|
The Monster in the Box: An Inspector Wexford Novel |  | Author: Ruth Rendell
Publisher: Scribner
Category: Book
List Price: $26.00
Buy Used: $6.44
as of 3/17/2010 00:38 MDT details
You Save: $19.56 (75%)
New (40) Used (39) Collectible (3) from $6.44
Seller: oceanwavebooks
Rating:  57 reviews
Sales Rank: 27453
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First American Edition
Pages: 304
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2
ISBN: 1439150338
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9781439150337
ASIN: 1439150338
Publication Date: October 13, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9781439150337 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Monster In The Box is the latest addition to Ruth Rendell's classic and beguiling Inspector Wexford series. In this enthralling new book, Rendell, "the best mystery writer in the English-speaking world" (Time), takes Inspector Wexford back to his days as a young policeman, and to the man he has long suspected of murder -- serial murder.Outside the house where Wexford investigated his first murder case -- a woman found strangled in her bedroom -- he noticed a short, muscular man wearing a scarf and walking a dog. He gave Wexford an unnerving stare. Without any solid evidence, Wexford began to suspect that this man -- Eric Targo, he learned -- was the killer. Over the years there are more unsolved, apparently motiveless murders in the town of Kingsmarkham, and Wexford continues to quietly suspect that the increasingly prosperous Targo -- van driver, property developer, kennel owner, and animal lover -- is behind them. Now, half a lifetime later, Wexford spots Targo back in Kingsmarkham after a long absence. Wexford tells his longtime partner, Mike Burden, about his suspicions, but Burden dismisses them as fantasy. Meanwhile, Burden's wife, Jenny, has suspicions of her own. She believes that the Rahmans, a highly respectable immigrant family from Pakistan, may be forcing their daughter, Tamima, into an arranged marriage -- or worse. In The Monster in the Box, the twenty-second book in the Inspector Wexford series, fans will be thrilled to meet the now-aging inspector in the robust early days of his career. For new readers, no introduction to this spectacular writer and her compelling protagonist could be finer.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 57
 Among Her Best March 7, 2010
Ronald E. Parsons (Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA)
Inspector Wexford is now well along in his law enforcement career in and around Kingsmarkham. He sees a man he had, early in his career, suspected of being a murderer without being able to prove it. The undeclared suspect has returned to Kingsmarkham after a long absence. Now Wexford believes that suspect Eric Targo is the perpetrator of other killings, but evidence is scant and motive even scanter. Wexford tells his long-time assistant Mike Burden of his suspicions and Burden reminds Wexford that evidence is absent and that Wexford cannot act on mere suspicion. Wexford persists and proceeds carefully.
Interwoven through the story is a subplot about a local Pakistani girl who, it is suspected, will be the victim of a forced marriage.
As both stories unfold, readers will learn the identity of the book's title, The Monster In The Box.
I have read most if not all of Rendell's many Inspector Wexford mysteries. It is my opinion that this one is among the best. Ruth Rendell excels in story construction and presentation. I doubt that I have read a police procedural that was more satisfying in every respect. I recommend it highly.
Another Winner February 17, 2010
John R. Lindermuth (Coal Township PA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
No one explores criminal motivation quite so well as Ruth Rendell, and this novel is additional proof of her skill.
Chief Inspector Wexford encounters a man out of his past and it releases a chain of memories, including his initial impression Eric Targo was a psychopath responsible for the murder of a woman.
Another man was subsequently charged with that crime but released on appeal. There was no apparent evidence to link Targo, other than Wexford's gut instinct stemming from exchange of a "sinister stare." Two more murders further arouse Wexford's suspicions, but again there are no damning links to Targo.
This consideration of the past also gives us insight into Wexford's early days as a police officer and his romantic adventures, leading up to meeting, Dora, his wife.
Decades later, after the fresh encounter with the man, Wexford confides his suspicion of Targo to friend and colleague Mike Burden who dismisses the obsession as fantasy. Still Wexford can not shake his fear Targo is up to no good again.
Meanwhile Burden's wife and Detective Sergeant Hannah Goldfield are worried over the apparent disappearance of a young Muslim girl they fear may have been forced into an arranged marriage or, possibly, victim of an honor killing.
The two plot strands intersect for a surprise conclusion.
Rendell Returns with another Wexford winner February 16, 2010
Billy J. Hobbs (Tyler, TX USA)
For Ruth Rendell, it's another episode in her Inspector Wexford series, a popular British police procedural of the first water. "The Monster in the Box" is Rendell's 22nd Wexford novel and she's still going strong.
This one, however, takes a different tact, a drastic turn, in her approach to one of most cerebral series of the genre. Here, with her always sensitive and sensible direction, Rendell's narrative takes us back in time, to the time when Wexford is just beginning his career as a police detective. First, this flashback technique provides us with some interesting biographical material of Wexford--what he was like back then, his personal life, his desire to become a great policeman, one of intellect and wisdom. As a young policeman, he spent much of his time studying "Sometimes he went out to the pub in the evenings...but mostly he stayed in and read. Public libraries were in their heyday then...(with) lots and lots of good books. He read them, poetry, and plays and novels. Worlds opened for him, and far from distracting him from his duties, they seemed to make him a better policeman."
This first case, however, has resided with him for all these years. Outside the house where Wexford was investigating his first murder case (a woman found strangled in her bedroom), he notices "a short, muscular man wearing a scarf and walking a dog. He gave Wexford an unnerving stare." And with nothing but "a feeling," Wexford is convinced this man, Eric Targo, is the murderer. Alas, nothing is proved and the case basically remains unsolved. Still, many years later, Wexford continues to sense Targo's presence (literally and figuratively). Targo moves on and now years later, he's back in Kingsmarkham and Wexford's sensibilities (and his belief) are rekindled. And murders begin to happen. Along with his doubting able assistant Mike Burden, Wexford "plods" along, waiting and hoping for just the right clue to drop.
In addition to the main element of the novel, Rendell's penchant for subplots continues. Social significance has long been a trait of Rendell's works and her last few books have dealt strongly with women's issues, racial issues, and cultural issues. (Dame Rendell is a member of the House of Lords and holds strong personal views here.)
In "Monster," one of Wexford's assistants, a very socially correct officer, fears that a local Pakistani girl is about to be forced into an arranged marriage. "Wexford's experience had taught him what deep waters one struggles to swin in when plunging into the traditions of another culture." Wexford has his hands full, but even an escaped lion, which "terrorized" the neighborhood for a while, doesn't deter him from his primary objective: to prove that Targo is the murderer.
Whether or not there are upcoming Wexfords remains to be seen, but the 22 books have all been well worth the time spent. From "From Doon with Death," the first Wexford installment, readers have not been disappointed. In addition, Rendell writes under the name of Barbara Vine, departing from the police procedural to enter into the more psychological thriller genre, also worth the time.
A fond farewell to Inspector Wexford February 1, 2010
Maine Colonial (Midcoast Maine)
In 2009, Ruth Rendell said she didn't want to write any more Wexford books. Sad to hear for fans of DCI Reg Wexford (like me), who have read all 23 books in the series, which began way back in 1964 with FROM DOON WITH DEATH. I was also nervous hearing this, thinking that maybe Rendell was so tired of Wexford that the last book in the series, MONSTER IN THE BOX, would be disappointing or even dismaying. I am happy to say that Rendell had too much respect for her own art, Wexford and her readers to do anything but write an outstanding denouement. This is the best Wexford in years----and I'm thankful that it doesn't end with Wexford's death.
In MONSTER IN THE BOX, Rendell has given us a memoir of sorts. Much of the book revisits Wexford in his earliest days in the Kingsmarkham police force, back when he first encountered Eric Targo, a man he suspects----no, KNOWS---was the perpetrator of the first murder case Wexford worked on. Over the years, Wexford suspected that Targo committed other murders as well, and almost taunted Wexford with them; giving Wexford an implacable stare and even appearing to stalk Wexford. With no evidence whatsoever against him, Wexford has never told a soul about Targo. But Wexford spots Targo after many years and learns that he is back living in the area. It's not long before Wexford learns that Targo's van has been parked near Wexford's home, and soon after that, another murder occurs that Wexford is convinced is Targo's handiwork.
Now Wexford tells all to his longtime partner, Mike Burden, but Burden is dubious, at best. Wexford must proceed on his own and with no official support to try to put this monster permanently away in a box.
The chance to read about Wexford in his earliest days of his career gives us an opportunity to get to know him better. Rendell presents us the additional gift of revisiting Wexford's youthful love life, which includes some embarrassing moments. I would never have imagined reading the last volume in a series before any of the others, but I think that if you have never read a Wexford story, you can't go wrong beginning with this one.
Elegant, understated mystery January 31, 2010
Amy Goebel Padgett (Clarkton, NC USA)
"The Monster in the Box"
By Ruth Rendell
"The Monster in the Box" is a solid entry in the mystery series featuring Inspector Wexford. It poses a fascinating puzzle for Wexford, reaching back into the inspector's past. He "knows" Eric Targo is responsible for a series of murders over the years, but has never been able to prove it. When Wexford runs into Targo again after a number of years, Wexford resumes his investigation, hoping to find clues or proof that will solve any of the crimes committed years ago.
During this investigation, Wexford is drawn into another tangle. The daughter of an immigrant family from Pakistan appears to be missing and the wife of Wexford's partner fears the girl may be forced into an arranged marriage.
There are several interesting themes at play here, handled with care and skill by Rendell. Wexford believes a man may be guilty of murder for no other reason than a "look" that passed between them years ago. And Jenny, the wife of Wexford's partner, believes a girl may have left school and forced into an unwanted marriage, for the flimsiest of reasons--simply because the girl decided not to immediately go on with her schooling.
Into this is the delicate question of how the very act of trying to be non-prejudicial may, in fact, reveal a deep-seated incomprehension of the lifestyles of others. We all strive to avoid prejudice, but sometimes, that very action makes us behave in prejudicial ways.
Rendell's writing is smooth and skilled, and Inspector Wexford is a wonderful, complex character with a great deal of intelligence and charm. And you have to sympathize with Jenny and her real concern for her immigrant student.
The only flaw, if it is a flaw, was a certain flatness to the writing. I enjoyed it and it was compelling--just not as enthralling as I expected.
The pace was leisurely. Nonetheless, it was a fascinating glimpse in modern English life and interesting mystery. While it won't have you panting on the edge of your seat, there is a quiet power to the story that makes it stay with you.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 57
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. Working Dogs | |
