-civil war romantic Balkan coastline of the 1980s but to the Golden Age of mystery itself.
Four splendid stories, plus a fifth and last one that was OK, if a little anticlimactic. The one set on holiday in Yugoslavia was quite poignant, for various reasons. Nicely drawn scenery, nicely drawn local Anglo-Saxon-Lit-Professor-turned-boatman, sparkle and mystery harking back not merely to the pre-civil war romantic Balkan coastline of the 1980s but to the Golden Age of mystery itself.
April 4, 2020
These five stories make me want to read all of her Inspector Wexford novels in order! She has a lovely way with words and, if needed, will make up new ones as she goes? P. 147, ‘philonomatous progenitors’
May 15, 2017
Super fun! Delicious mini-cupcake mystery stories from the absolute master. All with Reg Wexford and Mike Burden. I gobbled this up.
November 25, 2019
Lo empecé con reticencias porque me lo prestaron y mi intuición no se equivocó. Es el primero libro que leo de la autora y lo he encontrado flojo. Gran parte de los relatos marean demasiado la perdiz para acabar como ya sospechábamos en un principio. Entretienen pero yo, personalmente, necesito más emoción y acción en una lectura. De los cinco relatos, destacaría por encima de los demás con un notable, el penúltimo relato; El talón de Aquiles, para mi gusto el mejor contado y el que mejor a sabido sacar provecho a la intriga. Y con el segundo relato (Cotilleos de viejas) me he reído mucho con la ironía del final. Recomendable como lectura ligera porque se lee muy rápido debido a que no llega a 230 páginas
March 22, 2020
I’ve read some of the Inspector Wexford books, but in odd patches (usually when I noticed them on the New Books shelf at the library); I’ve been thinking I should round out my coverage when a local used book store had a mystery/thriller sale. Means of Evil is a collection of 5 short pieces and I do admire short stories; they require creativity within constrictions.
Understanding these are really “sketches” of mysteries and that a bit of knowledge of Wexford & his co-worker, Burden, help smooth the brevity. They cover mainly murder but also include fraud and baby-switching. Unfortunately while being quick reads might recommend them to new Rendall readers, I would suggest reading a full length book first to gather more of an understanding of Wexford & his style.
Understanding these are really “sketches” of mysteries and that a bit of knowledge of Wexford & his co-worker, Burden, help smooth the brevity. They cover mainly murder but also include fraud and baby-switching. Unfortunately while being quick reads might recommend them to new Rendall readers, I would suggest reading a full length book first to gather more of an understanding of Wexford & his style.
November 4, 2013
This was a very nice collection of short mysteries and a good way to spend part of my weekend. I enjoy Inspector Wexford and his able assistant Burden and the mysteries are well done. The clues were usually there and I figured out whodunit and to some extent whydunit for almost all of them, but I enjoyed the unraveling scenes anyway. I have found myself trying to determine which type of ankles I have and will likely be on the lookout for that for a while, because it was such an interesting clue. This book makes me want to pick up some more of the longer Wexford mysteries in the future.
April 1, 2012
An anthology of 5 short stories starring Inspector Reg Wexford. His cases weren't all that interesting but I liked Wexford himself, an elderly inspector, happily married with children and grandchildren, a man still very much in love with his wife. I liked his humor and his slightly acerbic inner monolog. Some of his comments made me laugh out loud.
April 21, 2022
Having never read a Ruth Rendell book before, this was a charming introduction to DCI Wexford. Each short story is a new crime for him to solve, even one from the 19th century. Not all the crimes are murders but intriguing nonetheless. I listened to the audiobook read by Nigel Anthony who did such a good job that I don’t think I could read another Wexford book without his performance.
September 4, 2023
This is a read-in-one-sitting book with five short stories featuring Inspector Wexford--one of my favorite series. From re-visiting a Victorian crime to discovering something not quite right while on holiday in Yugoslavia, Inspector Wexford deftly finds solutions to the cases he's presented with & triumphs. Very good reading as only Ruth Rendell can provide.
October 31, 2022
Thought this was going to be short stories and then it was 5 mini inspector Wexford novellas! What a delightful surprise!!! My favorite series! Only sad the book as done. Could have happily read 10 more!
June 17, 2010
Ruth Rendell is a goddess. I'm never disappointed in anything she's written.
October 20, 2013
A refreshing does of Inspector Wexford, his wife Dora, and of course, Mike Burden.
March 18, 2016
3.5 stars
Means of evil - 3
Old wives tales - 4
Ginger and the kingsmarkham chalk circle - 4
Achilles heel - 4
When the wedding was over - 3
Means of evil - 3
Old wives tales - 4
Ginger and the kingsmarkham chalk circle - 4
Achilles heel - 4
When the wedding was over - 3
August 4, 2019
A random finding in a hotel self.
Short stories well structured, well written, rounding up in such a unique way each and every time.
Loved it
Short stories well structured, well written, rounding up in such a unique way each and every time.
Loved it
January 25, 2023
Ruth Rendell en inspecteur Wexford, voor velen zijn die 1. De liefhebber krijgt in dit boek liefst 5 inspecteur Wexford korte verhalen voorgeschoteld.
De cover geeft een indruk van het eerste verhaal dat over een paddestoelvergiftiging gaat.
Zoals altijd vindt Wexford na een aantal dwaalsporen via zijn vernuft de juiste oplossing. Rondom de echte plot hangt altijd een zij-intrige, vaak over zijn eigen privé-leven of dat van zijn ondergeschikten. In de 4 andere verhalen zit uiteraard telkens een andere plot maar voor de rest volgen ze ook dezelfde vertrouwde patronen, met een twist op het einde uiteraard.
Spannend zijn deze verhalen zeker al verkeert Wexford, behalve door zijn gezondheid, nooit in acuut doodsgevaar. Het gaat om speuren, deducten, het ontdekken van de leugen en dat het ontmaskeren van de dader. Tegen de achtergrond van het platteland. En Wexford is zoals het landschap (maar dan minder mooi): gezapig, rustgevend, nooit gehaast...
Het leest zeer aangenaam, je kan als lezer ook proberen mee te denken maar merkt al snel dat Wexford toch nog slimmer is. Je laten meevoeren en genieten is de beste manier om de boeken van Ruth Rendell tot je te nemen.
De cover geeft een indruk van het eerste verhaal dat over een paddestoelvergiftiging gaat.
Zoals altijd vindt Wexford na een aantal dwaalsporen via zijn vernuft de juiste oplossing. Rondom de echte plot hangt altijd een zij-intrige, vaak over zijn eigen privé-leven of dat van zijn ondergeschikten. In de 4 andere verhalen zit uiteraard telkens een andere plot maar voor de rest volgen ze ook dezelfde vertrouwde patronen, met een twist op het einde uiteraard.
Spannend zijn deze verhalen zeker al verkeert Wexford, behalve door zijn gezondheid, nooit in acuut doodsgevaar. Het gaat om speuren, deducten, het ontdekken van de leugen en dat het ontmaskeren van de dader. Tegen de achtergrond van het platteland. En Wexford is zoals het landschap (maar dan minder mooi): gezapig, rustgevend, nooit gehaast...
Het leest zeer aangenaam, je kan als lezer ook proberen mee te denken maar merkt al snel dat Wexford toch nog slimmer is. Je laten meevoeren en genieten is de beste manier om de boeken van Ruth Rendell tot je te nemen.
March 15, 2024
I haven’t read a lot of Ruth Rendell, so I took up the suggestion of a GR friend and read these five short cases of Rendell’s Chief Inspector Wexford in this slim volume. I was certainly not disappointed. Wexford is not Sherlock Holmes, but I love the way he sits back and listens, observes everything, and eventually comes up with the solution. I have no real favorite among the stories but reading them just gave me a renewed commitment to continue the Inspector Wexford series.
July 31, 2024
Definitely enjoyed these stories.... Filled in some gaps between books....
Here are five classic Wexford cases that display his remarkable ingenuity — and that of his creator. Ranging from the more everyday crimes of passion and violence in quiet Kingsmarkham, to a bizarre murder in Yugoslavia, each is a case which challenges Detective Chief Inspector Wexford's considerable imagination and resourcefulness, and the patient reasoning of the long suffering Burden.
Here are five classic Wexford cases that display his remarkable ingenuity — and that of his creator. Ranging from the more everyday crimes of passion and violence in quiet Kingsmarkham, to a bizarre murder in Yugoslavia, each is a case which challenges Detective Chief Inspector Wexford's considerable imagination and resourcefulness, and the patient reasoning of the long suffering Burden.
April 30, 2024
The endings! Brilliantly abrupt. Each story maintained its element of mystery until Wexford put it all together in the end. All surprising mysteries. However, I do have to admit the fifth story had me swirling a bit because of the number of characters. Too many for this geezer to follow. But still an interesting mystery. No spoiler here but I'd have to credit Dora for helping solve that one.
January 16, 2023
And now my Wexford series truly comes to an end. The short stories here were less painful than the longer novels so I give it a 3. I usually prefer the development over a longer book but I think I prefer Wexford in the short form instead.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews