DDC/MDS
| 823/.914 |
Publication
Harmondsworth : Viking, 1987.
Original publication date
1987
Description
An award-winning novel from a New York Times-bestselling author: The long-buried bodies of a woman and child are unearthed on a Suffolk country estate. When the new owners of Wyvis Hall, a rural estate in Suffolk, set out to bury their pet dog on the grounds, they stumbled upon a ghastly relic: the bones of a woman and small child in a shallow grave. The gruesome find makes stunning headlines, especially so for the previous occupants. A decade before, nineteen-year-old Adam Verne-Smith inherited the property and spent one debauched summer there with runaways, drifters, and his two best friends--none of whom have spoken since that fatal season. Adam is now a doting father and husband. His old buddy Rufus is a respectable doctor. And there's Shiva, whose dreams of upward mobility drifted away. Unhinged by the discovery, they reunite, each with a protest of innocence. As the past slowly emerges, their regrets, desperation, and bitter incriminations get the best of them--and so will their secrets. A master of "deep, disquieting insight into the pathological dynamics of love" (The New York Times), author Ruth Rendell's Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award-winning A Fatal Inversion is "rife with lost Edens, family secrets and stifled sexual urges" (Chicago Tribune). It was adapted for television by the BBC in 1992. … (more)
Status
Available
Call number
Collection
User reviews
LibraryThing member rkreish
A Fatal Inversion is my first Barbara Vine (and I've only read one Ruth Rendell that I remember- sort of: From Doon with Death). I figured it would be a good pick for me because I read that this book was heavy on psychological suspense, and it popped up on a list of Top 100 Crime Novels of the
The story takes place during an incredibly hot summer in 1976 in England at a country mansion that nineteen-year-old Adam inherited from his great-uncle after his first year at university. He spends the summer with a small group of friends and acquaintances, and the book focuses on three main perspectives: Adam, his friend Rufus, and their new acquaintance Shiva.
The descriptions are very detailed, and the mood of the story from 1976 is quite hazy, lazy and sunny.
Adam closed his eyes and turned his head away from Anne. A down-stuffed duvet in a printed cotton cover lay over them. It had been a quilt at Ecalpemos, faded yellow satin, brought in by Vivien from the terrace when the rain began. Quilts were what you lay on to sunbathe that summer, no for warmth on beds, but slung for lounging comfort as it might be on some Damasene rooftop. Night after night they had lain out there in the soft, scented warmth, looking at the stars, or lighting candles stuk in Rufus's wine bottles, eating and drinking, talking, hoping, and happy. That summer--there had never been another like it, before or since (p. 57).
The story begins with the discovery of human skeletons in a pet cemetery at said country mansion in 1987, and the story about Adam in 1976 will eventually tell what happened and whose skeletons were discovered over 10 years later. It's obvious early on who is guilty, but Vine doles out details of the complete story in the past quite slowly-- and effectively-- to make this a very involving read. She has a lot to say about guilt and degrees of guilt, and it would make for a great book club discussion.
You have to be able to stand self-involved young adults to be able to get into this story, and thankfully this feels like a condensed, creepy version of The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I much preferred this book to the Tartt. The story is heartbreaking, the plotting is insanely good, and the ending is so apt. I love the ending. It's really a masterful story.
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Century. Thankfully I agree with the awards and list accolades: A Fatal Inversion is a fine read that grows in my estimation the further I am from it.The story takes place during an incredibly hot summer in 1976 in England at a country mansion that nineteen-year-old Adam inherited from his great-uncle after his first year at university. He spends the summer with a small group of friends and acquaintances, and the book focuses on three main perspectives: Adam, his friend Rufus, and their new acquaintance Shiva.
The descriptions are very detailed, and the mood of the story from 1976 is quite hazy, lazy and sunny.
Adam closed his eyes and turned his head away from Anne. A down-stuffed duvet in a printed cotton cover lay over them. It had been a quilt at Ecalpemos, faded yellow satin, brought in by Vivien from the terrace when the rain began. Quilts were what you lay on to sunbathe that summer, no for warmth on beds, but slung for lounging comfort as it might be on some Damasene rooftop. Night after night they had lain out there in the soft, scented warmth, looking at the stars, or lighting candles stuk in Rufus's wine bottles, eating and drinking, talking, hoping, and happy. That summer--there had never been another like it, before or since (p. 57).
The story begins with the discovery of human skeletons in a pet cemetery at said country mansion in 1987, and the story about Adam in 1976 will eventually tell what happened and whose skeletons were discovered over 10 years later. It's obvious early on who is guilty, but Vine doles out details of the complete story in the past quite slowly-- and effectively-- to make this a very involving read. She has a lot to say about guilt and degrees of guilt, and it would make for a great book club discussion.
You have to be able to stand self-involved young adults to be able to get into this story, and thankfully this feels like a condensed, creepy version of The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I much preferred this book to the Tartt. The story is heartbreaking, the plotting is insanely good, and the ending is so apt. I love the ending. It's really a masterful story.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Ruth Rendell gets suspense. She does not take the easy way out. She does not go for the obvious. Instead we get cryptic hints. Isolated incidents that have greater portent. Mysterious names of rooms at Ecalpemos. Dropped references to firearms. Remembrances of the victims. All fiendishly designed
Another thing Rendell is good at, and it especially shines when she’s writing as Barbara Vine, is giving us characters that are compelling, but not entirely likeable. That’s what elevates her characters far above the usual caricatures of many novelists. Not one person in this story was entirely likable or unlikeable. In some ways they are relatable and in others completely alien. A nice touch if you are deft enough to carry if off. No one is completely ordinary and no one is a freak. It makes their actions much more plausible.
The fantasy of the commune looms large again. Adam is seduced the ambience and charm of his inherited English estate and through direct and indirect invitations, people descend and take up residence. Inherited as a complete surprise as it was long thought it would be left to his scheming and kow-towing father. Lewis is another person we are delighted to see bad things happen to. It was a nice pay off to see how utterly powerless he was in the face of the fact that he did not inherit. Funny. Adam even invents a caretaker to keep his father away, saying something about how he had to guard against squatters, meaning dad. They both knew what he meant and it was a lovely moment to savor.
The events that lead up to the somewhat unsatisfying ending are strange though. A lot of the witnesses to the killing end up dead through no direct involvement of the murderer himself. Adam wouldn’t have it in him to kill again, but the people who could really finger him are conveniently dead or soon will be. Adam even remarks to Rufus that when the bones first turned up that it would be the time in detective novels for them to be bumping off all of the potential witnesses. The very last bit I saw coming as soon as one girl appeared in another’s dress though, something I rarely do with Rendell.
All in all, nicely done. A fey little murder set in an otherwise idyllic location.
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to keep us up well past our bedtimes just to see what happens next. The past and the present enmeshed in a sinuous narrative style.Another thing Rendell is good at, and it especially shines when she’s writing as Barbara Vine, is giving us characters that are compelling, but not entirely likeable. That’s what elevates her characters far above the usual caricatures of many novelists. Not one person in this story was entirely likable or unlikeable. In some ways they are relatable and in others completely alien. A nice touch if you are deft enough to carry if off. No one is completely ordinary and no one is a freak. It makes their actions much more plausible.
The fantasy of the commune looms large again. Adam is seduced the ambience and charm of his inherited English estate and through direct and indirect invitations, people descend and take up residence. Inherited as a complete surprise as it was long thought it would be left to his scheming and kow-towing father. Lewis is another person we are delighted to see bad things happen to. It was a nice pay off to see how utterly powerless he was in the face of the fact that he did not inherit. Funny. Adam even invents a caretaker to keep his father away, saying something about how he had to guard against squatters, meaning dad. They both knew what he meant and it was a lovely moment to savor.
The events that lead up to the somewhat unsatisfying ending are strange though. A lot of the witnesses to the killing end up dead through no direct involvement of the murderer himself. Adam wouldn’t have it in him to kill again, but the people who could really finger him are conveniently dead or soon will be. Adam even remarks to Rufus that when the bones first turned up that it would be the time in detective novels for them to be bumping off all of the potential witnesses. The very last bit I saw coming as soon as one girl appeared in another’s dress though, something I rarely do with Rendell.
All in all, nicely done. A fey little murder set in an otherwise idyllic location.
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LibraryThing member laurent
Loved that book. Absolutely memorable characters & atmosphere.
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
I think Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine likes writing about Bohemian Youth types, and there are plenty of them in this book. The atmosphere is created very well, but I wasn't too sure about the plot. There wasn't very much mystery, as it was clear from an early stage what had happened. I was waiting for
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a clever twist but it didn't materialise Show Less
LibraryThing member ruthm2010
The story begins when the bodies of a young woman and a baby are found buried in the grounds of a country house. Ten years before a group of young people had spent the summer there and gradually the story of what happened unfolds. A wickedly clever twist at the end makes you want to immediately
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re-read. Gripping. Show Less
LibraryThing member HighlandLad
A psychological crime thriller, it’s hardly a whodunit, more a whatwasdun, and even more, a whowasdun... and why? There’s some truly expert plotting in this story. Privileged 19 year-old student Adam Vere-Smith inherits from his great-uncle the old country house of Ecalpemos (read it backwards)
It comes to a thrilling conclusion – though those who insist on a traditional Hollywood-style ending may be left slightly miffed. Totally original, it’s impossible to put down once started, so be warned, and enjoy...
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in the lovely English Suffolk countryside around Nunes (Bures?), and in the long hot summer of 1976 sets up a hippy-like commune for the season. There’s a terrific sense of time and place built in, and the characters are all highly realistic, none enitrely loveable, all with major character flaws, prejudices and imperfections. Just like real life. But the book is written from the viewpoint of autumn 1986, when the police have uncovered human bones, dating back about 10 years. Who killed who, and why? It comes to a thrilling conclusion – though those who insist on a traditional Hollywood-style ending may be left slightly miffed. Totally original, it’s impossible to put down once started, so be warned, and enjoy...
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LibraryThing member rkreish
A Fatal Inversion is my first Barbara Vine (and I've only read one Ruth Rendell that I remember- sort of: From Doon with Death). I figured it would be a good pick for me because I read that this book was heavy on psychological suspense, and it popped up on a list of Top 100 Crime Novels of the
The story takes place during an incredibly hot summer in 1976 in England at a country mansion that nineteen-year-old Adam inherited from his great-uncle after his first year at university. He spends the summer with a small group of friends and acquaintances, and the book focuses on three main perspectives: Adam, his friend Rufus, and their new acquaintance Shiva.
The descriptions are very detailed, and the mood of the story from 1976 is quite hazy, lazy and sunny.
Adam closed his eyes and turned his head away from Anne. A down-stuffed duvet in a printed cotton cover lay over them. It had been a quilt at Ecalpemos, faded yellow satin, brought in by Vivien from the terrace when the rain began. Quilts were what you lay on to sunbathe that summer, no for warmth on beds, but slung for lounging comfort as it might be on some Damasene rooftop. Night after night they had lain out there in the soft, scented warmth, looking at the stars, or lighting candles stuk in Rufus's wine bottles, eating and drinking, talking, hoping, and happy. That summer--there had never been another like it, before or since (p. 57).
The story begins with the discovery of human skeletons in a pet cemetery at said country mansion in 1987, and the story about Adam in 1976 will eventually tell what happened and whose skeletons were discovered over 10 years later. It's obvious early on who is guilty, but Vine doles out details of the complete story in the past quite slowly-- and effectively-- to make this a very involving read. She has a lot to say about guilt and degrees of guilt, and it would make for a great book club discussion.
You have to be able to stand self-involved young adults to be able to get into this story, and thankfully this feels like a condensed, creepy version of The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I much preferred this book to the Tartt. The story is heartbreaking, the plotting is insanely good, and the ending is so apt. I love the ending. It's really a masterful story.
Show More
Century. Thankfully I agree with the awards and list accolades: A Fatal Inversion is a fine read that grows in my estimation the further I am from it.The story takes place during an incredibly hot summer in 1976 in England at a country mansion that nineteen-year-old Adam inherited from his great-uncle after his first year at university. He spends the summer with a small group of friends and acquaintances, and the book focuses on three main perspectives: Adam, his friend Rufus, and their new acquaintance Shiva.
The descriptions are very detailed, and the mood of the story from 1976 is quite hazy, lazy and sunny.
Adam closed his eyes and turned his head away from Anne. A down-stuffed duvet in a printed cotton cover lay over them. It had been a quilt at Ecalpemos, faded yellow satin, brought in by Vivien from the terrace when the rain began. Quilts were what you lay on to sunbathe that summer, no for warmth on beds, but slung for lounging comfort as it might be on some Damasene rooftop. Night after night they had lain out there in the soft, scented warmth, looking at the stars, or lighting candles stuk in Rufus's wine bottles, eating and drinking, talking, hoping, and happy. That summer--there had never been another like it, before or since (p. 57).
The story begins with the discovery of human skeletons in a pet cemetery at said country mansion in 1987, and the story about Adam in 1976 will eventually tell what happened and whose skeletons were discovered over 10 years later. It's obvious early on who is guilty, but Vine doles out details of the complete story in the past quite slowly-- and effectively-- to make this a very involving read. She has a lot to say about guilt and degrees of guilt, and it would make for a great book club discussion.
You have to be able to stand self-involved young adults to be able to get into this story, and thankfully this feels like a condensed, creepy version of The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I much preferred this book to the Tartt. The story is heartbreaking, the plotting is insanely good, and the ending is so apt. I love the ending. It's really a masterful story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member uttara82
Great character development - they are not necessarily likeable, but you see them clearly as people, and know why they do what they do.
Very well written.
Very well written.
LibraryThing member uttara82
Great character development - they are not necessarily likeable, but you see them clearly as people, and know why they do what they do.
Very well written.
Very well written.
LibraryThing member dmenon90
And we're off to a great start! The first read of the month: behold Ruth Rendell pretending to be Barbara Vine here for some inexplicable reason. She wasn't content creating the wildly successful Adam Dalgleish series. No sir, she went one further and wrote another line of thrillers under this
In any event, A Fatal Inversion has all the elements needed for a good autumn read. A sense of foreboding, a bunch of self-centered or clueless characters, an evocative setting, fantastic sense of time and place. Er, those elements are not particular to autumn of course, but here they provide the right bits of darkness because Ms. Vine-Rendell is the writer that she is.
Therefore we travel back to 1976. What a steamy summer that was, the author tells us, in more ways than one. A nineteen-year-old nitwit named Adam has just inherited a spectacular mansion from a dead great-uncle for unexpected reasons. This pile, named Ecalpemos by our word-loving Adam, soon becomes a hotbed for youthful tomfoolery because he gathers or invites four others into the fold. In the dreamy, sunlit expanses and treasure-laden rooms of the gracious Ecalpemos the five cavort and while away their days as privileged youth do. Only that three out of the five aren't privileged economically; in fact neither is Adam, and this fact provides part of the impetus for the whole story itself. The other part, frankly put, is insanity.
And again because we are in the hands of the skilled Ms.Rendell-Vine, the insanity in question is finely nuanced just like the general nitwittery of the others. They're a bunch of idiots, but so what? We still hang on to every word, panting to know what happens next, who was killed, why they were killed; we sit on the couch shunning Netflix until our eyes droop and we are good for nothing.
Adam, Rufus, Shiva, Vivien and Zosie lead us through that doomed summer, appearing as fully-fleshed characters in their youth and also ten years later. Ten years on from that summer, you see, two bodies have been found buried in the pet cemetary at Ecalpemos. Naturally the Sinful Five had plenty to do with all that. In the end there is a kind of obviousness that is nevertheless sly and breathtaking, while other elements are taken care of with a dry and tidy hand that leaves no room for doubt.
Thank you, Barbara-Ruth! I am now fully invested in charging forward with this month's stack which I procured through a wild session of ordering from the library. (It's such a downer when the first read of the month is a flop.) Now if only all those writers would play along and deliver just like this one did, all will be well and I will be a happy goat until the 1st of November.
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other name, presumably because these ones don't have the detective viewpoint but rather that of the perpetrators? In any event, A Fatal Inversion has all the elements needed for a good autumn read. A sense of foreboding, a bunch of self-centered or clueless characters, an evocative setting, fantastic sense of time and place. Er, those elements are not particular to autumn of course, but here they provide the right bits of darkness because Ms. Vine-Rendell is the writer that she is.
Therefore we travel back to 1976. What a steamy summer that was, the author tells us, in more ways than one. A nineteen-year-old nitwit named Adam has just inherited a spectacular mansion from a dead great-uncle for unexpected reasons. This pile, named Ecalpemos by our word-loving Adam, soon becomes a hotbed for youthful tomfoolery because he gathers or invites four others into the fold. In the dreamy, sunlit expanses and treasure-laden rooms of the gracious Ecalpemos the five cavort and while away their days as privileged youth do. Only that three out of the five aren't privileged economically; in fact neither is Adam, and this fact provides part of the impetus for the whole story itself. The other part, frankly put, is insanity.
And again because we are in the hands of the skilled Ms.Rendell-Vine, the insanity in question is finely nuanced just like the general nitwittery of the others. They're a bunch of idiots, but so what? We still hang on to every word, panting to know what happens next, who was killed, why they were killed; we sit on the couch shunning Netflix until our eyes droop and we are good for nothing.
Adam, Rufus, Shiva, Vivien and Zosie lead us through that doomed summer, appearing as fully-fleshed characters in their youth and also ten years later. Ten years on from that summer, you see, two bodies have been found buried in the pet cemetary at Ecalpemos. Naturally the Sinful Five had plenty to do with all that. In the end there is a kind of obviousness that is nevertheless sly and breathtaking, while other elements are taken care of with a dry and tidy hand that leaves no room for doubt.
Thank you, Barbara-Ruth! I am now fully invested in charging forward with this month's stack which I procured through a wild session of ordering from the library. (It's such a downer when the first read of the month is a flop.) Now if only all those writers would play along and deliver just like this one did, all will be well and I will be a happy goat until the 1st of November.
Show Less
Awards
Physical description
316 p.; 24 cm
ISBN
0670809772 / 9780670809776