Collected short stories

by Ruth Rendell

The Fallen CurtainMeans of EvilThe Fever Tree

Genres: Short Stories, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature, Mystery Thriller

536 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1989

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

[Akshay Dasgupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories can either be a hit or a total miss - for the reader and the author. It is like treading on thin ice, if one may say. Personally, I have never been a fan of short stories, especially those with a loose end where the reader is kept guessing as to what really happened at the end. Hence it was with much trepidation that I started reading this book by Ruth Rendell.

To say that the stories were good would be an understatement. They were excellent - dark, malicious, revengeful, hateful and suspenseful with slight undertones of humor. A total of 22 enjoyable short stories and 5 classic Inspector Wexford cases. Though some of these stories were written way back in the 70s and 80s they are far from boring and as good as her novels. A few of the stories that i really enjoyed reading are:

- You Can't Be Too Careful
- Almost Human
- Divided We Stand
- Ginger and the Kingsmarkham Chalk Circle
- A Glowing Future
- A needle for the Devil.

Recommended for anyone with an interest in short stories. Looking forward to reading up some of Rendell's other novels too.

[Penny Geard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book of thirds.
I really enjoyed the first third of clever murder mysteries told from the perspective of those involved. (Although admittedly, there were a few where the way certain themes were dealt with was somewhat dated due to the age of the stories.)

The second third was stories where Inspector Wexford is investigating. I discovered that Ruth Rendell had written about 20 Inspector Wexford novels, so these short stories would probably be great for people who loved those. But I felt like I was missing half the story and all of the character development.

The last third returned to the murder mysteries of the first third but with less clever twists and more toxic relationships. This was probably my least favourite third, but maybe I was just getting tired of murder mysteries at this point.

[Alins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Rendell's short fiction is every bit as good as her novel-length work, and there are several superb examples in this collection, previously published in three separate volumes.

Means of Evil is a collection of Inspector Wexford stories, while the other two sets feature Rendell's darker and more fascinating suspense pieces. The award winning story "The Fallen Curtain" is one of her most powerful and effective pieces. "A Case of Coincidence", "The Double", and "You Can't Be too Careful" are other standouts, but these are all great stories.

If you haven't read Rendell before, this is an excellent introduction to her work. And if you're already a Rendell fan, you probably have these stories already. These are tales to be read and reread and enjoyed endlessly.

[Gian Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found out this book literally by accident and I couldn't be more pleased with it.
Ruth Rendell's well crafted, realistic stories dig down deep into the average men and women's daily problems, their neurotic routines, their multi-layered relationships. A master in creating suspense, as well as revealing the worst in all of us. And she does all this without wasting a single word, like a sculptor rids of the unnecessary marble, leaving only all that matters.
Highly recommended to anyone, those are brilliant short stories for any taste.

[Jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3..75
The Fallen Curtain - A childhood trauma comes full circle, kinda. Bittersweet.
People Don't Do Such Things - One of the delicious standouts from this collection of shott stories.
A Bad Heart - Guilty conscience or a bad heart. The fun is sometimes in the not knowing.
You Can't Be Too Careful - I guessed the "twist" !
The Double - Can't have one's cake and eat it too.
The Venus Fly Trap - This I missed - who was the elderly man? Daphne's man friend or someone Merle pissed ?
The Clinging Woman- had to be done, you go,  chap.
The Vinegar Mother- comeuppance? Is a vinegar mother a scoby??
The Fall of a Coin- one of my fave in this collection.
Almost Human - sweet?? A killer with a heart for animals.
Divided We Stand - haha, guessed this. No spoiler! Nice spooky one to end the book with.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A huge and varied selection of short stories by a crime master. Some short Wexford gems along with other new characters, up to nefarious activities. These are getting a little dated now, but still fun summer reading.

[Brendon Fehre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some brilliant stories with a twist. I really enjoyed the first lot of stories, because they were varied and allowed you into different worlds. One of the best book on short stories but the same writer I have read. Excellent reading.

[Rita Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories are all involve murders - many a case of 'they got their just desserts!"

[Priscilla Shorne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Rendell is always a gripping writer. These stories are gripping and full of nasty and/or unexpected turns. Great addition to her long works

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories are not easy to do and this author does a great job. Some shocking finishes and endings that I didn't see coming. very enjoyable read.

[Kate Krz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true Mastress of short stories!!!

So far read:
Part 1: The Fallen Curtain
- The Fallen Curtain
- People Don't Do Such Things
- A Bad Heart
- You Can't Be Too Careful
- The Double
- The Venus Fly Trap
- The Clinging Woman
- The Vinegar Mother

To read:
- The Fall o a Coin
- Almost Human
- Divided We Stand

Part 2: Means of Evil
- Means of Evil
- Old Wives' Tales
- Ginger and the Kingsmarkham Chalk Circle
- Achilles Heel
- When the Wedding Was Over

Part 3: The Fever Tree
- The Fever Tree
- The Dreadful Day of Judgement
- A Glowing Future
- An Outside Interest
- A Case of Coincidence
- Thornapple
- May and June
- A Needle for the Devil
- Front Seat
- Paintbox Place
- The Wrong Category

Part 4: The New Girl Friend
- The New Girl Friend
- A Dark Blue Perfume
- The Orchard Walls
- Harte's House
- Bribery and Corruption
- The Whistler
- The Convolvulus Clock
- Loopy
- Fen Hall
- Father's Day
- The Green Road to Quephanda

[Ant Koplowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous collection of some of Ruth Rendell's very best short stories. She has written many short stories over the years, and she is one of the very best. It's a real discipline, a highly skilled craft, to write a good short story, and Rendell really knows how to do it. With such a large collection of stories, some are bound to be better than others, but all of them a readable, and many are thought-provoking. This is probably the book I'd take to a desert island.


© Koplowitz 2010

[Lolliepop · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good short stories collected here..i find most of the stories unpredictable and they really satisfy myself..and i do love the second collection, Means of Evil, or should I say, Inspector Wexford??

[Kasey Jueds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how many times I've written this, but I adore Ruth Rendell and every word she writes. Loved reading so many of her stories in a row... they really show off her range and her deep and startling knowledge of human psychology.

[Ms. Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but I do prefer her novels. She's an expert at the slow build with a good payoff but I could always kind of see the ending coming with the short stories. Either way, I love her and she's on of my faves!

[John King · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best collection of suspense stories I've ever read. And probably the best collection of any fictional stories I've ever read. All readers (and aspiring writers) should read Rendell's stories as examples of how the suspense genre can transcend into serious fiction.

[Alice Persons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book puts together three collections of her stories. You probably won't want to gulp them all down at once, because there are so many disturbing characters and situations. Rendell excelled at portraying sociopaths and killers who have no conscience. Her prose is supple and suave.

[Ian]

read the first, award winning story. Okay.

[Carinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like her shorties!

[Ange · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually care for short stories. I did enjoy these.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Rendell is one the best mystery writers and this collection of short mysteries is wonderful. I'd read a few in other collections but most were new to me and I enjoyed them all.

[Renee]

gave up on it. Clever, but everything started to sound the same after a while.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading these stories off and on for months - very good. I am sure I had read each before in Rendell's individual books - but really didn't remember them so an excellent reread.