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Thirteen Steps Down
Thirteen Steps Down | Ruth Rendell
7 posts | 8 read | 7 to read
From the multi-award-winning author of The Babes in the Wood and The Rottweiler, a chilling new novel about obsession, superstition, and violence, set in Rendells darkly atmospheric London. Mix Cellini (which he pronounces with an S rather than a C) is superstitious about the number 13. In musty old St. Blaise House, where he is the lodger, there are thirteen steps down to the landing below his rooms, which he keeps spick and span. His elderly landlady, Gwendolen Chawcer, was born in St. Blaise House, and lives her life almost exclusively through her library of books, so cannot see the decay and neglect around her. The Notting Hill neighbourhood has changed radically over the last fifty years, and 10 Rillington Place, where the notorious John Christie committed a series of foul murders, has been torn down. Mix is obsessed with the life of Christie and his small library is composed entirely of books on the subject. He has also developed a passion for a beautiful model who lives nearby a woman who would not look at him twice. Both landlady and lodger inhabit weird worlds of their own. But when reality intrudes into Mixs life, a long pent-up violence explodes. From the Paperback edition.
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Tamra
Thirteen Steps Down | Ruth Rendell
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Oh, this was an absolutely fun psychological suspense to read! For anyone in the Celia Fremlin fan club, this has serious Fremlin vibes. @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen

A “lodger”, who is both a menace and a deluded idiot, is haunted by his own obsession. 😬

Ruthiella I really need to give Fremin a whirl. I‘ll try to remember to put her on my #Roll100 for 2026. I really like Rendell/Barbara Vine psychological mysteries. 10h
Tamra @Ruthiella I think you‘d really like Fremlin! Tight plotting, on the spare side, effective pacing, and so observant re: human nature in her character development. (edited) 10h
LeahBergen I love Rendell and you‘re so correct about her having a Fremlin vibe! 6h
34 likes3 comments
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dabbe
13 Steps Down | Ruth Rendell
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#weeklyfavorite @Read4life 🩶🤍🖤

Can't believe it's the close of August. 😳

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Cathythoughts
13 Steps Down | Ruth Rendell
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I just got on kindle for 85p. @dabbe has just read and reviewed it , and being Ruth Rendell fan , I just purchased.

Tamra What a steal! 👏🏾 2w
Tamra I was able to download it from the library. 😄🏚️ 2w
LeahBergen I think I‘ve read this but I‘m not sure. 🤔 2w
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dabbe What a deal! 🩶🤍🖤 2w
Cathythoughts @Tamra Wooohoooo 😁 2w
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I know the feeling 🙈😁 2w
Cathythoughts @dabbe It‘s a great deal! I was delighted when I saw the price 😁 2w
dabbe @Cathythoughts I'm really glad, too, because it looks like you're out of my country so shipping would have been a wee bit! 😅😂😍 2w
52 likes1 stack add8 comments
review
dabbe
13 Steps Down | Ruth Rendell
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Thanks, @AmgG, for this! 😍 Ruth Rendell, a master of psychological suspense, delivers a characteristically chilling and meticulously crafted novel in 13 STEPS DOWN. The book is a prime example of her ability to dissect the pathologies of the human mind without resorting to graphic violence or traditional thriller tropes. Instead, the horror is almost entirely internal, born from obsession, delusion, and the slow unraveling of a fragile psyche. ⬇️

dabbe The story is set in a decaying, cavernous house in London's Notting Hill that becomes a character in itself. The plot follows two central characters whose lives are uncomfortably intertwined: Mix Cellini, a narcissistic and socially inept exercise equipment repairman who rents a flat in the house from Gwendolen Chawcer, the elderly reclusive who owns it. Mix‘s delusions intensify, while Gwendolen becomes more suspicious of her strange tenant. 2w
AmyG You are welcome. She‘s my favorite mystery writer. I hope you get to read more of her work. 2w
Suet624 Interesting review. 2w
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Ruthiella Her books are so good ! 2w
dabbe @AmyG She really gets in the minds of the main characters--and not always in a good way! Wow. I actually felt like I had to take a shower after being in Mix's mind; I think that's why it took me a while. If all her books are along these lines, I'm in! 🩶🤍🖤 2w
dabbe @Suet624 Thanks. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the book if you've read it. 2w
dabbe @Ruthiella It's her first I've read, but it won't be my last! 🩶🤍🖤 2w
LeahBergen I love Ruth Rendell! 2w
Cathythoughts Great review. I need to get this one 👍🏻😬 2w
Cathythoughts I recently finished this one and it‘s excellent 2w
dabbe @LeahBergen I now do, too! 😍 2w
dabbe @Cathythoughts Now on the TBR! @AmyG graciously gave me the book; I'd be happy to send it on to you if interested. 🩶🤍🖤 2w
Cathythoughts Thankyou so much , but I just got it on a kindle deal for 85p. I think I‘ll post it too in case anyone else is interested 👍🏻😁 2w
dabbe @Cathythoughts 🩶👍🏻🩶 2w
68 likes3 stack adds14 comments
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dabbe
Thirteen Steps Down | Ruth Rendell
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Looking forward to this #SummersEndReadathon hosted by the lovely @Bookwormjillk. I plan on reading as much of these as I can:

-THIRTEEN STEPS DOWN (almost done, @AmyG!)
-KATABASIS (just got it!)
-THE SIGN OF FOUR (#ChristieCapers)
-THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (#hashtagbrigade)
-TOMBLAND (#ShardlakeBR
-LES MIS (#readlemis)

That should about do it! 🤩

AmyG Yay!!! 3w
Bookwormjillk That's quite the list! Enjoy! 3w
dabbe @AmyG 🩶🤍🖤 2w
dabbe @Bookwormjillk I definitely have a bit of the FOMO syndrome. 🩶🤍🖤 2w
49 likes4 comments
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dabbe
Thirteen Steps Down | Ruth Rendell
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#readyourkindle #readyourebooks #readyourbooks #readreadread!
@CBee 😘

Hoping to have better reading this month!

CBee Me too! I can‘t seem to just SIT and read. Ugh. 2mo
AmyG Agree. I have been having a hard time concentrating. 2mo
dabbe @CBee @AmyG 🎯🩵🎯 2mo
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CBee @AmyG I‘m sorry it‘s happening to you too 🤦‍♀️ 2mo
dabbe @CBee We can snap out of it, ladies! Are ya with me? 💙✊🏻💙 2mo
AmyG @dabbe I promise to try! 2mo
CBee @dabbe I‘m with you!! 2mo
59 likes7 comments
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dabbe
13 Steps Down | Ruth Rendell
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@AmyG ... thank you so much for sharing your favorite mystery writer with me. I'm always on the lookout for that next great crime/mystery/detective read, and you've given me someone I've never heard of before. The card is beyond gorgeous, the German shepherd magnet adorable (and is Kate approved). Matt's beside himself with the SK book, too. You are an incredible lady, and I'm lucky to have found you here on Litsy. 🩵💙🩵

AnnCrystal 💕🐕‍🦺🐾💝. 9mo
AmyG You are so welcome. Ruth Rendell is my most favorite mystery writer. I hope you like her. If so, hit the library. She has written alot of books! And I hope Matt enjoys SK. I love this book so much. 😘😘😘 (edited) 9mo
dabbe @AnnCrystal 🩵💙🩵 9mo
dabbe @AmyG We will; I can feel it! 🩵💙🩵 9mo
50 likes4 comments