The Vault: (A Wexford Case)

I have a mixed history with Ruth Rendell; some of her books I've admired and loved, others I've thought lazy. This book for me fell into the latter category. I started off with huge excitement because this book picks up from where another of hers - SIGHT FOR SORE EYES - left off. I enjoyed SIGHT, so I was looking forward to finding out what happened to the characters. However as soon as I discovered that both Rendell and her editor couldn't be bothered to read the earlier book and check the character's name - GREX, not BREX, I was alerted to the possibility that this was one of her 'lazy' books, and I was proved right. Ruth Rendell has a formula with her Wexford books to intertwine a storyline about Wexford's family with the central crime plot. Unfortunately this time she chose a story featuring Sylvia, who is by a long way the dullest and least believable of the Wexford clan. She has been so unnattractively portrayed in previous books that I'm sure I'm not the only Rendell reader who has to stifle a groan when she appears. The sub-plot isn't the most irritating thing about this book, though. I find Rendell's efforts to explore race/illegal immigrant issues quite embarrassing. the fact that the London female police officer in the book is black seems to be treated as if it were extraordinarily exotic, whereas any Londoner wouldn't find it unusual at all. The South African character turned out to be racist - surprise surprise! This stereotype of South Africans is surely racist in itself? (and about 30 years out of date). And I'm sure many of her readers would have second guessed that when a Latvian-born cash in hand cleaner appears, she was going to be involved in a prostitution/illegal immigrant storyline; Rendell seems only to be able to include other nationalities by using them to represent 'issues' like this.I thank Rendell for the enjoyment she has brought me in the past with many of her books, but this one won't be re-read with pleasure I'm afraid.

I was reading an American forensic crime novel  You Belong To Me  that was failing to capture my interest when The Vault was delivered. I switched books and was immediately hooked by the story and Ruth Rendell's elegant writing. She manages, without excessive descriptive prose, to paint a picture that I can see in my mind's eye and create believable characters. I've enjoyed many Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine books and generally prefer the Wexford series owing to her creation of strong and admirable core of characters: Wexford, his wife Dora and fellow police officer, Burdon: an enjoyment aided by the TV series with three excellent actors playing those parts to put real flesh on the fictional people.It makes a pleasant change from most other detective series, bar Donna Leon's Brunetti, that Wexford is a happily married man, with a family, who doesn't get drunk or smoke and, though sometimes a little irritable, generally gets on with his colleagues. The Vault is a departure from the rest of the Wexford books in that he has now retired from the police force. However, he is co-opted by a former colleague, now working in London, to help solve the mystery of how four bodies ended up in an underground coal cellar. Adding to the difficulty of solving the crime(s) is that one of the bodies has been dead for a far shorter time than the other three.I gather that this book is a sequel to  A Sight For Sore Eyes , which didn't involve Wexford. I don't recall reading that novel and don't think the omission spoiled my appreciation of The Vault.I see from other reviews that not all are pleased by this book, however, I found it most enjoyable. I liked reading about Wexford's perambulations around London; his family dramas and his opinions about modern life. I prefer detective stories that don't involve a lot of savage violence described in lascivious detail, but instead build up clues, forensic details and intuition to finally solve the case. I rarely work out who "who dunnit" and don't try to, instead just enjoy the journey to the final page.I haven't given the book 5 stars as it isn't the most riveting page-turner, but I do feel its well wroth reading. You Belong To MeA Sight For Sore Eyes

Here's a short list of things wrong with this book:1. There are a large number of glaring flaws including misspellings, repeats of the same verbiage within a few pages, digressions into descriptions of plants and foliage, etc. that should have been caught by any junior editor at a reputable publisher.2. The character of of Det. Sup. Tom Ede is about as wooden and unbelievable as he can be.3. Descriptions of Wexford's perambulations through London are annoying and mostly pointless.4. The front of the book contains rave reviews from respected crime fiction authors who, I am willing to bet, never opened this offering.5. As has been noted by other reviewers, the plotting, pacing and generally dysfunctional writing are a very long way from Rendell's best.All in all - a great disappointment.

Vintage Wexford.Generally I prefer Ruth Rendell's psychological thrillers and even more so her Barbara Vine's offerings, but an occasional dose of Wexford is welcome too. This is typical Wexford for fans of the series: analytical police work with many personal touches and references. As usual a policeman (if retired) with social conscience.I particularly enjoyed the link to one of my favourite Rendell's books "A sight for sore eyes". It seemed like layers of history built over the original story when a thread of people trafficking was thrown into the mix.As usual, simple minimalistic prose that doesn't overwhelm the story line or strangulate the characters. It's good to occasionally remind oneself what unpretentious narrative really feels like.

I listened to this book on audio on a long trip through Spain. The narrator was excellent. His interpretation of the many speaking voices was outstanding. It made the whole thing a pleasure to listen to.Good plot that keeps interest by rolling along at a fair pace and a nice sub plot. Wexford's home life adds to his trials and tribulations during the investigation.I did find a couple of issues that made me reduce the score from five to four stars.1) There was an unbelievable coincidence that led to him discovering the key witness, the female doctor. There were other coincidences that one could just about put in the suspension of disbelief category.2) I'm still confused over the first three bodies in the vault. I know Wexford gives some explanation but it isn't borne out with any evidence. Or perhaps I just missed that point.I'd recommend the audio book to anyone going on a long drive or even sitting at home and listening to it as a change from the telly.