Book description
In 'Expectations', when George, a seemingly virtuous, well-born and
well-educated man, is murdered, his wife reflects on their life
together. She married George for love despite knowing he only wanted
her fortune. Now he is dead, she no longer has to resemble the
psychologically disturbed Miss Haversham.
In 'Lizzie's Lover' a poetically-minded man woos his lover with
quotes of verse. He is so obsessed with poetry that he determines to
bring the words to life, regardless of the fatal consequences.
In 'Shreds and Slivers' an aggrieved man plots his deadly revenge
with sinister cheer. This chilling tale will make you think twice the
next time you're buying dinner.
In 'The Carer' nosy neighbour Angela looks after people's houses
when they're away. Sometimes she likes to go through their
possessions, searching their drawers to uncover their secrets... Until
she uncovers a real life skeleton in a closet.
In 'Unacceptable Levels' a smoker has tried, and failed, to quit.
When he's outside, he smokes to keep the mosquitoes away. When he gets
mosquito bites, he can't sleep so he smokes some more, caught in a
vicious psychological cycle.
Part of the Storycuts series, these five short stories were
previously published in Blood Lines, a collection of murder
mysteries and crimes thrillers.
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.
