Retirement is weighing heavily in Chief Inspector Wexford’s hands, so a call from Detective Superintendent Burden is a welcomed event. Burden invites Wexford to act as consultant and accompany him on an inspection of the vicarage where the Reverend Sarah Hussain was murdered yesterday. The vicar was a woman, half Indian and a single mother. Any one of these things might cause a parishioner or two to have reservations. Put together, they caused several of her parishioners to have some difficulties. But surely, not murder. Tagging along as a civilian poses a few problems when Wexford begins to feel that Burden has targeted the wrong suspect. Of course, Wexford then feels compelled to do a little investigating on his own.

This is the 24th book in the series, and I have read and enjoyed all of them. As expected, Ruth Rendell has provided wonderful characters and an excellent plot with twists and turns that satisfied me. But with Wexford retired, it just wasn’t quite the same. He has mellowed a bit too much for my taste. Oh well, he is her character and I suppose she can do with him as she wishes. If you have never read a Wexford book, you will probably enjoy this book with no reservations.

eGalley review Publication date 11.5.13