Wednesday 12 January, 2005
Thirteen Steps Down by Ruth Rendell
Some of my favourite crime writers have been slight disappointments lately, but having recently read Rendell's superb older book Crocodile Bird I had pretty much forgotten the mild averageness that was her previous book The Rottweiler.
It all came back very quickly though. I miss the old Wexford novels that she hasn't written in couple of years - lately she's been into the perverse disturbed murderers who are totally detached from reality, a concept that gets really old really soon now. In Thirteen Steps Down the deranged individual is ladies man Mix Cellini, who is obsessed with a long-dead serial killer who used to murder prostitutes and stalks a supermodel who he dreams of marrying.
The book goes on in a very predictable manner until about half-way, when I realised that opposed to Rendell's usual style, there were bunch of really nice caring people in this book. It was probably because of those people that book ended up quite decent - she certainly isn't in a habit of making her central characters likeable, and horrible Mix Cellini is no exception although he does offer some most comical moments when he to his surprise discoveres that the body of the woman he's killed and buried under the floorboards suddenly starts to smell in the July heat. Side characters are mostly very likeable, sweet and naive Nerissa, poor Danila, evil Shoshana and gutsy Gwen and her cronies.
Good read, and here's for hoping next one will be a Wexford novel.
Posted by kolibri at 12 January 10:30, 2005I hear ya! Wexford rocks :)
# 2 - Outi (on January 12, 2005 12:35 PM):
Oh and while I'm at it... Are you familiar with any of James Patterson's novels? I absolutely love his books, especially the Alex Cross series. Fabulous thrillers.
# 3 - kolibri (on January 12, 2005 12:38 PM):
I'm not, but I sure am willing to give it a try :)
# 4 - Chu (on January 13, 2005 06:20 AM):
You may have caught Alex Cross portrayed by Morgan Freeman in the film "Kiss the Girls".
While I hear the books are excellent, the film sits comfortably in the upper rows of the three star category. What set it apart for me was that it made you care about the characters. Oddly engaging.
Been meaning to catch some Patterson for quite some time. Also Jeffery Deaver (The Bone Collector, The Coffin Dancer et al.).
Perhaps now, when I should begin my so called thesis, would be a good time? ;)
# 5 - Outi (on January 13, 2005 06:54 AM):
I actually just took The Bone Collector back to the library yesterday. I liked it, but after 40 pages or so I realised I had seen the movie and that sort of ruined the experience for me a bit. I wish I had first read the book.
I've read the whole Alex Cross series by James Patterson (plus some others) and I'm desperately waiting for the next book. The two movies (Kiss the Girls and, um, something about spiders... Along Came a Spider, perhaps?) weren't particularly good compared to the books but Morgan Freeman is always good :)
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