Harm Done

Written by Ruth Rendell

Narrated by Christopher Ravenscroft and Davina Porter

Acknowledged as one of today's premier mystery writers, Ruth Rendell has won three Edgar Awards and four Gold Dagger Awards. She received the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and was awarded the Commander of the British Empire. Among her most popular books are those in the Inspector Wexford series. Harm Done presents the inspector with a most volatile challenge: the various guises of domestic abuse. The residents of a shabby housing complex in the London suburb of Kingsmarkham are furious. A convicted pedophile, released from prison, has returned to their community. At the same time, two young women disappear, each returning several days later with little memory of where she has been. As Wexford investigates, Kingsmarkham is rocked by violence and murder. To prevent further harm, the inspector must coax some surprising motives from the reluctant suspects. Narrator Davina Porter gives an absorbing performance of Rendell's finely-crafted, suspenseful work.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 6, 2011
• ISBN: 9781461812067

Ruth Rendell

Ruth Rendell (1930–2015) won three Edgar Awards, the highest accolade from Mystery Writers of America, as well as four Gold Daggers and a Diamond Dagger for outstanding contribution to the genre from England’s prestigious Crime Writ­ers’ Association. Her remarkable career spanned a half century, with more than sixty books published. A member of the House of Lords, she was one of the great literary figures of our time.

Reviews for Harm Done

[piemouth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent mystery by my favorite mystery writer.

[casabooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My first Ruth Rendell book.
Like Inspector Wexford.
Liked the book.
Will read more by her.
British mysteries rock!
Read in 2004.

[picardyrose · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Domestic violence.

[annbury_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Inspector Wexford forges ahead, this time into three ambiguous reaches of the criminal landscape, of which two are particularly nasty and particularly ambiguous. This complex novel interweaves three stories -- the abduction and then return of two young women, the return of a convicted pedophile to his home after he has served his time, and the case of an abused wife that finally ends in murder. All of this, of course, is interlaced with developments in Wexford's own life, in this case mostly having to do with his relationship with his daughter Sylvia. I won't go into detail, to avoid playing the spoiler, but two of the stories raise really difficult questions about right and wrong. How many detective writers make you think, while simultaneously amusing you and producing a bang up mystery? My only regret about Ruth Rendell is that I don't have more of her books still left to read.

[jayne_charles_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There was a lot happening in this book, which slightly made up for the fact that the 'main mystery' was quite poor. It was unravelled as usual by Wexford and I found myself thinking, 'Eh? So that's it, is it?'. Other strands of the plot dealt with the (at the time) rather topical issue of vigilantes tracking down suspected paedophiles. The novel takes a good look at both sides of this issue, and whilst I had no children when I read this book, I have now and I suspect I would see things differently. A thought provoking read, not necessarily the best whodunnit.

[matke-261098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rendell manages to mix a lot of social commentary into her detective series featuring Inspector Wexford. I found the plot, especially the section involving the pedophile, very difficult to follow. That didn't matter too much, however, as the reader is quickly inveigled into considering larger moral and social questions in this work. Good job.

[jrtanworth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent development of characters, realistic depiction of social problems embedded in mystery, unusual plot lines. Another excellent Rendell effort.

[dw0rd_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

As I started listening, I realized I'd heard this book before. I kept at it because I couldn't remember all the book's many characters and subplots. I normally don't do this but found it much easier to follow while multi-tasking. This Inspector Wexford mystery was still enjoyable the second time around. It's always interesting to remember the many continuing characters and running plots in the Wexford books. I may re-read, that is, re-hear, more books now.

[edecklund · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

As I started listening, I realized I'd heard this book before. I kept at it because I couldn't remember all the book's many characters and subplots. I normally don't do this but found it much easier to follow while multi-tasking. This Inspector Wexford mystery was still enjoyable the second time around. It's always interesting to remember the many continuing characters and running plots in the Wexford books. I may re-read, that is, re-hear, more books now.

[andrewcottingham · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Character confusion and a weak ending but in my opinion one of her better books

[figgles_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good Wexford, I find it hard to distinguish between the characters on the Muriel Camperdown estate but love the development between Wexford and his daughter Sylvia. (And the allusion to The Franchise Affair).

[clueless_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of those books that grabs you by the lapels and yanks you in. How ambivalent would you be if you were a cop who had to protect a paroled child molester?