A Spot of Folly

A literary phenomenon. * Guardian *By any measure, she was an enormously talented writer. * Telegraph *A superb demonstration of Rendell’s talent for spotting the contradictions in human nature. – Barry Turner * Daily Mail *Every [story] is a gem … shines as a superb epitaph to Rendell’s talent, reflecting the breadth and richness of her unique ability to turn seemingly ordinary everyday situations into suspenseful masterpieces … the perfect book to curl up with in front of a log fire with a glass of wine. * Daily Express *Wickedly macabre … these strong, atmospheric stories convey a sardonic message. * Observer *Rendell, that most missed of crime writers, seems to have a rare and uncanny ability to understand what people are really like; and every so often there comes an unnerving moment when you feel her all-seeing gaze has expanded to encompass not just her characters but you yourself. * Daily Telegraph *Deliciously riveting … Miraculously “hookish” – Sarah Perry * The Guardian *She was a remarkable writer, who recorded the pain of the unhappy, the ungenerous and unloved. – Natasha Cooper * TLS *

Ruth Rendell was one of the great crime writers. Her books - notable for their careful psychological observation, as well as their gripping plots - have sold over 20 million copies worldwide, and she won numerous awards, including the Crime Writers’ Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence in crime writing. In 1996 she was awarded the CBE and in 1997 became a Life Peer. Ruth Rendell died in May 2015.