Review of "Some Lie and Some Die: An Inspector Wexford Mystery" by Ruth Rendell

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.

 Rating: 3 stars