Paul Humphreys rambles on....

Paul Humphreys rambles on....
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Friday February 09, 2007

Road Rage...

More books off my wife's bookshelf this time the Inspector Wexford Books by Ruth Rendell . The books are not bad the TV series slightly less so and looking a bit dated now. Most are situated at Kingsmarkham where Wexford and his sidekick Burden - who really is a burden in the TV series reside. This particular book is about the proposed Kingsmarkham bypass which has generated a lot of protests. It reminds me of the interest generated by the Newbury bypass many years ago now. Several protest groups are involved and Wexford's wife Dora ironically as it turns out takes part in these peaceful protests.

Suddenly without warning several people are kidnapped and eventually Sacred Globe indicate the bypass work must be suspended or something nasty will happen to the victims. Dora is one of those kidnapped. We meet the victims later once is released in an unexpected manner who then explains what is happening in the kidnappers hideout. Sadly a kidnap victim is found dead and the demands for a full stoppage/cancellation of the bypass work adds to the pressure on the Dynamic duo. In the story also the body of Ulrike Ranke is found and Burden does his best with this case.

It is not a bad tale and the ending is quite clever. It might be worth trying another in this series sometime in the future.
( Feb 09 2007, 12:00:02 AM PST ) Permalink