The Vault: (A Wexford Case) (Inspector Wexford series Book 23)

The Vault: A Chief Inspector Wexford Mystery, Book 23 (Unabridged) (Unabridged)

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Showing of reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. Although this novel was quite long and detailed, I loved it.

Inspector Wexford

This novel was an exacting police procedural whose characters were very vital and moving. The plot was well-structured and polished. The one flaw I felt was not properly dealt with, making it a flaw, was the fact that during mid-investigation, Wexford found the Edsel stored in a car enthusiast's garage. With the vehicle information, why couldn't the police do a registration search and find the name of the previous owner 12 years ago?

As the novel was set in or , this kind of vehicle registration search would have been a breeze.

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The police would have been able to find the name of Teddy Brex's uncle Keith Brex in this manner, saving some investigative hours. Randell didn't include this in her novel, I consider this a flaw. After all, a police procedural novel needs to be true to life. One thing I'd like to mention is that, the reader needs to read the previous novel, "A Sight For Sore Eyes" before reading this novel.

It contains the prior histories of Teddy, Keith, and Francine, and how they came to be where they were in "The Vault". I would not have enjoyed this novel as well as I did. This novel was a super-enjoyable read!

One person found this helpful. Egads this book is dull. Even though Ruth Rendell has a reputation for being one of the top mystery writers, I'd never read any of her books. However, after four days of checking back and forth to remind myself which character was which, getting distracted by numerous editing errors Wex-ford, flyover, "diffidently" appearing twice on one page and much more I finally gave up.

I realized I didn't really care who'd done it--or why. I skipped to the last ten pages and was so astonished by the ridiculous ending that I glad I hadn't bothered to read more than I had. To begin with, flat characters who never come to life--and way too many secondary characters and their aliases to keep track of, not to mention a confusing timeline for a murder that happened 12 years earlier. I found myself remembering a writing teacher I knew who advised would-be novelists to just get words down onto paper aka: Unfortunately It seems in writing The Vault, Ruth Rendell got the "first draft" part done--and then sent it straight to print, without even a good re-reading, the helping hand of a good editor and good eyes of a proofreader.

If Ruth Rendell's fictional creation, Reg Wexford, aged as rapidly on the page as in 'reality', he'd a centenarian, or dead of old age by now. Happily for fans of this long-running series which made its debut waaay back in the s I figure every Wexford year is 5 years of our time, so despite repeated rumors that Rendell will relinquish this series to focus on other projects, readers can hope for Wexford's return. In this outing, however, we see a different Reg Wexford.

He is now retired, and still trying to adjust to this new reality of life; living most of the time in his daughter's carriage house in a swish part of London with his wife, and spending his hours prowling the city's nooks and crannies. So when four bodies are found buried in a former coal hole, under a patio, he's on hand to serve as an unofficial investigator for the detectives in charge of the investigation in the way he once was. Sarah Hussain was not popular in the community of Kingsmarkham. She was born of mixed parents - a white Irishwoman and an immigrant Indian Hindu.

She was also the Reverend of St Peter's church. But it came as a profound shock to everyone when she was found strangled in the vicarage. A garrulous cleaner, Maxine, also shared by the Wexfords, discovers the body. In his retirement, the former Detective Chief Inspector is devoting much time to reading, and has little patience with Maxine's prattle. Inspector Wexford 24 books in series. From Doon with Death Summary.

Ruth Rendell Narrated by: Add to basket failed. I enjoyed reading about Wexford in his semi-retirement, and enjoyed the story. I kind of resent other reviewers saying that those who rated the book highly must not have read it. People have different likes and dislikes and different ways of judging books. I rate books hi I loved this book. I rate books highly that I enjoy, that keep me interested and keep me engaged, and this one did.

In my book, and on my terms, that rates as five stars. Oct 23, Semibemi rated it did not like it. The writing was okay. But what drives me crazy, is that the author keeps mixing things up. One moment she writes one of the previous owners cut down a tree and a chapter later the people currently living there cut the tree? She keeps mixing up facts. Also the police can't seem to do the simples searches or checks. They have a car that possiply belonged to a suspect and they can't find out his name?

Ok the licence plate is missing, but its a very rare car, in a terrible color, so checking all regi The writing was okay. Ok the licence plate is missing, but its a very rare car, in a terrible color, so checking all registerd cars of the same make and color is definitly a short list! So i'm sorry to say but I won't finish this book. Nov 30, M rated it it was ok. I had expected a tale similar to the prequel, where the reader is drawn into the sociopathic world of Teddy Brex. Wexford adds nothing to the novel and should have solved the case in 50 pages.

In fact, there are huge holes in the plot- for example, the Edsel could have been traced easily through DMV registration, even after 12 years. And what mechanic works on a car like this without remembering the name of the own Did she have to bring Wexford into this sequel to A Sight for Sore Eyes? And what mechanic works on a car like this without remembering the name of the owner?

Does Wexford have to interview people so many times? Sorry, but the first book could have --and should have-- been the end of the story. Oct 12, Meghan rated it did not like it. It was so confusing and so uninteresting, I couldn't finish it. I didn't care to even learn the truth about the mystery. I literally hated this book. I enjoyed the mystery but my enjoyment was spoiled by the fact that both the Sussex and Metropolitan Police seemed incapable of running the most basic murder attempted murder inquiry.

It's dangerous being a member of Wexford's family.

I think I've had enough of Wexford's slut-shaming opinions. I thought the explanation in The Vault was poorly done. I'm going to have to re-read it. Rendell's ideas definitely It's dangerous being a member of Wexford's family. Rendell's ideas definitely deteriorated towards the end of her life.

Nov 07, Christina Scholz rated it did not like it. For most of the book nothing much was happening, and then it was all over quite fast. I might have been spoiled by past mystery picks, but I really didn't think that this book was well-written not even in a grammatical sense or as far as proofreading is concerned. And I got quite mad about some horrible stereotypes and an elaborate bit of slut-shaming especially since the character in question had really not done anything wrong.

Dec 27, Lynn Weber rated it liked it Shelves: Dec 22, Roberta rated it it was amazing Shelves: It is a novel of psychological suspense, not a police procedural — Reg Wexford does not appear in the narrative. In the more than ten years since I read it, I have not forgotten his name: The Vault opens with Franklin Merton commenting that although he could afford to buy a particu The Vault: The Vault opens with Franklin Merton commenting that although he could afford to buy a particular house, he could not afford to purchase a painting of it.

Not in the Flesh

The painter was Simon Alpheton, an artist of considerable note at the time, that time being The house they stood in front of was described by those who knew about such things as a Georgian cottage and built of the kind of red bricks usually called mellow. But at this time of year, midsummer, almost all the brickwork was hidden under a dense drapery of Virginia creeper, its leaves green, glossy and quivering in the light breeze.

The whole surface of the house seemed to shiver and rustle, a vertical sea of green ruffled into wavelets by the wind.

I often feel that Ruth Rendell is not given sufficient credit for the vivid beauty of her writing. One is particularly likely to encounter prose of this caliber when she is describing dwelling places. Rich and in love. The action of The Vault takes place in the present, almost forty years after Simon Alpheton created his iconic image.

Marc Syre is dead. Franklin Merton has recently passed away. Meanwhile, a terrible secret concealed in the bowels of Orcadia cottage has just come to light. At the time of these events, Reg Wexford, newly retired, is living with his wife Dora in London, in accommodation provided by their loving and happily very well to do daughter Sheila. Wexford is just starting to adjust to his new life when Superintendent Tom Ede of the Met asks for his help.

A gruesome discovery has been made in a house in Orcadia Place. Could Wexford assist with the investigation, as a civilian consultant? And does, although working for law enforcement in this singular capacity makes him somewhat uneasy. Sherlock Holmes, of course. But no, Reg, I forgot. He was a bona fide policeman. His creator Ngaio Marsh was among the pioneers of the British police procedural, beginning with the first Roderick Alleyn novel called A Man Lay Dead, published in I felt as though I were walking along side him. At one point in the investigation, as he checks in via cell phone with Tom Ede, the latter asks if he is anywhere near the West Hampstead cemetery.

If so, he should seek out the tomb of Grand Duke Michael of Russia. He was sent to live in exile, and after some wandering on the continent chose England as the new dwelling place for his family. One wonders how they felt, watching from a safe distance, as the imperial regime that had spawned them was annihilated. This story has nothing to do with the main narrative of the novel. It is yet another instance of Ruth Rendell in digressive mode. As a lesson in the vagaries of history, the story of the Grand Duke and his family is worth pondering.

Sep 14, Aida Pottinger rated it did not like it. Took half a day to read. Badly written, badly edited.

The Vault (Inspector Wexford, #23) by Ruth Rendell

The sub plot padded it out to pages of which were not required. The only reason I finished it was to find out if the story actually had a believable ending. Aug 11, Carol Sandford rated it really liked it. The story led to so many different possibilities it was mind blowing. Reason I only gave it 4 stars was because I thought the last few chapters were weak and left me a bit confused.

See a Problem?

Who exactly was the killer?? I've written about my adoration of Ruth Rendell before, and it's still hard to explain why I love her so much, because I get all swoony and afraid I won't be able to do her justice. So, the swoony bit: I know it's a cliche to say someone's work "transcends the genre," but it's actually true about Ruth Rendell, whose books, to me, seem far more intelligent and intu I've written about my adoration of Ruth Rendell before, and it's still hard to explain why I love her so much, because I get all swoony and afraid I won't be able to do her justice.

I know it's a cliche to say someone's work "transcends the genre," but it's actually true about Ruth Rendell, whose books, to me, seem far more intelligent and intuitive about the deep recesses of the human soul than most non-mystery literary fiction I read. And it's especially true about Wexford, her detective, who becomes realer, more complicated, and more compelling with each book. For example, here's this quote, which I loved as as a window into Wexford's complex and lovable heart and mind: Wexford sometimes thought how awkward it was for Englishmen to greet each other, even in the case of close friends.

Continental Europeans would have shaken hands or even embraced. Arabs and many Asians would have embraced and kissed , even to that extraordinary fashion he had only seen on the screen, of kissing on one cheek, then the other, then the first again. Secretly, in those wakeful, vaguely mad times of the night, he thought that he would quite like to embrace Burden when they met after an absence, though he drew the line at that triple kissing.

Follow the Author

Thinking of telling Burden this and his reaction, a kind of incredulous but well-veiled horror, made Wexford laugh out loud. Ruth Rendell's books always present me with a funny dilemma: I want to read fast because they're mysteries, with fascinating intricate startling plots and to read as slowly as possible because they're beautifully and wisely written, because each scene is rich and telling. The good thing about the fact that my memory is getting worse is being able to reread her earlier work and to love it as much without remembering who did it all over again.

Jun 02, Jennifer rated it it was ok Shelves: Not that The Saint Zita Society hadn't plumbed the depths a once-loved author could sink to. The disappointment here was that to begin with I felt reassured that Rendall, back with Wexford, on safe ground once more. It started strongly and seemed set to However, eventually the book unravelled and I closed the book barely knowing whodunnit, how and who to even though I've read A Sight for Sore Eyes to which I now realise this is a sequel with added Wexford, a clever idea if A disappointing book.

It started strongly and seemed set to However, eventually the book unravelled and I closed the book barely knowing whodunnit, how and who to even though I've read A Sight for Sore Eyes to which I now realise this is a sequel with added Wexford, a clever idea if it comes off There were some very weird things in this book Wexford frequently muses on the datedness of various expressions that don't seem dated to me - 'nowadays'?

Yet he is recently retired from the police force as a senior detective and reckons never to have sent an email? Meanwhile, he laboriously explains the most banal of cockney rhyming slang eg 'taking a butcher's' to the young black London detective he is working alongside and she seems to need it possibly because like all the London police characters bar the Tom who calls on Wexford's informal help, she is made of cardboard The additional story of his daughter Sylvia's stabbing and its sequelae and antecedents also failed to stand up although I liked the start of it.

The IPCC are involved in the other case when someone makes a malicious complaint but boy have the Kingsmarkham police got a case to answer on this one failing to find her attacker or her car. I liked walking round London with Wexford looking at vernacular architecture - it was like Street View. There was enough good in this book for enough of it to call it OK. Aug 05, J. I hurried to pick up a copy of The Vault for two reasons—first because it was a Rendell, second because it had been dubbed a sequel to A Sight For Sore Eyes, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Wexford, now retired and living part-time in the city, is rescued from boredom when a former colleague asks him to advise on a case involving bodies discovered in an underground chamber at Orchadia Cottage. Though he has no legal authority, the former chief inspector is soon doing the bulk of the investigating.

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