The Keys to the Street

Rating:
Summary: Ruth Rendell at her best
Review: I thought this book was marvelous. I have read all of Rendell's books and this has got to be one of the best. Her characters are vivid and real, and the plotline was amazing, I could not wait to find out who Carl really was. Usually Rendell gives us charactes that don't command much caring, but I really felt for the girl. A must read for mystery fans.

Rating:
Summary: Keys? What Keys?
Review: I'm quickly becoming an avid Ruth Rendell fan and after a slow beginning, gradually got into this book. But, I have to ask: What the heck does the title mean? And who was the killer? Am I dense? How was he able to hoist his victims onto the spikes? These are questions I simply must have the answers to so I can sleep at night... if someone out there can supply them, please do! I do agree with another reviewer that her attention to "geographical minutae" gets a bit laborious at times and I did skip through several paragraphs of tedious description. Perhaps I missed a vital clue as to the identity of the killer? My favorite Rendell novel so far is A Sight for Sore Eyes. Check it out for purely venomous, evil characters! I've never read a better comeuppance in my life.

Rating:
Summary: An OK Read
Review: Keys To The Street seemed more like a Barbara Vine book than a Ruth Rendell: less emphasis on the crime and its solution and more attention to nuances of character and setting. The heroine's passivity was a hump to get over, and the ending wasn't very imaginative. Nevertheless, Rendell writes clear sentences and in this day and age that's an accomplishment. The main plot device, a bone marrow donor trying to extricate herself from an abusive relationship and becoming involved with the recipient was intriguing.

Rating:
Summary: Street people, druggies, S&M, etc.
Review: The novel has a complex plot that moves from character to character. I would suggest that the previous reviewer should re-read the last chapter. There are a number of interwoven plots. There is Mary Jago, escaping from an abusive boyfriend, who thinks she has found a new love; Roman, victim of a tragedy, who has dropped out of life to sleep on the streets; Bean, a 70-year old ex-butler to a man who liked to be beaten, who now works as a dog walker to supplement his small pension; Hob, a druggy who earns a living as an enforcer for drug dealers; Detective Inspector Marnock, who investigates various murders that are committed; an unknown impaler who is killing street people; and an assortment of other characters plus a large number of dogs. Some people like dogs and some people don't, but be careful how you treat them because they have friends who may take revenge in unexpected ways.

The setting is the Regent Park area of London. The gates are closed at night except to residents who have keys, but various other people find their way past the gates. Several people are murdered and their bodies impaled on spiked fences, but that is just one of the plots. There is drug dealing, blackmail, muggings, and there is Mary Jago trying to escape from her ex-boyfriend and find a new life.

The plot takes some surprising twists and turns. Some people get what they deserve, but the abusive ex-boyfriend seems to walk away unscathed (except that he lost his chance with a rich heiress). Perhaps Marnock should have named the killer on the last page instead of making readers figure it out from the clues given, but that means you have to read the book carefully.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining mystery that keeps you guessing.
Review: This was the first Ruth Rendell book I have read. I enjoyed it greatly and found myself caring about the characters. What really struck me were the unpredictable twists and turns towards the end. Finally a modern mystery where I could enjoy being surprised! I look forward to reading more of Rendell's books.