Book description
The ninth book to feature the classic crime-solving Detective Chief
Inspector Wexford.
Angela Hathall is found strangled in her bed but, shockingly, the
murder of this meek and solitary woman sparks little emotion from her
husband. Called in to investigate, Wexford's curiosity only deepens
when he discovers that the Hathall household has been meticulously
cleaned but for a single distinctive palm print.
As the case develops Wexford is increasingly frustrated by the
seemingly pointless nature of the murder. There is no motive, no
weapon and no suspect. Nothing except the unidentified print.
But despite the sparse evidence, Wexford is convinced Hathall is
hiding something. So when Wexford is taken off the case he decides to
take matters into his own hands...
Ruth Rendell is the Queen of British crime writing. The author of
over 50 novels, she has won many significant crime fiction awards. Her
first novel, From Doon With Death, appeared in 1964, and since
then her reputation and readership have grown steadily with each new
book.
She has received major awards for her work; three Edgars from the
Mystery Writers of America; the Crime Writers' Gold Dagger Award for
1976's best crime novel, A Demon in My View; the Arts Council
National Book Award for Genre Fiction in 1981 for The Lake of
Darkness; the Crime Writer's Gold Dagger Award for 1986's best
crime book for Live Flesh; in 1987 the Crime Writer's Gold
Dagger Award for A Fatal Inversion and in 1991 the same award
for King Solomon's Carpet, both written under the pseudonym
Barbara Vine; the Sunday Times Literary Award in 1990; and in
1991 the Crime Writer's Cartier Diamond Award for outstanding
contribution to the crime fiction genre.
Her books are translated into 21 languages. In 1996 she was awarded
the CBE and in 1997 became a Life Peer.
