Since I've worked my way through most of Ruth Rendell's novels written under the pen name Barbara Vine, I've decided to read Ruth Rendell's crime novels. While I think I still prefer the Vine novels for their psychological acuity and insight, I can see that the Rendell novels are still satisfying in their own way, though they may not have quite the same depth, they still have her excellent characterization and perfect plotting. I wasn't quite sure how A Judgement in Stone would measure up, as it was a bit slow going at first, but as I read I found myself becoming more and more absorbed in the story until I finally couldn't put it down.
Once again the reader knows the crime, the victims, and the perpetrator from the outset. Even the motives are apparent. "Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write." What Ruth Rendell does so well is show us the missteps and misunderstandings, the 'helpful' enabling by others that led to the final breaking point when Eunice could take no more. This is a story of so many 'what if's'. Unfortunately one tragic event led to another until there was simply no turning back and Eunice's life (and the Coverdale's) unraveled. If only her disability had not been revealed, perhaps the Coverdale family, who hired Eunice as a live in maid, would have lived.
I suppose Eunice would be what is considered a functional illiterate. An only child she attended school only sporadically. The war interrupted her education, and no teacher ever seemed to take the trouble to make sure she didn't slip through the cracks, which she did. By the time she left school at 14 she could only sign her name and read "The cat sat on the mat" and "Jim likes jam, but Jack likes ham", which is not much preparation for life. Her parents were willing conspirators in her subterfuge, and after they died she had to fend for herself, and she managed quite adequately all things considered.
The gulf between Eunice and her employers, the Coverdales, was great. The Coverdales were everything that Eunice wasn't, educated, upper class (just a touch of snobbishness), wealthy, and well versed in all the social graces. But Eunice, though somewhat cold and unemotional, was a dream of a servant. She even responded to the Coverdales with Sir and Madame. An old-fashioned servant no less. Not being able to read or write, Eunice's world was a small one. What she was good at was taking care of others, first her parents and then the Coverdales. Maybe everything would have been okay had Eunice not met Joan, a self-confessed sinner whose main aim in life is to help others keep to the straight and narrow and seek God's forgiveness. Only her methods weren't always particularly honest. Eunice was simply a fire waiting to happen, Joan provided the fuel, and when Eunice's humiliating secret is revealed a conflagration ensued.
I know I am biased as I am a great fan of Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine, but can she write a bad book? How can crime writing be so elegantly done? I've started collecting (new, used and mooched copies) of Ruth Rendell's crime novels now. I have a small stack started and am happy that there will be lots to discover still. I have have the first Wexford mystery, which up until now I have avoided. If you like crime fiction, A Judgement in Stone is a great read.