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The New Girl Friend and other Stories of Suspense
Eleven sinister short stories, from murder, perversion, corruption, blackmail and secret terrors that lead to unspeakable acts. Hidden fears that erupt in irrational violence have nothing to do with people like you-or do they?
Contents:
The new girl friend
A dark blue perfume
The orchard walls
Hare's house
Bribery and corruption
The whistler
The convolvulus clock
Loopy
Fen Hall
Father's day
The green road to Quephanda
Contents:
The new girl friend
A dark blue perfume
The orchard walls
Hare's house
Bribery and corruption
The whistler
The convolvulus clock
Loopy
Fen Hall
Father's day
The green road to Quephanda
195 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
15 people are currently reading
278 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 - 29 of 52 reviews
October 29, 2016
I have only recently started reading Ruth Rendell books and have found them generally engaging and refreshing in much the same way I found Agatha Christie books all those years ago.
This book is a series of short stories that in all honesty was a complete mixed bag of good, bad and boring.
The title story is definitely the best but sadly the rest failed to meet my interest.
This book is a series of short stories that in all honesty was a complete mixed bag of good, bad and boring.
The title story is definitely the best but sadly the rest failed to meet my interest.
January 1, 2018
Ruth Rendell's short stories read to me how I imagined and hoped grown up Point Horror would do. She has a meticulous way of capturing the reader's attention and holding on tight, creating as she does so 11 tales of chilling and flesh creeping enjoyment that will stay at the back of your mind for ages to come!
March 23, 2016
I was very interested to see how Rendell did in short form and no disappointment here. A lot of her earlier novels were very lean and this is just sort of like taking that to the extreme. These are still very much Rendellian stories, they have the exact same twisty demented sort of heart at the center of a seemingly normal scenarios. She remains firmly within the genre of psychological dark suspense. And these were very entertaining short visits to her strange and scary world. Additional kudos to the kitschy cover. Fun way to spend a couple of hours. Recommended.
March 13, 2021
Eleven short, creepy stories by one of my fav. writers. However, some were less than 'thrilling' and more of a personality-type tale. (Odd people doing odd things.) Some I liked very much, others were a C- or merely satisfactory read. One I didn't understand at all and gave up on.
The four which were my favorites:
The Girl Friend. Sort of weird, yet with an ending I did NOT see coming. A woman makes a new friend, 'the girl friend' and things move ahead nicely until uh oh, he shouldn't have done that! (Be careful with a new friend.)
The Orchard Walls. Set during WW2, a young boy is sent to live with relatives in the country where he makes a surprising statement and is corrected for it rather severely, but years later learns that maybe he was right?
Hare's House, couldn't follow it at first, part of it made no sense to my American head. After giving it long thought and re-reading a passage or two - got it! About new owners in a house where a murder occurred. Buyer beware!
The Green Road to Quephanda. You had to know it was going to be completely odd with a name like that. I read it, didn't like it, didn't understand it, but kept on going. Glad I did. A mysterious little story with a Lovecraft vibe.
Worth the read, especially for Ruth Rendell fans.
Three stars.
The four which were my favorites:
The Girl Friend. Sort of weird, yet with an ending I did NOT see coming. A woman makes a new friend, 'the girl friend' and things move ahead nicely until uh oh, he shouldn't have done that! (Be careful with a new friend.)
The Orchard Walls. Set during WW2, a young boy is sent to live with relatives in the country where he makes a surprising statement and is corrected for it rather severely, but years later learns that maybe he was right?
Hare's House, couldn't follow it at first, part of it made no sense to my American head. After giving it long thought and re-reading a passage or two - got it! About new owners in a house where a murder occurred. Buyer beware!
The Green Road to Quephanda. You had to know it was going to be completely odd with a name like that. I read it, didn't like it, didn't understand it, but kept on going. Glad I did. A mysterious little story with a Lovecraft vibe.
Worth the read, especially for Ruth Rendell fans.
Three stars.
July 8, 2021
A fine collection of short stories, my first read from Ruth Rendell. She had ways with words, the stories were beautifully crafted.
Amongst all, I enjoyed 'The Orchard Walls', 'Hare's House' and 'Bribery and Corruption' best. 'Loopy' and 'Father's Day' were quite disturbing and I felt emotional reading the last story 'The Green Road To Quephanda'. Mine was an old book, 1986 edition, and I found a typo on page 34.
'So many people are like that. The whole of life is a preparation for life, not living.'
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Amongst all, I enjoyed 'The Orchard Walls', 'Hare's House' and 'Bribery and Corruption' best. 'Loopy' and 'Father's Day' were quite disturbing and I felt emotional reading the last story 'The Green Road To Quephanda'. Mine was an old book, 1986 edition, and I found a typo on page 34.
'So many people are like that. The whole of life is a preparation for life, not living.'
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
November 30, 2015
Some of these are quite good. "The New Girlfriend" is a classic of course, which I read back in my first year of university. It's very likely the best story in here. These tales actually remind me of a slightly more modern and British Cornell Woolrich at times. "The Convolvolus Clock" was charming and sad, with the dotty old lady being eaten away by guilt because in a fit of peak she stole something from a rural art gallery. "The Whistler" was an uneasy tale with an ending that was predictable yet satisfying. I like how the young protagonist in "Bribery and Corruption" basically thinks and does everything wrong, even if the company manager Mr. Sorensen was a complete dick. It's a nice bit of direction that Rendell can sort of make you feel sympathy for people who are a lot less than perfect.
A few of the stories are a bit weak. Not sure what the point of "Hare's House" was, and it started off so well. I just wanted to yell "For god's sake, just go to the library and get the book out". I guess Ruth was trying to tell us that the guy hated his wife. I understand the symbology but the whole thing felt a bit empty.
Good anthology though. Most of these are very short, so even if by the end you feel something comes off a bit weak, there's still some pleasure to be had in the setup and the reading.
A few of the stories are a bit weak. Not sure what the point of "Hare's House" was, and it started off so well. I just wanted to yell "For god's sake, just go to the library and get the book out". I guess Ruth was trying to tell us that the guy hated his wife. I understand the symbology but the whole thing felt a bit empty.
Good anthology though. Most of these are very short, so even if by the end you feel something comes off a bit weak, there's still some pleasure to be had in the setup and the reading.
November 22, 2022
Labai patinka Rendell short stories, kai kurios labai geros (pvz "The New Girl Friend"), bet visumoj rinkinys netempia iki pvz The Fever Tree and Other Stories.
O dabar trumpai apie istorijas:
1) The New Girl Friend - slapta nuo savo vaikino mergina susitikinėja su draugės vaikinu – bet viskas ne taip, kaip atrodo.
2) A Dark Blue Perfume – pagyvenęs vyras iš kelionių sugrįžta į miestą, kuriame gyveno su dar jaunystėje jį palikusia žmona. Apsėstas minčių apie ją valkiojasi aplink jos namus besitikėdamas ją pamatyti susenusią ir ligotą, bet nustemba.
3) The Orchard Walls – moteris prisimena paauglystėje išgyventą patirtį, kai slapta sekė įsimylėjėlių porelę. Šitas gal nelabai kriminalinis, bet itin gražiai atskleista paaugliška obsesija.
4) Hare's House – pora įsikelia į namą, kuriame gyveno žudikas, tačiau sąmoningai vengia sužinoti, ką ir kaip jis nužudė. Šitas turbūt turėjo būti labiau spooky, bet, mano nuomone, išėjo kiek silpnokas.
5) Bribery and Corruption – vakarieniaudamas restorane vyras sutinka savo tėvo (buvusį) viršininką su jauna mergina. Viršininkas bando jį papirkti, kad šis niekam nepasakytų, ką matęs.
6) The Whistler – jaunas niekšelis dirba JAV, kur tvarko atostogoms nuomojamus namus, ir viename jų aptinka raktą.
7) The Convolvulus Clock – pagyvenusi ponia lanko draugę ir parduotuvėje nugvelbia jai labai patikusį laikrodį. Labai faina (ir liūdna) šita istorija, puiki charakterio studija, kur smulki detalė suveikia kaip katalizatorius.
8) Loopy – keturiasdešimtmetis su motina gyvenantis vyras (bet netrukus turintis susituokti ir išsikraustyti) atranda džiaugsmą persirenginėti vilku. Keista istorija, šiurpoka, nors, sakytum, tema yra furries:D
9) Fen Hall – vaikai važiuoja pastovyklauti pas tėvo draugą, kuris gyvena apgriuvusiame name su svajotoja žmona.
10) Father's Day – dvi poros su vaikais išvyksta atostogų, bet vienas vyras obsesyviai rūpinasi vaikais ir baiminasi, kad žmona jį paliks ir juos pasiims.
11) The Green Road to Quephanda – ne apie nusikaltimą, tokia kiek mistinė istorija, graži, bet kaip baigiamoji rinkinio istorija atrodė ne visai tinkama.
O dabar trumpai apie istorijas:
1) The New Girl Friend - slapta nuo savo vaikino mergina susitikinėja su draugės vaikinu – bet viskas ne taip, kaip atrodo.
2) A Dark Blue Perfume – pagyvenęs vyras iš kelionių sugrįžta į miestą, kuriame gyveno su dar jaunystėje jį palikusia žmona. Apsėstas minčių apie ją valkiojasi aplink jos namus besitikėdamas ją pamatyti susenusią ir ligotą, bet nustemba.
3) The Orchard Walls – moteris prisimena paauglystėje išgyventą patirtį, kai slapta sekė įsimylėjėlių porelę. Šitas gal nelabai kriminalinis, bet itin gražiai atskleista paaugliška obsesija.
4) Hare's House – pora įsikelia į namą, kuriame gyveno žudikas, tačiau sąmoningai vengia sužinoti, ką ir kaip jis nužudė. Šitas turbūt turėjo būti labiau spooky, bet, mano nuomone, išėjo kiek silpnokas.
5) Bribery and Corruption – vakarieniaudamas restorane vyras sutinka savo tėvo (buvusį) viršininką su jauna mergina. Viršininkas bando jį papirkti, kad šis niekam nepasakytų, ką matęs.
6) The Whistler – jaunas niekšelis dirba JAV, kur tvarko atostogoms nuomojamus namus, ir viename jų aptinka raktą.
7) The Convolvulus Clock – pagyvenusi ponia lanko draugę ir parduotuvėje nugvelbia jai labai patikusį laikrodį. Labai faina (ir liūdna) šita istorija, puiki charakterio studija, kur smulki detalė suveikia kaip katalizatorius.
8) Loopy – keturiasdešimtmetis su motina gyvenantis vyras (bet netrukus turintis susituokti ir išsikraustyti) atranda džiaugsmą persirenginėti vilku. Keista istorija, šiurpoka, nors, sakytum, tema yra furries:D
9) Fen Hall – vaikai važiuoja pastovyklauti pas tėvo draugą, kuris gyvena apgriuvusiame name su svajotoja žmona.
10) Father's Day – dvi poros su vaikais išvyksta atostogų, bet vienas vyras obsesyviai rūpinasi vaikais ir baiminasi, kad žmona jį paliks ir juos pasiims.
11) The Green Road to Quephanda – ne apie nusikaltimą, tokia kiek mistinė istorija, graži, bet kaip baigiamoji rinkinio istorija atrodė ne visai tinkama.
November 4, 2018
The New Girl Friend is yet another perfect collection from Ruth Rendell. The title story is perfect, as is "Loopy", and "The Convolvulus Clock" (homage to Edgar Allan Poe perhaps), and "The Orchard Walls". One or two tales might just be excellent instead of perfect, but it's a very fine line. I only have one more collection of hers to read; A Spot of Folly.
November 12, 2021
This 172 page book contains eleven short stories. Most have London and English village settings. One, however, is a family vacation in the Greek Islands with a tragic ending. And most have the sort of odd or vaguely ambiguous settings that seem to be popular with some readers. All (especially the final one) have a grim, depressing tone.
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October 10, 2024Rendell at her Rendellest. Short, sharp stories with unexpected twists. As is her usual territory Rendall is interested in the psychology of crime, particularly in what kind of mental state it is that drives a person to do something like commit murder. The man who is afraid that his wife will leave him and take their kids is particularly troubling.
December 3, 2021
Surprenant!
December 1, 2009
It's probably safe to say that Ruth Rendell is best-known for her novels, particularly the Inspector Wexford series. However, Rendell has also written her share of short stories, including the ones in THE NEW GIRL FRIEND, named for the Edgar-winning short story.
The anthology is comprised of 11 stories, all of which are suspenseful, but have more than that going for them. They are studies in human nature and how our foibles can sometimes lead to disastrous results.
Despite being somewhat uneven in quality, most of the stories make engaging reading. Whether it's a woman's nagging guilt over a stolen clock, a man who likes (a little too much) to dress up as a wolf or someone who's obsessed with his ex-wife (years after breaking up), Rendell does masterful work exploring the human psyche, while creating a sense of dread over what will eventually happen.
The title story is a good example. In it, a woman strikes up a friendship with a man – keeping it secret from her husband – but not for the reasons one would assume at first. The story builds to a violent climax that, rather than being an unexpected turn, seems almost inevitable.
For more, go to: http://mysterycrimefiction.suite101.c...
The anthology is comprised of 11 stories, all of which are suspenseful, but have more than that going for them. They are studies in human nature and how our foibles can sometimes lead to disastrous results.
Despite being somewhat uneven in quality, most of the stories make engaging reading. Whether it's a woman's nagging guilt over a stolen clock, a man who likes (a little too much) to dress up as a wolf or someone who's obsessed with his ex-wife (years after breaking up), Rendell does masterful work exploring the human psyche, while creating a sense of dread over what will eventually happen.
The title story is a good example. In it, a woman strikes up a friendship with a man – keeping it secret from her husband – but not for the reasons one would assume at first. The story builds to a violent climax that, rather than being an unexpected turn, seems almost inevitable.
For more, go to: http://mysterycrimefiction.suite101.c...
December 25, 2015
An enjoyable selection of Ruth Rendell's short stories. When deciding on the number of stars to give as a rating, I was minded to give three, as collections such as this often contain middling kinds of stories that are entertaining diversions without much to commend them, and there are perhaps one or such stories in this collection. In the end, though, I thought I'd go for four stars to match the best of the stories.
Of the stories here, "The New Girlfriend" is perhaps the most well-known, but in the end I found it quite slight. Of more interest were stories in which there was a feeling that a typical Rendellian psychological novella or short novel might have grown from the barer bones of the short story -- into this category fell "The Orchard Walls" or "Fen Hall". Other stories also tantalisingly hinted at themes, obsessions, interests, characters or locations in later novels -- into this category fell "Fen Hall" (again) and "Father's Day".
The collection closed with "The Green Road to Quephanda", a lovely surprise in that it was almost a metanarrative, a contemplation on genre and the roots (routes) of imagination.
Of the stories here, "The New Girlfriend" is perhaps the most well-known, but in the end I found it quite slight. Of more interest were stories in which there was a feeling that a typical Rendellian psychological novella or short novel might have grown from the barer bones of the short story -- into this category fell "The Orchard Walls" or "Fen Hall". Other stories also tantalisingly hinted at themes, obsessions, interests, characters or locations in later novels -- into this category fell "Fen Hall" (again) and "Father's Day".
The collection closed with "The Green Road to Quephanda", a lovely surprise in that it was almost a metanarrative, a contemplation on genre and the roots (routes) of imagination.
December 14, 2018
I'm still unmovable. Her short stories are just not up to her novels' standard.
This is the third collection that I've read and still no sign of an improvement whatsoever.
They are bland, repetitive, trite and lacking in original twists.
They are o for a quick reading but as soon as the last sentence is gone oblivion kicks in.
Forgettable and unsurprising. Just a good passtime while you're waiting for the next book to arrive.
This is the third collection that I've read and still no sign of an improvement whatsoever.
They are bland, repetitive, trite and lacking in original twists.
They are o for a quick reading but as soon as the last sentence is gone oblivion kicks in.
Forgettable and unsurprising. Just a good passtime while you're waiting for the next book to arrive.
February 12, 2024
3.6
Some gems here.
Of the 3 Ruth Rendell short story collections so far, Fallen Curtain- The New Girlfriend- Copper Peacock.
Level of enjoyment in descending order.
The New Girlfriend - how ahead of its time! Which year was this short stories collection again?
A Dark Blue Perfume - think he meant to commit suicide but _____instead.
The Orchard Walls - Adultery. Murder cover up. A murder realised many years later. Enjoyed this one too.
Hare's House- haha, I had to laugh for some reason. The irony.
Bribery and Corruption- Well, well. Good for you, Nicholas Hawthorne! Liked the naughty twist in this one. Son of let-go long time employee dad gets his chance at revenge.
The Whistler - was it Manuel??
The Convolvulus Clock - Beware Convolvulous Clock!
Loopy - creepily loopy pair of mother and son.
Fen Hall- I missed some key detail here. So Mr Liddon murdered Flora, did he?
Father's Day - held some promise but I didn't quite like the ending. Felt quite similar to some of her short stories; this one just didn't quite hit the mark for me with that obsessive father Michael character.
The Geeen Road to Quephanda - Rather poetic.
Some gems here.
Of the 3 Ruth Rendell short story collections so far, Fallen Curtain- The New Girlfriend- Copper Peacock.
Level of enjoyment in descending order.
The New Girlfriend - how ahead of its time! Which year was this short stories collection again?
A Dark Blue Perfume - think he meant to commit suicide but _____instead.
The Orchard Walls - Adultery. Murder cover up. A murder realised many years later. Enjoyed this one too.
Hare's House- haha, I had to laugh for some reason. The irony.
Bribery and Corruption- Well, well. Good for you, Nicholas Hawthorne! Liked the naughty twist in this one. Son of let-go long time employee dad gets his chance at revenge.
The Whistler - was it Manuel??
The Convolvulus Clock - Beware Convolvulous Clock!
Loopy - creepily loopy pair of mother and son.
Fen Hall- I missed some key detail here. So Mr Liddon murdered Flora, did he?
Father's Day - held some promise but I didn't quite like the ending. Felt quite similar to some of her short stories; this one just didn't quite hit the mark for me with that obsessive father Michael character.
The Geeen Road to Quephanda - Rather poetic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2018
'The New Girl Friend and Other Stories of Suspense' comprises eleven short stories revolving around dark subject matters. Unpredictable and suspenseful for the most part, these stories were certainly entertaining.
My personal favourites were:
Hare's House - A couple moves into a house that is ridiculously cheap only to learn that it's because a murderer once lived in it. However, they agree that it's better not to know what had happened but the man gets even more curious as time goes by.
The Convolvulus Clock - A woman wants to buy a clock but the shop owner refuses to sell it to her. When she gets the opportunity to steal it, she does so but soon wishes that she hadn't.
Overall, this short story compilation was a quick and enjoyable read though a few stories didn't measure up anywhere close to some of Rendell's best works.
My personal favourites were:
Hare's House - A couple moves into a house that is ridiculously cheap only to learn that it's because a murderer once lived in it. However, they agree that it's better not to know what had happened but the man gets even more curious as time goes by.
The Convolvulus Clock - A woman wants to buy a clock but the shop owner refuses to sell it to her. When she gets the opportunity to steal it, she does so but soon wishes that she hadn't.
Overall, this short story compilation was a quick and enjoyable read though a few stories didn't measure up anywhere close to some of Rendell's best works.
June 24, 2023
Overall I enjoyed the stories, they were all very different and somewhat compelling tales. Horror portrayed in a few different forms so you never knew what to expect and it didn’t get stale.
I can’t say I have a favourite of them all, although I did enjoy the twist of Hares House and the dramatic ending of The New Girlfriend and (I forget the name exactly) the perfume titled one.
Corruption and Bribery was amusing with an equally amusing ending but not altogether “horrifying” or thick with drama, and the same with the final story. Entertaining for sure, but not in a horror way.
The Whistler was maybe my least favourite. It was moderately predictable and ended with, in my opinion, a bit of a cop-out. There were a lot more scary and worthwhile ways the score could have been settle.
I can’t say I have a favourite of them all, although I did enjoy the twist of Hares House and the dramatic ending of The New Girlfriend and (I forget the name exactly) the perfume titled one.
Corruption and Bribery was amusing with an equally amusing ending but not altogether “horrifying” or thick with drama, and the same with the final story. Entertaining for sure, but not in a horror way.
The Whistler was maybe my least favourite. It was moderately predictable and ended with, in my opinion, a bit of a cop-out. There were a lot more scary and worthwhile ways the score could have been settle.
June 24, 2023
Rendell writes very effective stories, extremely to the point, developed (but not rushed) very rapidly, and always with a nice kick at the end. The first few ones felt a bit formulaic, focusing on an everyday item and then generating tension around that which ends up with a bang in the end; very Checkovian in a way. But then, the stories become more and more psychological, we are pulled around by the different broken perceptions of the perpetrator, as their perceptions pull them down into deeper abysses. There is a richness to the characters, environments, and story structures. For such a short (from the number of pages point of view) story connection, it is a very rich book from both story quality and variety point of view.
November 11, 2018
Eleven quick-reading suspense stories, mostly written in the 70s and 80s for Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. They're formulaic - a slightly odd domestic situation, a murder, a twist (the two that don't follow this format are the best and the worst entries in the book) - and most are pretty unremarkable and workmanlike, but a few are clever, memorable, or genuinely startling.
June 5, 2023
I was expecting great things from a Ruth Rendell book, but I only enjoyed about half of the stories. My favorite would be the title story called "The New Girlfriend". It was surprising all the way through and the ending was superb. I liked the book enough to finish it, but I wouldn't want to read it again.
July 18, 2024
Rendell writes beautifully. Most of the stories are tragic, chilling or both; but there is an empathy with humanity in her storytelling, laying bare the chaos and madness that we collectively suffer. Highlights are the title story, "Loopy" and "The Green Road to Quephanda."
September 29, 2024
Just when I thought I'd done them all...finally a series of short stories, loved these as ever, bring me another Ruth because I haven't found a replacement yet for her darkness and twists of human interaction and how one moment, one person can change the path of how others behave.
April 19, 2025
🤔Surprenant.
13 Pages.
Christine, Graham, Angie et David sont voisins.
Christine attend avec impatience de revoir David en cachette, David qui sait si bien se travestir...
Une nouvelle très ambivalente, au dénouement absolument inattendu.
A découvrir.
13 Pages.
Christine, Graham, Angie et David sont voisins.
Christine attend avec impatience de revoir David en cachette, David qui sait si bien se travestir...
Une nouvelle très ambivalente, au dénouement absolument inattendu.
A découvrir.
December 17, 2017
The usual excellence from Rendell. Each story has its own flavor of creepiness or twist of surprise violence.
August 2, 2019
Really dark and disturbing...didn't really like this one..
June 25, 2020
Beautifully constructed if a tad.dated in places. That said, it's a real gem and well worth.reading.
July 2, 2020
I think I have now read all of Rendell’s short-story collections, and I think this one is the best.
June 3, 2021
No me gusto, solo la primer historia pero los demas no me gustaron para nada
July 28, 2021
Read 2009
Displaying 1 - 29 of 52 reviews