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Inspector Wexford #8
Some Lie and Some Die
For awhile, the rock festival at "Sundays" went well. The sun shone, the bands played, and everyone—except a few angry neighbors—seemed to enjoy themselves. Then the weather changed. And in a nearby quarry, two lovers found a body that made even Inspector Wexford's stomach lurch…
1 pages, Audio CD
Published March 15, 2011
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About the author
Ruth Rendell
436 books1,604 followersA.K.A. Barbara Vine
Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE, who also wrote under the pseudonym Barbara Vine, was an acclaimed English crime writer, known for her many psychological thrillers and murder mysteries and above all for Inspector Wexford.
Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE, who also wrote under the pseudonym Barbara Vine, was an acclaimed English crime writer, known for her many psychological thrillers and murder mysteries and above all for Inspector Wexford.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
March 4, 2023
Rock Murder
Review of the Arrow Books/Cornerstone Digital Kindle eBook edition (2010) of the original Hutchinson hardcover (1973)
This continues my 2023 binge read / re-read of Ruth Rendell (aka Barbara Vine) and this is the 8th of the Chief Inspector Wexford series. Some Lie and Some Die starts off at an early 1970s Rock Festival where a woman's body is found in the vicinity. The formidable prospect of 80,000 suspects and their screening is soon dispelled though as forensics determine that the death occurred prior to the actual music event.
Cover image for the original Hutchinson hardcover edition from 1973. Image sourced from Wikipedia.
There are still enough suspects due to the location of the body in a local quarry for which only certain buildings had immediate access. Soon the investigation centres on a rock star named Zeno Vedast and his sycophants. Vedast is revealed to be the stage name of someone who grew up in the area and who may have a hidden past connection with the victim. Wexford and Burden bring the case to a conclusion where it seems not all the culprits are sufficiently brought to justice. That downbeat ending made this to be a 3 star rating, compared to most Rendells which are 4s and 5s.
A favourite passage in the book has Wexford and Burden's son John reviewing the new names of the months invented during the French Revolution in order to remove all traces of royalty and religion:
Trivia and Links
Some Lie and Some Die was adapted for television as part of the Ruth Rendell / Inspector Wexford Mysteries TV series (1987-2000) as Series 4 Episodes 1 to 3 in 1990 with actor George Baker as Chief Inspector Wexford. You can watch the entire 3 episodes on YouTube here.
Review of the Arrow Books/Cornerstone Digital Kindle eBook edition (2010) of the original Hutchinson hardcover (1973)
Wexford made the noise the Victorians wrote as ‘Pshaw!’ ‘Just because you’re so bloody virtuous it doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be any more cakes and ale.
Wexford quoted softly, ‘“What need we fear who knows it when none can call our power to account?”’
- Inspector Wexford quotes from Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ and ‘Macbeth’.
This continues my 2023 binge read / re-read of Ruth Rendell (aka Barbara Vine) and this is the 8th of the Chief Inspector Wexford series. Some Lie and Some Die starts off at an early 1970s Rock Festival where a woman's body is found in the vicinity. The formidable prospect of 80,000 suspects and their screening is soon dispelled though as forensics determine that the death occurred prior to the actual music event.
Cover image for the original Hutchinson hardcover edition from 1973. Image sourced from Wikipedia.
There are still enough suspects due to the location of the body in a local quarry for which only certain buildings had immediate access. Soon the investigation centres on a rock star named Zeno Vedast and his sycophants. Vedast is revealed to be the stage name of someone who grew up in the area and who may have a hidden past connection with the victim. Wexford and Burden bring the case to a conclusion where it seems not all the culprits are sufficiently brought to justice. That downbeat ending made this to be a 3 star rating, compared to most Rendells which are 4s and 5s.
A favourite passage in the book has Wexford and Burden's son John reviewing the new names of the months invented during the French Revolution in order to remove all traces of royalty and religion:
You’re supposed to start with September. Let’s see . . . Vendemiaire, Brumaire, Frimaire; Nivose, Pluviose, Ventose; then Germinal like Zola’s book, Floreal and Prairial; Messidor, Thermidor and—wait . . .’ ‘Fructidor!’ exclaimed John. Wexford chuckled. ‘You might care to know the contemporary and rather scathing English translation: Wheezy, Sneezy, Freezy; Slippy, Drippy, Nippy; Showery, Flowery, Bowery; Wheaty, Heaty, Sweety.
Trivia and Links
Some Lie and Some Die was adapted for television as part of the Ruth Rendell / Inspector Wexford Mysteries TV series (1987-2000) as Series 4 Episodes 1 to 3 in 1990 with actor George Baker as Chief Inspector Wexford. You can watch the entire 3 episodes on YouTube here.
March 21, 2025
3 stars
shortish review for busy readers:
This is my first Wexford mystery and probably my last. Can't say I was taken with twee, Santa Claus-esque, classic-works quoting Wexford nor his neurotic assistant Burden.
The mystery itself has some engaging parts. The atmosphere of '70s music festivals often held on private land (vs today's public grounds), the allure of stardom, how fame can corrupt the non-famous, and the psychology of revenge types. All extremely well done.
For my taste, however, far too much time was spent on describing rural flora, women's clothing, house interiors and the balmy weather. Stereotypical female topics of interest, when those details didn't lend much to the resolution of the mystery. And also, the main police investigating are men, who, generally speaking, usually have different priorities than flowers and fashion, which made the juxtaposition of the two a tad jarring for me.
I'm glad I've read a Wexford now, and it had its good moments, but not enough to bring me back for more.
shortish review for busy readers:
This is my first Wexford mystery and probably my last. Can't say I was taken with twee, Santa Claus-esque, classic-works quoting Wexford nor his neurotic assistant Burden.
The mystery itself has some engaging parts. The atmosphere of '70s music festivals often held on private land (vs today's public grounds), the allure of stardom, how fame can corrupt the non-famous, and the psychology of revenge types. All extremely well done.
For my taste, however, far too much time was spent on describing rural flora, women's clothing, house interiors and the balmy weather. Stereotypical female topics of interest, when those details didn't lend much to the resolution of the mystery. And also, the main police investigating are men, who, generally speaking, usually have different priorities than flowers and fashion, which made the juxtaposition of the two a tad jarring for me.
I'm glad I've read a Wexford now, and it had its good moments, but not enough to bring me back for more.
December 5, 2020
Not my favorite Wexford, but since all the “mature” Wexfords are so far above the standard police procedural I can’t bear to award less than 4 stars.
This book suffers, not surprisingly, from being tied to a specific time and subculture - a counterculture rock festival. It’s pretty hard for a single book in a series that ranges over an extended period of time, and which is anchored primarily in the “main” culture, to age well if the focus is on a transient subculture. No matter how good the plot and well defined the characters, it ends up seeming dated.
But as always, I found myself eagerly making my way to the end. Rendell is the real deal.
This book suffers, not surprisingly, from being tied to a specific time and subculture - a counterculture rock festival. It’s pretty hard for a single book in a series that ranges over an extended period of time, and which is anchored primarily in the “main” culture, to age well if the focus is on a transient subculture. No matter how good the plot and well defined the characters, it ends up seeming dated.
But as always, I found myself eagerly making my way to the end. Rendell is the real deal.
February 10, 2025
In this 8th book in the 'Inspector Wexford' series, the British detective investigates the murder of a waitress. The book works fine as a standalone.
*****
Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford and Detective Inspector Michael Burden are bemused by the thousands of fans visiting Kingsmarkham for a rock concert on the Sundays property.
The detectives are wary of trouble, but the concert-goers are happily and law-abidingly doing their own thing, listening to the music and roaring for the headliner, Zeno Vedast.
Things go well until the mutilated body of a young woman, Dawn Stonor, is found in a quarry behind Sundays' field. The medical examiner determines Dawn was killed days before the concert, so the music fans are cleared of suspicion and hustled out of town, so the police can investigate.
When Wexford and Burden interview Dawn's mother, Mrs. Stonor......
......they learn Dawn grew up in Kingsmarkham, then moved to London, where she worked as a waitress in a men's club.
Sanctimonious Mrs. Stonor strongly disapproves of this line of work, and it's clear there was no love lost between Dawn and her mother.
Further inquiries reveal rock celebrity Zeno Vedast also grew up in Kingsmarkham, and went to school with Dawn. When Wexford and Burden interview Vedast, he's sarcastic, conceited, and demeaning to his 'entourage', Godfrey and Nell Tate, who kowtow to the singer. In fact Nell appears to be in love with the rock star.
Zeno sems to have an airtight alibi for Dawn's murder, so the detectives look elsewhere. A number of persons of interest crop up, particularly people who live near the quarry where Dawn's body was found.
The investigation makes slow progress because Dawn's actions on the day she died seem bizarre and inexplicable. For instance, Dawn left her mother's house in a fashionable mauve pantsuit, but Dawn's body - with her head bashed in - was found in a red dress that didn't belong to her.
Wexford makes a number of deductions and conclusions, and the mystery is interesting enough. The story's denouement, though, where Wexford explains what happened and who's responsible, is waaaay too drawn out and didactic. I wanted him to just get to the point.
On the upside, we get a look at Detective Burden's private life. A widower with two teenage children, Burden is trying to be both mom and dad. Burden rushes home with frozen meals; gives his kids things they want (like Zeno Vedast's hit record for his son, and ballet classes for his daughter); monitors his kids' nighttime activities; etc.
As for Wexford, all he does is mention his wife will have a meal for him at eight o'clock. (I wanted to know more.....at least the menu. 😊)
In my view, this isn't Ruth Rendel's best work, but I enjoyed catching up with two fictional detectives I like.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
August 27, 2015
Read by................ Nigel Anthony
Total Runtime......... 6 Hours 10 Mins
Description: During the brilliantly depicted rock festival in the grounds of Sundays House, the bands play, the weather is fine, and a good time is had by all except one or two disgruntled locals. Oh, and the sometimes-grouchy Inspector Burden of course, but even he lightens up to the idea eventually. However, as the festival begins to wind itself down, two precocious lovers discover a battered body in a nearby quarry, and Inspector Wexford finds himself investigating murder rather than his earlier duty of making sure everything runs smoothly, and law-abidingly, at the festival. The body is identified as that of Dawn Stonor, a local girl who had moved to London, returning only on occasional trips to see her mother. As with all Rendell mysteries, the plot soon thickens considerably and little is as it seems...
This is the one with an early 70s music festival, pompous landowners, shocked Burden, cut barbed-wire fence, free love under the moonlight, and a intricately plotted MOIDAH!"Sometimes I wish that POP was an O level subject."
3* From Doon With Death (Inspector Wexford, #1)
3* A New Lease of Death (Inspector Wexford, #2)
3* Wolf to the Slaughter (Inspector Wexford, #3)
2* The Best Man to Die (Inspector Wexford, #4)
3* A Guilty Thing Suprised #5
3* No More Dying Then (Inspector Wexford, #6)
3* Murder Being Once Done (Inspector Wexford, #7)
3* Some Lie and Some Die (Inspector Wexford, #8)
3* Not in the Flesh (Inspector Wexford, #21)
2* The Vault (Inspector Wexford, #23)
December 6, 2020
This is set during a Rock Concert Festival like Glastonbury. The attendees are very well behaved until a murdered woman is found. The festival is disbanded but it turns out the body has been in the quarry since before the festival started. There is a connection to a local boy who is now a famous rock singer and Wexford has his work cut out to find the murderer. There are some really despicable characters in this book and another satisfying read.
February 14, 2018
Also known as The Worst People in the World and Mike Burden Hates Hippies, Loves His Children.
A folk festival has set up at Sundays, a manor house owned by a sixty year-old man convinced he's a twenty year-old at heart, and the police are cautiously on alert for any trouble in the crowd of thousands. Famous local boy Zeno Vedast--as Burden sniffily says, that's hardly the name he was born with--has returned home to be the concert headliner. All seems to be going well until a woman's body is discovered a nearby ditch.
Dawn Stonor was a local club hostess whose life had never come together the way she'd wanted it to. She was almost ready to give up her ambitions for wealth and glamour--ambitions which had encouraged her, according to her roommate, to be a compulsive liar--when she suddenly and without real explanation left her flat on the night of her boyfriend's birthday and wound up dead. There's a lot here to puzzle, but what Wexford can't get over is the strangeness of her appearance when she was found. Dawn was fashion-conscious and trendy and had apparently been seen mere hours before her death in a mauve, perfectly color-coordinated outfit (oh, the 1970s)... but somehow her body ended up crammed into a too-tight and years-out-of-style red dress that there's no indication she ever owned. And why was she buying picnic food for two at the grocery store right before her death? Who was she planning to meet?
Following these questions leads Wexford and Burden through a tangle of past and present. It was just becoming, as Wexford points out, more culturally powerful to be young than to be old, and what we have in Some Lie and Some Die is a group of people trying frantically to hold onto, recapture, or revise their youth just as they're losing it. The past is a ghost that elegantly and painfully haunts this particular mystery, which has a horrifying--if somewhat overwrought--solution.
There's good characterization and character development in this installment, too. After a clumsy bit of recapping at the beginning to cover the time we've jumped--yes, Mike's wife is still dead, yes, his relationship with his (now married) sister-in-law has become pleasantly functional and friendly--Rendell turns her attention, though never obtrusively, to the ways youth and age interact with her protagonists. Wexford, at sixty, is nostalgic about youth and conversant with it, but also entirely and fully his age, a man with considerable emotional maturity and appreciation for responsibility. When he sits some people down for a blistering Great Detective lecture at the end of the novel, it's a moral authority that he's completely earned. Meanwhile, the younger Burden is struggling to figure out how to correctly be a single dad: determined that his children should never be inconvenienced in any way, he's running himself ragged trying to take them to ever dance and tennis lesson before coming home at five sharp to make them the fanciest dinners he can cobble together. The novel shows him gradually, with Wexford's influence, learning to relax from that and trust that his kids will be okay. It's a nicely-done little arc, and I'm also amused by it because I think this may be the only detective novel I've read where the hard-working cop needs to learn to spend less time with the children he loves.
A folk festival has set up at Sundays, a manor house owned by a sixty year-old man convinced he's a twenty year-old at heart, and the police are cautiously on alert for any trouble in the crowd of thousands. Famous local boy Zeno Vedast--as Burden sniffily says, that's hardly the name he was born with--has returned home to be the concert headliner. All seems to be going well until a woman's body is discovered a nearby ditch.
Dawn Stonor was a local club hostess whose life had never come together the way she'd wanted it to. She was almost ready to give up her ambitions for wealth and glamour--ambitions which had encouraged her, according to her roommate, to be a compulsive liar--when she suddenly and without real explanation left her flat on the night of her boyfriend's birthday and wound up dead. There's a lot here to puzzle, but what Wexford can't get over is the strangeness of her appearance when she was found. Dawn was fashion-conscious and trendy and had apparently been seen mere hours before her death in a mauve, perfectly color-coordinated outfit (oh, the 1970s)... but somehow her body ended up crammed into a too-tight and years-out-of-style red dress that there's no indication she ever owned. And why was she buying picnic food for two at the grocery store right before her death? Who was she planning to meet?
Following these questions leads Wexford and Burden through a tangle of past and present. It was just becoming, as Wexford points out, more culturally powerful to be young than to be old, and what we have in Some Lie and Some Die is a group of people trying frantically to hold onto, recapture, or revise their youth just as they're losing it. The past is a ghost that elegantly and painfully haunts this particular mystery, which has a horrifying--if somewhat overwrought--solution.
There's good characterization and character development in this installment, too. After a clumsy bit of recapping at the beginning to cover the time we've jumped--yes, Mike's wife is still dead, yes, his relationship with his (now married) sister-in-law has become pleasantly functional and friendly--Rendell turns her attention, though never obtrusively, to the ways youth and age interact with her protagonists. Wexford, at sixty, is nostalgic about youth and conversant with it, but also entirely and fully his age, a man with considerable emotional maturity and appreciation for responsibility. When he sits some people down for a blistering Great Detective lecture at the end of the novel, it's a moral authority that he's completely earned. Meanwhile, the younger Burden is struggling to figure out how to correctly be a single dad: determined that his children should never be inconvenienced in any way, he's running himself ragged trying to take them to ever dance and tennis lesson before coming home at five sharp to make them the fanciest dinners he can cobble together. The novel shows him gradually, with Wexford's influence, learning to relax from that and trust that his kids will be okay. It's a nicely-done little arc, and I'm also amused by it because I think this may be the only detective novel I've read where the hard-working cop needs to learn to spend less time with the children he loves.
December 18, 2020
So I've read all of the Barnaby (Midsomer) books and have turned to Wexford. It may be that the only thing they have in common is that they take place away from London. Caroline Graham (Barnaby) seemed to find groups of people who lived lives out of the norm while Ruth Rendell seems more drawn to lonely people. I'm not certain why I'm even trying to make comparisons - maybe just to direct my thinking.
I noticed in The Veiled One a reference to a place called Sundays. I chose not to question the name. This novel is an earlier installment in the series and appears to be where the location called Sundays begins. It will be fun to see if it crops up again. Anyway, the name comes from the estate being at one time owned by Sir Geoffrey Beauvoir de Saint Dieu. I remember just barely enough of my high school French to be momentarily confused how that translated to Sundays. In another place is: She was killed up there. I'm as sure of that as I'm sure I'll never be the Maigret of Marumi. There is not much humor in the series, but I will now be watching for it!
Back to Sundays ... The novel opens with thousands of young people flocking to the vicinity of Kingsmarkham for what looked to be the UK equivalent of Woodstock. I remember these times of great open air weekend-long, even week-long, concerts, held in fields. The 1970s were an interesting time, to say the least. As I anticipated, a body was found before the weekend ended.
I'm not going to exaggerate and say I'll love this as much as Brunetti, but I'm happy to have found this series. When I rate this just 3-stars, don't be fooled and think I didn't enjoy it, because I did. It's just hard to rave. What I *can* rave about is that it fills a slot in both my 20th Century Women's challenge and my 20th/21st Century Mysteries Challenge. I'll take that to the bank (reading-wise, of course).
I noticed in The Veiled One a reference to a place called Sundays. I chose not to question the name. This novel is an earlier installment in the series and appears to be where the location called Sundays begins. It will be fun to see if it crops up again. Anyway, the name comes from the estate being at one time owned by Sir Geoffrey Beauvoir de Saint Dieu. I remember just barely enough of my high school French to be momentarily confused how that translated to Sundays. In another place is: She was killed up there. I'm as sure of that as I'm sure I'll never be the Maigret of Marumi. There is not much humor in the series, but I will now be watching for it!
Back to Sundays ... The novel opens with thousands of young people flocking to the vicinity of Kingsmarkham for what looked to be the UK equivalent of Woodstock. I remember these times of great open air weekend-long, even week-long, concerts, held in fields. The 1970s were an interesting time, to say the least. As I anticipated, a body was found before the weekend ended.
I'm not going to exaggerate and say I'll love this as much as Brunetti, but I'm happy to have found this series. When I rate this just 3-stars, don't be fooled and think I didn't enjoy it, because I did. It's just hard to rave. What I *can* rave about is that it fills a slot in both my 20th Century Women's challenge and my 20th/21st Century Mysteries Challenge. I'll take that to the bank (reading-wise, of course).
October 23, 2020
Rendell surprises again, but not in a good way. This one is neither terrifying nor well written. The plot is absurd, the setting contrived and foolish, the characters unconvincing. Apparently the 70s were not a good time in her career. Had I read this first of hers, I should never have bothered with another. Bah.
May 8, 2019
Set in the '7o's rock festival era, this Wexford story has a very tired and dated feel when I reread it. The characterisation of Wexford and Burden is excellent as always but some of the others are almost stereotypes, particularly Zeno and his entourage. However, even a slightly poor Ruth Rendell novel is still far superior to most other modern day crime writers.
June 18, 2015
Somewhere part of the way through your third Ruth Rendell you will become aware of just why she is regarded as being the very best there is at this detective fiction game. You won't have started number three without having enjoyed one and two. You will have enjoyed being drawn by the plot, being drawn to the main character and being impressed by the technical structure of the books. It is only during number three that you realise that the wonderful feeling that is growing inside you is caused by the music of the sentences, the touch of a poet, the no-nonsense sentiments of a realist and the heart seeking beauty of a perfectionist. You'll realise just how good this writer is, and marvel at the achievement of creating Reg Wexford. Some Lie and Some Die is an early novel. She got much better. Not many other detective writers got this good.
January 3, 2016
When the body of a brutally beaten girl is found in a quarry during a hedonistic hippy festival near Kingsmarkham, Wexford is first on the scene. The victim's face has been pulped by the back-end of a bottle, but who, in this atmosphere of peace and love, could be capable of such violence?
A TV series was made based on this book and it's available at YouTube.
4* Going Wrong
4* The Keys to the Street
3* The Fever Tree and Other Stories
4* A Judgement in Stone
3* Fall of the Coin
4* People Don't Do Such Things
3* The Girl Next Door
2* To Fear a Painted Devil
3* Dark Corners
3* Live Flesh
Inspector Wexford series:
3* Some Lie and Some Die (Inspector Wexford, #8)
3* Shake Hands Forever (Inspector Wexford, #9)
3* The Veiled One (Inspector Wexford, #14)
4* Kissing the Gunner's Daughter (Inspector Wexford, #15)
3* Harm Done (Inspector Wexford, #18)
3* The Babes in the Wood (Inspector Wexford, #19)
TR From Doon With Death (Inspector Wexford, #1)
TR A New Lease of Death (Inspector Wexford, #2)
TR Wolf to the Slaughter (Inspector Wexford, #3)
TR The Best Man to Die (Inspector Wexford, #4)
TR A Guilty Thing Surprised (Inspector Wexford, #5)
TR No More Dying Then (Inspector Wexford, #6)
TR Murder Being Once Done (Inspector Wexford, #7)
TR A Sleeping Life (Inspector Wexford, #10)
TR Death Notes (Inspector Wexford, #11)
TR Speaker of Mandarin (Inspector Wexford, #12)
TR An Unkindness of Ravens (Inspector Wexford, #13)
TR Simisola (Inspector Wexford, #16)
TR Road Rage (Inspector Wexford, #17)
TR End in Tears (Inspector Wexford, #20)
TR Not in the Flesh (Inspector Wexford, #21)
TR The Monster in the Box (Inspector Wexford, #22)
TR The Vault (Inspector Wexford, #23)
TR No Man's Nightingale (Inspector Wexford #24)
A TV series was made based on this book and it's available at YouTube.
4* Going Wrong
4* The Keys to the Street
3* The Fever Tree and Other Stories
4* A Judgement in Stone
3* Fall of the Coin
4* People Don't Do Such Things
3* The Girl Next Door
2* To Fear a Painted Devil
3* Dark Corners
3* Live Flesh
Inspector Wexford series:
3* Some Lie and Some Die (Inspector Wexford, #8)
3* Shake Hands Forever (Inspector Wexford, #9)
3* The Veiled One (Inspector Wexford, #14)
4* Kissing the Gunner's Daughter (Inspector Wexford, #15)
3* Harm Done (Inspector Wexford, #18)
3* The Babes in the Wood (Inspector Wexford, #19)
TR From Doon With Death (Inspector Wexford, #1)
TR A New Lease of Death (Inspector Wexford, #2)
TR Wolf to the Slaughter (Inspector Wexford, #3)
TR The Best Man to Die (Inspector Wexford, #4)
TR A Guilty Thing Surprised (Inspector Wexford, #5)
TR No More Dying Then (Inspector Wexford, #6)
TR Murder Being Once Done (Inspector Wexford, #7)
TR A Sleeping Life (Inspector Wexford, #10)
TR Death Notes (Inspector Wexford, #11)
TR Speaker of Mandarin (Inspector Wexford, #12)
TR An Unkindness of Ravens (Inspector Wexford, #13)
TR Simisola (Inspector Wexford, #16)
TR Road Rage (Inspector Wexford, #17)
TR End in Tears (Inspector Wexford, #20)
TR Not in the Flesh (Inspector Wexford, #21)
TR The Monster in the Box (Inspector Wexford, #22)
TR The Vault (Inspector Wexford, #23)
TR No Man's Nightingale (Inspector Wexford #24)
July 25, 2015
Wonderful, intricate, compelling mystery set in a time I distinctly remember! I was about the age of several of the main characters - both the victim and suspects - and yeah, it was like that, man. All cops were pigs. Well, not really. I was sort of a square, considering the times. But short skirts, weird makeup and those page boy hats we all wore, yeah I was there ...
As for the mystery, a young woman is found dead in a quarry at the scene of a 'rave-up' or what we Yanks would simply call a concert, or if we were really high, a happening. It's up to Wexford, who seems to understand the young people, and Burden, who doesn't, to solve the crime. There's not a lot of forensics here, but a lot of interviewing and psychological insights as Wexford learns who's telling the truth, and who isn't. There's a very good description of a rock star at his peak, which doesn't differ so much from similar celebrities of today. The narcissism, the seeming entitlement, the way this 'star' looks down condescendingly on others as he elevates to stardom. Anyhow, the setting is great - the English countryside. The depiction of characters, both young and old, free-thinking or stodgy, and the way the story unrolls is very well-done.
Currently one of my favorite Ruth Rendell-Inspector Wexford mysteries.
As for the mystery, a young woman is found dead in a quarry at the scene of a 'rave-up' or what we Yanks would simply call a concert, or if we were really high, a happening. It's up to Wexford, who seems to understand the young people, and Burden, who doesn't, to solve the crime. There's not a lot of forensics here, but a lot of interviewing and psychological insights as Wexford learns who's telling the truth, and who isn't. There's a very good description of a rock star at his peak, which doesn't differ so much from similar celebrities of today. The narcissism, the seeming entitlement, the way this 'star' looks down condescendingly on others as he elevates to stardom. Anyhow, the setting is great - the English countryside. The depiction of characters, both young and old, free-thinking or stodgy, and the way the story unrolls is very well-done.
Currently one of my favorite Ruth Rendell-Inspector Wexford mysteries.
May 6, 2015
As with all of Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford books that I've read so far, this is a beautifully written murder mystery with superb characterizations and rich humour. Because it's from the 1970s, some of the humour is unintentional; hearing how we spoke and how we referred to certain things made me smile...more nostalgia than disdain.
And if you're curious, the song from which the title comes--the lyrics for which are included with a helpful map at the beginning of my edition of this book--is available on YouTube, as a performance from the teleplay of the novel that features none other than the current Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi.
And if you're curious, the song from which the title comes--the lyrics for which are included with a helpful map at the beginning of my edition of this book--is available on YouTube, as a performance from the teleplay of the novel that features none other than the current Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi.
December 11, 2010
Ruth Rendell has written some really good books but, IMO, this is not one of them. I found most of the characters completely unbelievable and Rendell's attempt to capture pop culture as off-key and embarrassing as your dad trying to rap.
September 19, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars A Captivating read, June 17, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Some Lie and Some Die (An Inspector Wexford Mystery) (Paperback)
This is the 2nd mystery in the Inspector Wexford series that I've read and they are worlds apart. This story is not long at all as was thr other book in this series.
The premise (rock concert) would have been a mystery I would have ordinarily avoided but since it was an Inspector Wexford I gave it a try on CD. The story held my interest throughout due not only to a gifted author but also to the very talented narrator/performer-Nigel Anthony. Mr.Anthony's performance brought this story and the characters to life.
I must say that I enjoyed this book a bit more than the other Inspector Wexford book. It was so totally different and at the same time so captivating.
Whether you chose to listen to this book on CD or read it in book form you won't be disappointed.
Ellen
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Some Lie and Some Die (An Inspector Wexford Mystery) (Paperback)
This is the 2nd mystery in the Inspector Wexford series that I've read and they are worlds apart. This story is not long at all as was thr other book in this series.
The premise (rock concert) would have been a mystery I would have ordinarily avoided but since it was an Inspector Wexford I gave it a try on CD. The story held my interest throughout due not only to a gifted author but also to the very talented narrator/performer-Nigel Anthony. Mr.Anthony's performance brought this story and the characters to life.
I must say that I enjoyed this book a bit more than the other Inspector Wexford book. It was so totally different and at the same time so captivating.
Whether you chose to listen to this book on CD or read it in book form you won't be disappointed.
Ellen
January 18, 2011
I think maybe I need to take a break from Ruth for a bit to better appreciate her strengths. This particular novel has many of her hallmarks, but feels more dated given the setting--a seventies-era rock concert. The novel takes me back to old episodes of Ironsides and Hawaii 5-0 with the psychedelic camera work and the du. wacka, wacka sound track playing as the chief works his way throught the crime scene. As usual, Rendell uses an outside work to provide additional context to the mystery. This time it's the lyrics to a rock song created for the purpose. That thing got worked to death in the course of the story. As usual, the story focuses on an unstable female character, who in this novel has a Jim Morrison knock-off as her Svengali-like foil.
April 9, 2016
I don't entirely recognize Inspector Wexford in this book. His stay in London seems to have made him more liberal and more literary than he was before: the quotations from Shakespeare and from 19th-century British poetry come faster than the pints he orders in the pub.
People who know the era say that Rendell's portrait of a 1970's folk-rock singer and his groupies is spot on. I'll buy that. I didn't buy the psychology behind the murder. It's a good thing Rendell deepened the character and made more of his wife and daughters as the series went on.
People who know the era say that Rendell's portrait of a 1970's folk-rock singer and his groupies is spot on. I'll buy that. I didn't buy the psychology behind the murder. It's a good thing Rendell deepened the character and made more of his wife and daughters as the series went on.
September 25, 2021
If I could have suspended belief I might have enjoyed it more.... the end just was so crazy - not one of Ruth's best and I wish I hadn't spent money on it either. It's a real doozie, so don't waste your cash!
I was left feeling so let down at the end and if I'd started with this one I'd never have read another Ruth Rendell. I have been reading through her books in order so far but I think I will give the next in series a miss for quite a while. Reading the reviews today I began to wonder if I'd been reading a different book...?
I was left feeling so let down at the end and if I'd started with this one I'd never have read another Ruth Rendell. I have been reading through her books in order so far but I think I will give the next in series a miss for quite a while. Reading the reviews today I began to wonder if I'd been reading a different book...?
November 1, 2012
Some really fantastic lines but less enjoyable than previous Wexfords.
May 27, 2017
Listened to this old style mystery. Each trip to or from work revealed a little more of the intricate plot.
October 16, 2022
Een detective verhaal van Ruth Rendell met inspecteur Wexford in de hoofdrol staat steeds voor hardnekkig geploeter in een zaak die duister is en weinig of geen aanknopingspunten biedt. Haar talent voor de psychologische thriller is nadrukkelijk op de achtergrond aanwezig.
Op de cover zien we de rode jurk die een belangrijke rol in het verhaal zal spelen.
De naam van de auteur en vermelding van Wexford is voldoende om de verkoopscijfers te stimuleren.
En de lezer zal niet teleurgesteld worden. Tegen een achtergrond van het Engelse platteland waarbij de façade vaak anders is dan wat daarachter gebeurt, tijdelijk aangevuld met het jonge en baldadige publiek van een festival, heeft de inspekteur ruim voldoende gelegenheid om zijn speurtocht aan te vatten. Geholpen door Burden die met zijn gedachten meer bij de opvoeding van zijn kinderen zit dan bij het onderzoek begint hij de achtergronden van alle betrokkenen na te gaan. Heel langzaam tekent zich een triest beeld van verwoeste levens af. Het contrast met de glitterwereld van een popster is groot. Toch blijkt er een verband te bestaan.
In een gezapige verteltrant met soms heel subtiele en fijne humor schetst Ruth Rendell het denkproces van Wexford, de alternatieven die Burden aandraagt en de akties van de speurders die die theoriën moeten ondersteunen of juist omver werpen.
Het is een erg bloederige moord maar verder is het verhaal interessant genoeg zodat er geen verdere moorden nodig zijn - een contrast met de meeste hedendaagse thrillers.
De leesbaarheid wordt zeker bevordert door de dialogen tussen de speurders onderling en de gesprekken die Wexford met de betrokkenen heeft, dat houdt de vaart er goed in.
Psychologisch goed onderbouwd en met aandacht voor de schrijnende excessen en hun gevolgen van bepaalde keuzes die mensen maken.
Een mooi verhaal dat goed in mekaar zit en toch een wrange nasmaak achterlaat door de ontknoping die tegelijkertijd climax en anti-climax is. Geen sprookje maar wel uit het echte leven gegrepen.
Op de cover zien we de rode jurk die een belangrijke rol in het verhaal zal spelen.
De naam van de auteur en vermelding van Wexford is voldoende om de verkoopscijfers te stimuleren.
En de lezer zal niet teleurgesteld worden. Tegen een achtergrond van het Engelse platteland waarbij de façade vaak anders is dan wat daarachter gebeurt, tijdelijk aangevuld met het jonge en baldadige publiek van een festival, heeft de inspekteur ruim voldoende gelegenheid om zijn speurtocht aan te vatten. Geholpen door Burden die met zijn gedachten meer bij de opvoeding van zijn kinderen zit dan bij het onderzoek begint hij de achtergronden van alle betrokkenen na te gaan. Heel langzaam tekent zich een triest beeld van verwoeste levens af. Het contrast met de glitterwereld van een popster is groot. Toch blijkt er een verband te bestaan.
In een gezapige verteltrant met soms heel subtiele en fijne humor schetst Ruth Rendell het denkproces van Wexford, de alternatieven die Burden aandraagt en de akties van de speurders die die theoriën moeten ondersteunen of juist omver werpen.
Het is een erg bloederige moord maar verder is het verhaal interessant genoeg zodat er geen verdere moorden nodig zijn - een contrast met de meeste hedendaagse thrillers.
De leesbaarheid wordt zeker bevordert door de dialogen tussen de speurders onderling en de gesprekken die Wexford met de betrokkenen heeft, dat houdt de vaart er goed in.
Psychologisch goed onderbouwd en met aandacht voor de schrijnende excessen en hun gevolgen van bepaalde keuzes die mensen maken.
Een mooi verhaal dat goed in mekaar zit en toch een wrange nasmaak achterlaat door de ontknoping die tegelijkertijd climax en anti-climax is. Geen sprookje maar wel uit het echte leven gegrepen.
November 1, 2018
A ver, es un libro que parece una película de Antena 3: todo es un poco cutrecillo, pero no por ello menos entretenido.
Hay un policía enrollado y un policía carca que van a vigilar un festival de música pop que se celebra en la finca de un señor rico y excéntrico. Allí, todo el mundo está en plan "paz y amor, bro", "no a la contaminación", "hagamos el amor y no la guerra". Y de repente..."¡oh, señor policía, venga corriendo, hay una chica muerta con la cara to reventá!".
El final y la resolución del asesinato es un "¡por ejemplo...ESTO!" como una casa.
Como dato curioso de la edición que yo tengo (que no es esta que estoy comentando sino una que venía de regalo con una revista) diré que la sinopsis de la contraportada no tenía nada que ver con la historia que yo estaba leyendo. Y estuve rallada 60 páginas esperando a que mataran a cuatro miembros de la familia Coverdale.
Hay un policía enrollado y un policía carca que van a vigilar un festival de música pop que se celebra en la finca de un señor rico y excéntrico. Allí, todo el mundo está en plan "paz y amor, bro", "no a la contaminación", "hagamos el amor y no la guerra". Y de repente..."¡oh, señor policía, venga corriendo, hay una chica muerta con la cara to reventá!".
El final y la resolución del asesinato es un "¡por ejemplo...ESTO!" como una casa.
Como dato curioso de la edición que yo tengo (que no es esta que estoy comentando sino una que venía de regalo con una revista) diré que la sinopsis de la contraportada no tenía nada que ver con la historia que yo estaba leyendo. Y estuve rallada 60 páginas esperando a que mataran a cuatro miembros de la familia Coverdale.
November 8, 2021
Audio book Nigel Anthony excellent.
Surely a ghost writer? 🤔
Obviously the better class of hotel have rapid response units!
Surely a ghost writer? 🤔
Obviously the better class of hotel have rapid response units!
November 8, 2023
I have read some really good Ruth Rendell books but this was not one of them. Not for me anyway.
It is a very quick read only 180 pages, maybe had she put more into it it would have been better.
The story is very dated, the attitudes of the people in the book is very much of the period it was written in, 1970's. It made it quite uncomfortable reading at times. The women were described in a very chauvinistic way. I don't know if Rendell was aware of how demeaning she was being to her female characters, or she was demonstrating how the men looked upon the women?
It is a very quick read only 180 pages, maybe had she put more into it it would have been better.
The story is very dated, the attitudes of the people in the book is very much of the period it was written in, 1970's. It made it quite uncomfortable reading at times. The women were described in a very chauvinistic way. I don't know if Rendell was aware of how demeaning she was being to her female characters, or she was demonstrating how the men looked upon the women?
August 26, 2018
Wexford solves this case using his apparent psychic abilities. It feels as if Rendell was racing to hit her deadline and ran out of time to a craft a believable conclusion. And the idea that a savvy police commander would interrupt a concert attended by 70,000 tripping hippies to announce a murder — and not have chaos ensue — is equally unbelievable. A bummer, because I enjoyed the continuing character development of Wexford and Burden’s characters (and that of Burden’s kids), not to mention Wexford‘s jocular hepcat asides: “I just got a job offer, Mike — bossing the fuzz in an African country; doing my own thing, man.” “I wouldn’t make much bread that way, would I?”
August 28, 2012
A friend recommended Ruth Rendell to me. This is the first book of hers I've read so I jumped into a series in the middle somewhere. Some Lie and Some Die is a good quickie (181 pages) mystery. I enjoyed the relationship between Chief Inspector Wexford and Detective Inspector Burden and am looking forward to reading more in this series.
Not to be too picky, I wish Rendell had written a slightly longer book with a little more about the the actual murderer. I think the ending could still have been a surprise even if more had been written about that person earlier on in the book.
Not to be too picky, I wish Rendell had written a slightly longer book with a little more about the the actual murderer. I think the ending could still have been a surprise even if more had been written about that person earlier on in the book.
June 8, 2017
This is my first Ruth Rendell mystery and I enjoyed it very much. It was published in 1973, when I was 18-19 years old. Because the storyline revolved around a rock concert, being held in a field, it brought back memories of my own youth.
I enjoyed getting to know Inspector Wexford and his co-horts. Like many famous literary detectives, Wexford figures out what's going on but doesn't "spill the beans" right away. I look forward my next Inspector Wexford novel.
I enjoyed getting to know Inspector Wexford and his co-horts. Like many famous literary detectives, Wexford figures out what's going on but doesn't "spill the beans" right away. I look forward my next Inspector Wexford novel.
May 1, 2013
I love a good murder mystery and there are few better exponents of them than RR. However, as someone else said, a break from these books may be a good idea as it's all seeming just a bit too familiar. Still, love the 'order out of chaos' that a crime book brings. Nearing the end of the book now and, as usual, not at all sure who did it!
March 12, 2018
Huge fan of Ruth Rendell but have never been a fan of her Wexford novels. Thought it time to try another one of them but this has not made me want to read another. The blurb on the back says "timeless" but that's really not the case here.
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