It is hard to find a more prolific and versatile author than Ruth Rendell who introduced the Inspector Wexford character and took him through an exhaustive series of cases. But then, she moved into the psychological thriller genre with more intense fare. 

As an author, I appreciate that she wrote so many stand-alone novels, creating new universes and relationships in each one, a difficult feat. Under the pen name Barbara Vine, she wrote even more complex thrillers, my favorite being A Fatal Inversion (1987) which holds up well today. 

You know that I always refer readers to the author’s first book but dig deeper into her vast reservoir. It is worth it.