Rating: 
Summary: A real shocker of a surprise at the end.
Review: An unpleasant man's wife is found murdered. Her body is discovered by his equally (although in a different way) unpleasant mother. Seems the wife was a loser, too, and perhaps a thief. The man doesn't seem to be grieving very much--merely disgruntled. This is a great study by Rendell of some ordinary and unattractive people for whom it is very difficult to summon sympathy; she makes them pathetic in the end. Wexford has an unexpected but improving experience before he's solved it and the ending is truly a surprise. A wonderful read (and even re-read!)
Rating: 
Summary: Typical Rendell, Beautifully Written, Frustratingly Vague
Review: As is often the case with Ruth Rendell, SHAKE HANDS FOREVER begins very much as a classic murder mystery but soon evolves into something else--which can be interesting or annoying, depending on your point of view. Called upon to investigate a strangled wife, Inspector Wexford has little in the way of evidence to pursue. But he does soon have "a feeling," and in a quick turn about the novel becomes less "whodunit" than it "how was it done and why?"
There is certainly nothing wrong with this approach, and indeed SHAKE HANDS FOREVER finds Rendell very near the peak of her stylistic skill. All the same, the novel is beset by the qualties I invariably find off-putting in a Rendell work: the characters seem vaguely sketched, the solution is in part a foregone conclusion, and the capture of the criminal is very much deus ex machina.
Clearly, I am not a great fan of her work--but even I will grant that this among her better works, and many applaud what they consider her psychological insight. Recommended if you are among her established readers.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding Wexford mystery
Review: Back in the days before Ruth Rendell acquired those irritating literary pretensions, she wrote mysteries like this one--ingeniously plotted, quickly paced, and best of all, under 200 pages. SHAKE HANDS FOREVER is a perfect example of the author at her effortless best, and of all the Wexford novels I've read, it's both the most absorbing and the most rewarding. Everything about Rendell's work that readers like myself have come to cherish--her terrific, often hilarious prose, her sharp dialogue, her firmly drawn characters, her deference to human psychology--can be found in this novel.Angela Hathall is found murdered in a house utterly devoid of clues, except for a single scarred fingerprint on the side of a bathtub. Chief Inspector Wexford's instinct tells him that the murderer is the victim's shifty-eyed husband, and as usual, his instinct is half-right--but there is much more to this case than meets the eye, for both Wexford and the reader. From first page to last, this beautifully written story is a delight. Rendell seldom takes a traditional approach to storytelling, and this particular case manages to both uphold and flout the conventions of the classic English detective story, leading to one of the author's most genuinely surprising denouements. As the best mysteries do, this one literally caused me to fall out of my seat, so clever (and yet so logical) is the resolution. If you love mysteries (and if you love Rendell), SHAKE HANDS FOREVER is one pleasure you owe yourself.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding Wexford mystery
Review: Back in the days before Ruth Rendell acquired those irritating literary pretensions, she wrote mysteries like this one--ingeniously plotted, quickly paced, and best of all, under 200 pages. SHAKE HANDS FOREVER is a perfect example of the author at her effortless best, and of all the Wexford novels I've read, it's both the most absorbing and the most rewarding. Everything about Rendell's work that readers like myself have come to cherish--her terrific, often hilarious prose, her sharp dialogue, her firmly drawn characters, her deference to human psychology--can be found in this novel. Angela Hathall is found murdered in a house utterly devoid of clues, except for a single scarred fingerprint on the side of a bathtub. Chief Inspector Wexford's instinct tells him that the murderer is the victim's shifty-eyed husband, and as usual, his instinct is half-right--but there is much more to this case than meets the eye, for both Wexford and the reader. From first page to last, this beautifully written story is a delight. Rendell seldom takes a traditional approach to storytelling, and this particular case manages to both uphold and flout the conventions of the classic English detective story, leading to one of the author's most genuinely surprising denouements. As the best mysteries do, this one literally caused me to fall out of my seat, so clever (and yet so logical) is the resolution. If you love mysteries (and if you love Rendell), SHAKE HANDS FOREVER is one pleasure you owe yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, but I was not as impressed as the other reviewers
Review: Ruth Rendell's writing has changed over the years, her older novels being more concerned with plot and her more recent work focussing more on social issues and the psychology of her characters. This book was first published in 1975 and has a clever and convoluted plot. That is not to say she neglects the characters; we are privy to Wexford's thoughts and feelings (and she does an admirable job of conveying his personality and his internal struggles this way) and the personalities of some of the other characters play a pivotal role in the story. One thing I especially enjoyed was that the story stretched over more than a year, with the official police investigation over long before the mystery is solved. And it's only solved through Wexford's stubborn refusal to accept his superior's analysis of the situation. One reviewer described the book as "unguessable and brilliant" but in fact a significant clue is shared with the reader - unfortunately it doesn't look significant at the time and I had forgotten all about it by the time I reached the end of the book. So I was certainly surprised by the twist in the tail. I found that Rendell's story-telling was not up to its usual high standard and the wrap-up at the end seemed a bit clumsy. But perhaps this is a reflection of how clumsy, untidy and frustrating a real-life murder investigation would be, rather than the neat, tidy, no-loose-ends packages authors often present to us. Although not her best work, this is nonetheless an enjoyable read, great for a rainy day or a long trip.
Rating:
Summary: Sharp, focused mystery
Review: Shake Hands For Ever - a novel which takes its title from a work by Michael Drayton - is very much a Wexford novel. There's not a lot of Burden here at all, instead Rendell turns her full attention to the character of Wexford, and his frustration when he comes upon a case which he feels he knows the answer to, but cannot prove. Until, one year after it occurs, new information starts turning up... Robert Hathall is bringing his overbearing, overcritical mother home to meet his second wife Angela, a woman whom Mrs Hathall clearly detests (mainly for the fact that she thinks she split up her son's first marriage). Angela was supposed to meet her husband and mother-in-law at the train station, but didn't turn up. Eventually, the two make their way home, and discover her dead body, strangled on the bed. Having cleaned the house immaculately for the impending visit, there is almost nothing to go on. This is not really a whodunnit, as pretty early on Wexford decides he knows who did it. All he has to do is prove it, and the why, and the how. But it proves an impossible task, and when he is warned off the case by his superior, for "harassing" his chief suspect, Wexford undertakes some private investigations of his own... Although I don't think Shake Hands for Ever is quite the one of the best Wexford novels - it is beautifully focused, yes, but as this is mainly a "Wexford must prove his theory" novel, there aren't a great range of characters, although those that are are as well-drawn and fascinating as ever - it is still very fine indeed. It boasts, of the Wexford books anyway, possibly Rendell's finest last-chapter shock of her career. It's an excellent crime/mystery novel, which even though we think we know what is going on, is far from predictable, and the story goes deeper than we at first think. The prose is sharp, and socially aware as ever. Ominous and dark, too, brilliantly balanced by some moments great humour. Rendell's almost vicious wit is often glossed over, not even noticed, by most reviewers, but it is another of those things which make her so special. Her latest book, The Rottweiler, was full of it, and it was marvellous! To sum up, Shake Hands For Ever is, though not the very very best, a great Wexford novel from Ruth Rendell - one who all fans of hers must read.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspector Wexford Murder Mystery
Review: This is a reprint of a 184-page novel copyrighted 1975. I had trouble maintaining an interest, particularly in the early part of the novel. Part of the problem seems to be the writing style. I found myself going back to reread sentences to figure out what was being said. Perhaps it is just awkward sentence structuring. There is also a lot of digression into side issues involving various characters. The basic plot is interesting, involving a man who is not particularly good looking, but who leaves his wife for another woman. The other woman is a greedy type who is willing to lead him into a life of crime for her personal benefit. The problem is proving the crime, particularly after Wexford is accused of harassment and forced to officially drop things. The case extends over about 18 months. The final solution has some surprises, more or less, but I guessed the "surprise" early in the plot, probably because I have seen a similar plot device used elsewhere. Like most Wexford mysteries, guns do not enter into the plot.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspector Wexford Murder Mystery
Review: This is a reprint of a 184-page novel copyrighted 1975. I had trouble maintaining an interest, particularly in the early part of the novel. Part of the problem seems to be the writing style. I found myself going back to reread sentences to figure out what was being said. Perhaps it is just awkward sentence structuring. There is also a lot of digression into side issues involving various characters. The basic plot is interesting, involving a man who is not particularly good looking, but who leaves his wife for another woman. The other woman is a greedy type who is willing to lead him into a life of crime for her personal benefit. The problem is proving the crime, particularly after Wexford is accused of harassment and forced to officially drop things. The case extends over about 18 months. The final solution has some surprises, more or less, but I guessed the "surprise" early in the plot, probably because I have seen a similar plot device used elsewhere. Like most Wexford mysteries, guns do not enter into the plot.
Rating:
Summary: Very intriguing!
Review: This novel will test your sleuthing skills. Rendell throws in several red herrings and will really trip you up. Just when you think you know whodunnit, sorry! You're wrong! I really was confused up until the end. I enjoyed this book very much. If you want something shorter, check out her collections of short stories: The Fever Tree and Blood Lines. Ruth Rendell is the best!
Rating: 
Summary: The wise Inspector Wexford has his suspicions...
Review: Through the years Ruth Rendell has proved her mastery of the "who done it" genre and this Inspector Wexford mystery, first published in 1975, is certainly true to form. It's set in England, of course, amidst places whose names roll of the tongue with a British accent. There's an unsolved murder in the first chapter, with a richly developed cast of characters surrounding the mystery. There's a dead woman and her seemingly grief-stricken husband. There's her mother-in-law who hates her and her husband's ex-wife who's known for making ugly scenes. There are few clues also, as the house has been immaculately cleaned. There's only one handprint, little to go on. But then there is the wise Inspector Wexford. He understands people well and has his suspicions. The story unfolds quickly, as one clue after another comes to light and some new characters are introduced. I was intrigued as I easily followed the plot. The author is very clear in her intentions and I found myself identifying with the detective as he investigated the case, which wound up taking more than a year to solve. It only took me a few hours to read the book, waking up in the middle of the night to finish what I had started that afternoon. It was all one big puzzle, but the end put all the puzzle pieces together. As I drifted off to sleep however, I was troubled. The puzzle pieces fit, but the motivation just didn't seem strong enough for murder. And so I woke early and re-read the last few pages, which included a surprise ending. It was explained completely. Problem is, I didn't believe it. This is a good read and mystery fans will love it. I did enjoy it as a few hours of entertainment. I recommend it. I'm just not a mystery fan though.
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