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  • Dark Corners

  • By: Ruth Rendell
  • Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
  • Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (126 ratings)

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Dark Corners

By: Ruth Rendell
Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
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Summary

A spectacularly compelling story of blackmail, murders both accidental and opportunistic, and one life’s fateful unravelling from Ruth Rendell, writing at her most acute and mesmerising.

When his father dies, Carl Martin inherits a house in an increasingly rich and trendy London neighbourhood. Carl needs cash, however, so he rents the upstairs room and kitchen to the first person he interviews, Dermot McKinnon. That was colossal mistake number one. Mistake number two was keeping his father’s bizarre collection of homoeopathic “cures” that he found in the medicine cabinet, including a stash of controversial diet pills. Mistake number three was selling fifty of those diet pills to a friend, who is then found dead.

Dermot seizes a nefarious opportunity and begins to blackmail Carl, refusing to pay rent and creepily invading Carl’s space.

Ingeniously weaving together two storylines that finally merge in one shocking turn, Ruth Rendell describes one man’s spiral into darkness - and murder - as he falls victim to a diabolical foe he cannot escape.

In Rendell’s dark and atmospheric tale of psychological suspense, we encounter mistaken identity, kidnap, blackmail, and a cast of characters who are so real that we come to know them better than we know ourselves. Infused with her distinctive blend of wry humour, acute observation and deep humanity, this is Rendell at her most memorable and best.

©2015 Ruth Rendell (P)2015 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"Unequivocally the most brilliant crime writer of our time." (Patricia Cornwell)
"No one surpasses Ruth Rendell when it comes to stories of obsession, instability, and malignant coincidence." (Stephen King)

What listeners say about Dark Corners

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  • Overall
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Excellent!

Fabulous story from Ruth Rendell. Perfectly read by Ric Jerrom. Will certainly recommend this book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Dark corner

I was enjoying this book until it came to an abrupt end, what a stupid ending it was

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A masterpiece

Wonderfully narrated, a slick jigsaw of a novel that holds you in suspense. Classic, flawless Rendell.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

mediocre un fulfilling stuff

think of this book like a ready meal
easy tp digest but not very satisfying
certainly needed more seasoning

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Hmm, overworked

A tale of weakness and guilt written with Ruth Rendell's reliable flare for crime, human weakness and where a corkscrew of life might lead to. But not sure the mix of caricature and darkness works too well here, though it should. That may have been because the narrator tries too hard to act it out, and that irritated throughout. Less theatrics could have let a listener colour it themselves, and catch the humour, without distraction from the story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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LOVED IT

This is only the second Ruth Rendell book I have listened to and I'm getting hooked. I love the intertwining characters and the twists and turns of the story. The narrator was brilliant. Looking for my next one now.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely love it!

Heard it first on BBC radio, read the book twice, now just finished the audiobook. I can't get enough of it, HIGHLY recommend this reader too. I fell asleep some nights listing to it, and stayed up excitedly on others. Well worth the listen

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Dark Corners

This novel, published posthumously in 2015 marked the end of Rendell's rich and insightful writing career, which was a tragedy for me and millions of other loyal fans. Once again, the Queen Of The Psychological Thriller writes about her favourite subjects: psychopaths residing in the gentrified areas of Maida Vale and the entwined lives of a disparate number of people.

I did enjoy it and pretty much raced through the story, playing it out loud whilst completing my chores. The characters were pretty well drawn, well, apart from the antagonist Dermot, who seemed to be taken from Rendell's back catalogue of social misfits.

Ric Jerrom's silkily sardonic narration was as excellent as ever. He really manages to install a sense of Menace with his subtle vocal nuances. Recommended.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Another Rendell Classic

Fascinating character study of a modern psychopath.
Unfortunately the style of narration ruins it in my opinion, resembling as it does that of a nursery school teacher endeavouring to keep the attention of his or her infant charges. I found it both annoying and a distraction from the text.
A great pity.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Gripping

Really enjoyed this book. Well read and kept me in suspense even though you knew the killer. Definitely recommend.

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1 person found this helpful