Master of the Moor

If you were to check out my reading journal you'd see an AWFUL lot of Ruth Rendell in it, as she's one of the most consistently wonderful writers I've ever encountered. Then again, if you're checking out my reading journal I'd need to have a strong word with you, as I'm not quite sure I've given you permission. _Master of the Moor_ is absolutely fan-tabulously well-written, and what's best about it is the denouement is revealed very, very slowly. There's no sudden "Whoops! Surprise, it's a psychopath!" here. It's one long, slow build up to a conclusion you hopefully won't have anticipated, though after you close the book you may find yourself feeling rather silly you missed the clues. But don't feel too silly, as I missed them, too. Wonderful stuff!

Ruth Rendell's career in literature has been so longed that it's spanned two generations, and she herself has gone thorugh roughly about three stages, as most people agree. The first stage, from "From Doon With Death" up until "The Speaker of Mandarin". Then from "The Killing Doll" until "Going Wrong". And now she is in her third, which commenced with "Kissing the Gunner's Daughter".Master of the Moor comes from her first, and thus far longest, period. During that time she produces some stupendous novels, (and is continuing to do so) and this is one of the best. She really nails the psychology, and has a cast of great, somewhat depressing characters. She shows well the aspects of hope and ability to escape from the tragedies which frequently occur in her books by having Lyn acts as she does. This demonstrated that not all things are written ins tone...and that fate can be escaped. It's not all doom and gloom. Sometimes Rendell's books can be hard to read. I for one find it uncomfortable to think how finely our lives are balanced between normality and utter catastrophe. The way she uses concepts of "what if" and how she demonstrated that the tiniest of actions can have massive and far-reaching and tragic repurcussions on our lives is chilling, but very well done. With this book she creates a great plot, with two really stunning twists built in. The darkness and bleakness of the moor is evoked very well, and adds a brooding and forlorn tone to the story. A class read. Rendell remains the best writer we in the UK have ever produced.

I read this in 1988; my first Rendell book and my favorite. In the years since I've read all of the rest of her books -- at least I think I have -- although she's written so many that a few may have slipped by me.Rendell's genius is that she takes you to the heart of her characters and their lives. I've never been on a moor and I have very little first-hand knowledge of life in an English village, yet this book made me feel as if I knew Stephen and his young, yearning wife, Lynn, intimately. I felt the claustrophobia that comes with living out your life in a confined space, always under the scrutiny of your family and surrounding townsfolk. The characters escape in their own ways; Lynn to the arms of another man and Stephen out to his beloved moor.In addition, this book has a hair-raising final chapter, as any mystery should.

As you step into Rendells dark, rainy world you are introduced to a handful of characters. As with every Rendell/ Vine novel you know one of them will kill or be killed. She lives up to her reputation in this dark novel.Stephen, the nature lover stumbles across a little more than he bargained for on his daily walk across the moor. This story spirals from this point out, keeping the reader turning pages as quickly as they can.She introduces a Red Herring into the plot line, that is designed to completely throw you off. I highly recommend this novel.

Another good read from Ruth Rendell. I find her books to be absorbing and a nice change of pace.