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A Judgement in Stone
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
16 posts | 26 read | 15 to read
What on earth could have provoked a modern day St. Valentine's Day massacre? On Valentine's Day, four members of the Coverdale family--George, Jacqueline, Melinda and Giles--were murdered in the space of 15 minutes. Their housekeeper, Eunice Parchman, shot them, one by one, in the blue light of a televised performance of Don Giovanni. When Detective Chief Superintendent William Vetch arrests Miss Parchman two weeks later, he discovers a second tragedy: the key to the Valentine's Day massacre hidden within a private humiliation Eunice Parchman has guarded all her life. A brilliant rendering of character, motive, and the heady discovery of truth, A Judgement in Stone is among Ruth Rendell's finest psychological thrillers. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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review
bthegood
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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Pickpick

First line: “Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write.” And it only gets better from there - really well written, good story. New author to me - have added another one of her books on my #BookSpinBingo for April -

Make a great evening everyone 😊

AmyG Ruth Rendell is a GEM. One of my most favorotes! 2y
jlhammar Loved this book! So glad you enjoyed it. 2y
bthegood @jlhammar @AmyG thank you both - this was a #blameitonlitsy and just another reason I love Litsy - I get introduced to authors I would not have known 🙂 2y
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bthegood
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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Books in red I have started reading - looking forward to making my April #BookSpinBingo card 📚 @TheAromaofBooks

#MarchMadness was good for me - enjoyed all of the books I read - no DNF's, pans, or so-so's in the bunch!!
Thanks for hosting @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

Make a great day everyone 😊

DieAReader 🥳🥳Looks great!! Thanks for joining us❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Looking fabulous!! 2y
26 likes2 comments
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bthegood
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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The needle hasn't moved from red to purple this weekend 😂
Hoping to finish tagged book and Christie book before month's end -

#20in4 thanks for hosting @Andrew65

Make a great day everyone -

Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 2y
27 likes1 comment
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bthegood
A Judgement In Stone | Ruth Rendell
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This is my reading for the rest of March - hope to finish one or two by the end of the month 👍

Its been a great reading month - thoroughly enjoyed every book finished and enjoying my current reads as well - 😊

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#MarchMadness @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

Make a great day everyone 🍀

DieAReader Awesome!🥳🥳🥳 2y
28 likes2 comments
review
jlhammar
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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Pickpick

So good! I was hooked from the very first sentence and loved Rendell‘s writing. Will definitely be trying more of her work.

Thanks to @Cathythoughts for putting this stellar crime novel on my radar!

Tamra Well, I must check it out! Lately I‘ve been adding to the TBR at a ridiculous rate. 🙃 2y
LeahBergen I love Ruth Rendell. You must try her Barbara Vine (another name she wrote under) novels, too! 2y
Cathythoughts Oh great ! I‘m so glad you enjoyed it. She‘s a reliable one 👍🏻😁 2y
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Ephemera I love her work. Try Adam and Eve and Pinch Me, it‘s really good 2y
jlhammar @Ephemera Thanks so much for the rec! She has so many books, it's great to have some ideas of which to try next. 2y
Ephemera She also wrote under the name Barbara Vine. The one I recall most in that series is No Night is Too Long 2y
jlhammar @Ephemera Thank you! Adding that one to the list as well. 2y
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jlhammar
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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“Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write.”

What provoked a modern-day St. Valentine‘s Day massacre? I can‘t wait to find out!
#FirstLineFridays

Cinfhen Ohhhhhh, GREAT first line! I‘m intrigued 🤓 2y
jlhammar @Cinfhen It is really good so far. Look forward to finishing today! 2y
Cinfhen I‘ve stacked 😊 2y
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Cathythoughts
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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This was great. Suspense, some lovely writing, and I loved the narrator‘s little shocking comments:

‘ No doubt he did. One wonders what Joan Smith would have done with children if she had had them.
Eaten them , perhaps. ‘

You just don‘t expect these random comments , they are so matter of fact, and unexpected!
Loving Ruth Rendell , have ordered more of her books. A good thriller writer. A good writer.

TrishB Not ready any Rendell! (edited) 2y
EverydayImReading @cathythoughts Great review. It‘s next on my list. I have loved Ruth Rendell for a long time. She never disappoints. She also writes under Barbara Vine. 2y
Cathythoughts @TrishB This is my first. I think it might have been a 99p deal from Litsy. You might have it 🤔. Hope you‘re relaxing ♥️👍🏻 2y
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Cathythoughts @EverydayImReading I saw that and was recommended by @AmyG to get The Crocodile Bird … I just got it on kindle , only €1.50 👍🏻 2y
jenniferw88 @Cathythoughts I think it was me from my Kindle book haul! Anyway, glad you enjoyed it. 2y
TrishB Just got it for 99p 👍🏻 I‘ve had a couple of hours of reading on my own! Lovely 😁 2y
AmyG I am beyond thrilled to read you like her! I remember going to all the libraries in my county to find her books…I couldn‘t get enough. 2y
LeahBergen Oh, good! I suspected that you‘d enjoy Ruth Rendell. 👍 2y
Cathythoughts @jenniferw88 Thanks Jenny. I more than enjoyed it , it looks like I have a new favorite author 👍🏻❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @TrishB Nice one 👍🏻😁 2y
Cathythoughts Thanks @AmyG ❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I really do. I might try an Inspector Wexford at some stage too .. so excited to find a new to me good thriller writer. ❤️ 2y
kspenmoll I read some of her books ages ago; now you are temping to reread some! 2y
Cathythoughts @kspenmoll She‘s very good. I like her strategy,it‘s thriller , it‘s psychological, it‘s meaningful.. she‘s ticking boxes for me 👍🏻😁 2y
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Cathythoughts
A Judgement In Stone | Ruth Rendell
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Trying another thriller ( the last one didn‘t work out too well)
So far this is really good 🤞🏻

jlhammar I've been interested in trying Ruth Rendell. She wrote so many, I didn't know where to start. Maybe this one? Sounds good! 2y
AmyG Ruth Rendell is my most favorite mystery writer. She also writes as Barbara Vine…those are more psychological. @jlhammar She writes the Inspector Wexford mysteries along with stand-alone books. Maybe google and try one of her stand alone ones. There are so many. (edited) 2y
erzascarletbookgasm 🤞 I have not read this author 2y
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LeahBergen I like Ruth Rendell‘s stand-alones. 👍 2y
Cathythoughts @AmyG Thanks! That‘s all very helpful. It‘s hard to find a good mystery/ thriller writer these days. I can feel the difference in the writing and tone from the last current thriller I read ( or bailed on ) I‘ll look up Barbara Vine too. Thanks 👍🏻❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @jlhammar This is my first and I‘m really enjoying it. I see too she wrote a lot of books, if they are as good as this one .. we are in luck 😁 2y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm I think you‘d really enjoy this one Jessie 👍🏻 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I‘m really enjoying it , getting lost, and leaving all my worries behind … always a good sign 👍🏻❤️ 2y
AmyG Enjoy! I am always happy to see people reading her books. I spent a summer, in the ‘90‘s, reading every book I could find of hers. She is truly one of the best. (edited) 2y
Cathythoughts @AmyG I‘m going to get a few on kindle , would you recommend a few favourites when you have the time !? 2y
Cathythoughts @AmyG I like psychological thrillers … 2y
AmyG My favorites are actually the Barbara Vine books. I don‘t remember much but the two that stick in my head are A Dark-Adapted Eye and The Crocodile Bird. (edited) 2y
Cathythoughts @AmyG Thanks so much ! I‘ll get those ones 👍🏻😁 2y
AmyG Let me know what you think when you read them. (edited) 2y
Cathythoughts @AmyG I will ! I‘ll tag you 👍🏻♥️ 2y
61 likes15 comments
review
Ellen_C
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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If I you like mysteries that are more creepy than cozy, Ruth Rendell is for you. In this one, she gives away who did it and why, and yet I found myself absorbed into the story and on edge. Illiteracy is at the heart of the story and makes for a murderer who is pathetic and terrifying. https://cannonballread.com/2021/03/a-judgement-in-stone-elcicco/

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jfount
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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Pickpick

A perfect book-in-a-day binge read for a particularly quiet, grey lockdown day. I ordered this after seeing someone post the first page on twitter and the book lived up to all expectations. Really gripping. (Pictured here with the two (two!) calming knitting projects have on the go. Be calm!!!!)

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FromMyLectory
A Judgement In Stone | Ruth Rendell
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Pickpick

This book is a ruthless, crisp and ironic insight into how two seemingly harmless misfits can perpetrate such a hideous crime simply to fulfil their psychological satisfaction. My ticket to the 'Rendelland' 😁
...
Pssst.. for folks who would rather watch a movie, 'La Ceremonie' is one of the most satisfying adaptations. Unadulterated homage to the book !

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zsuzsanna_reads
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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A disturbing thriller considered one of Rendell's best. It really takes off once Eunice meet her friend and accomplice, Joan. There are some vaguely preachy and some outdated bits (did watching American cop shows influence her?) but overall it's not just a story about class, but about how people of different communities can live side by side, even in the same house with no understanding of each other.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

zsuzsanna_reads Also, Eunice is up there with Rebecca's Mrs Danvers in the creepy housekeeper stakes. 6y
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HaleyG14
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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I enjoyed this book! Even though we know what will happen by the end of the novel, it was interesting to find out what happened leading up to the end. And a very unique way to examine how one‘s life can be altered based on their education or lack thereof.

ShansMousey I'm glad you enjoyed it! 6y
3 likes1 comment
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Sweettartlaura
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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4.5 🌟
Rendell anchors the mystery in the motive. The motive, revealed with the crime in the first sentence, was illiteracy. This could be dismissed as a gimmick. But it‘s clear illiteracy IS the focus: because she feels alienated & ashamed; because she lacks empathy & imagination; because her options are limited; because of all these factors in Eunice, Rendell makes it clear that something awful is waiting to happen. And so, one day, it does.

AlaMich This is my favorite Rendell! 😊 6y
35 likes1 comment
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Iindseyo
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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I'm not one for puns, but killer opening line ☠️🔪😱

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Sweettartlaura
A Judgement in Stone | Ruth Rendell
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With this #greatfirstline, Ruth Rendell examines what happens when people fall through the cracks. Eunice's illiteracy drives her antisocial behavior, as it drives a wedge between her & the rest of the world. She can't bear her shameful secret being exposed, so she separates herself from society as much as she can. And this separation fosters a lack of empathy from all sides, until Eunice breaks under it.
Read this book 😍❤️📚
#booktober

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