I've not read Rendell, but have read several of her books under her psuedonym Barbara Vine. It always interests me when authors do this - ask her what she considers the difference between the two 'author's ' books, and was there a reason why she preferred to write under separate names?

Good question, Cindy!

Something I've wondered myself - my 'answer' is that BV is a psychological thriller write whereas RR is a crime writer - wonder what she'll say!

Thats been my take on it, esp since I love the Vine books (thats usually the only 'mystery' type books I care for). I'll be eager to hear what she says!

I used to pant for the next Rendell book to come out. But somewhere along the line she became formulaic so much that I no longer cared for her books. I've tried a couple (only) since I gave up in the early '90s, but only "Pinch Me" (not sure if that's exact title) was any good. In one of her books the rape-killer was so real to me, my palms would turn cold + clammy! But Rendell was never gorey or overly-raw in her descriptions. And there were usually a romantic or charming couple of other characters to pick up the mood (w/out being "schmaltzy", though).

Barbara Vine mysteries were fabulously adapted by the BBC (or was it Thames television?). They were shown on PBS-TV in U.S.A. I was enthralled by all of the mini-series they made of three BV books. As for reading BV novels, I've read a couple, but lost "appetite" for them when, in the last one I read, the murderer got away with cold-blooded murder (seemed to, since the plot left one hanging in air) -- and the person who knew about it just let the murderer go. That's how the story ended --- Ick! Too bleak for my taste! There's enough of that in real life; why bother reading fiction about it?