A true "Chief Inspector Wexford" again from Ruth Rendell, but with some of the psychological elements that were her forte as Barbara Vine. After the river in the village has flooded, a teenaged brother and sister turn out to be missing. The brother's teacher had been looking after them but has vanished as well. What has been going on?

A friend from New-Zealand gave me this book in Vienna. Now I find it fitting to pass it on to two friends I have in common with my friend from New-Zealand, namely lot12 and her partner. I hope they like it; who knows the book may turn up again in Vienna, or even New Zealand.

I just found the book as a "controlled release" on my office desk. My supervisor dropped it there. Does she presume I've already done all the things I should do? I haven't read the book yet.

The book has a somewhat lengthy start, but I finallly got curious enough to read all through ... the plot was disappointing. I will pass the book on to one of the our mutual friends (mr "cage" or miss "sneak" ;-))

Yes, but before being passed on to mister cage or ms sneak, it came to my attention, of course. Not very surprising since we live in the same house and went on holidays on the same boat.

I, to be honest, liked the start. The floods, the parents, the suspense... But I agree with cellotape that the plot was unconvincing. it is a fast read and driven by the plot, but then after a while I started to guess. And my guesses were of course premeditated by Ms Rendell. And, because it is what she wants you to believe, what I guessed was much better substantiated then the real plot (by Rendell, not by me). So after about 350 pages there comes this witness who's story is immediately believed. All the loose ends are tied up hastely and bang! end of story!
Hmmm... I don't buy it.

Also some positive points:
The way the children are described, their points of view (especially the girl), is very convincing.
The sideline of Wexfords daughter is interesting and realistic (I have a raw nerve for father-daughter relationships).
The floods are spooky, certainly while reading in the rain. Though I got bored with the theme, because Rendell dragged it through to the end.

RELEASE NOTES:

And the book remained and rested in our bookcase. It was to be put in a bag of friends, but we kept forgetting. So! I released it today.

In the windowsill of CBK-the art-rental place, very fittingly (for this book, not necessarilyfor the art-rental-place) placed on A-kerkhof, A-churchyard.