The Minotaur

By Barbara Vine

From the author Time magazine calls “the best mystery writer in the English-speaking world,” comes an elegant and gripping new novel that blurs the line between psychological suspense and Gothic horror. Kerstin Krist arrives at the vine-covered Lydstep Old Hall in rural Essex to care for John Cosway, a former mathematical genius, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and kept under heavy sedation. John is the sole heir of the immense Cosway estate. As he takes his daily walks or sits quivering in a labyrinthine library, the rest of the family plots their own ways of coming into the fortune. It is classic Barbara Vine–an absolutely enthralling tale that keeps turning and twisting until the very last page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Mar 13, 2007
• ISBN: 9780307279774

Barbara Vine

Barbara Vine is a pseudonym for Ruth Rendell (1930–2015), who won numerous awards, including three Edgars, the highest accolade from Mystery Writers of America, as well as three Gold Daggers, a Silver Dagger, and a Diamond Dagger for outstanding contribution to the genre from England’s prestigious Crime Writer’s Association.  She was the author of numerous mystery thriller novels, including the Inspector Wexford series, Dark Corners, and The Child's Child. 

Reviews for The Minotaur

[schufman · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book was designed to be character driven rather than plot driven, but there wasn't enough depth to the narrator or the remaining characters for it to really interest me. The inside flap led me to believe that the plot would galvanize the characters, but in fact nothing was galvanized by anything. While the characters could have been compelling, I felt that the author wasted a lot of space telling me the same things over and over again. Could easily have been 100 pages shorter with no detriment to the plot.

[booksfordinner · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This one I should have loved. Old English manor homes, labyrinths, libraries, etc... right up my alley. Didn't finish. I just didn't think it was all that good. Oh well.

[bsquaredinoz · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Kerstin (pronounced ‘Shashtin’) Kvist is a Swedish nurse hired to care for schizophrenic John Cosway in an English country house. Soon after her arrival it becomes clear there is little for her to do other than accompany the silent Cosway on his walks and ensure he gets his medication. Living in the house are Cosway’s mother and his four adult sisters and, although it is the early 1960’s, the household is reminiscent of the Bennett’s in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in the way it is run and the obsession with getting at least one of the women ‘married off’.

Vine/Rendell is a great story teller and here she has weaved a story that, despite not being full of murders or chase scenes, did manage to capture my attention. Told in the first person narrative by Kerstin the tale is an intricate observation of a dysfunctional family and the few outsiders they deal with and is, in its quiet way, absorbing. The characters, though not terribly unique, are interesting enough and I would happily have immersed myself in the goings on at Lydstep Hall with a deal of relish if it weren’t for the fact this is a very poorly written book.

There are some horrendously annoying things here, made all the more difficult to swallow because a writer of Vine’s undoubted talent doesn’t, or didn’t used to, have to resort to them. Firstly there are the constant, unnecessary reminders within the text that the book is reminiscent of Jane Austen’s England. The story, indeed the writing itself, literally scream Austen-esque. Read the introduction of Mr Dunsford at the start of Chapter 9 and even if your only exposure to Jane Austen has been to see the movie Clueless you’ll get the reference and won’t need to be endlessly reminded with such clumsy methods as the narrator likening herself to Elizabeth Bennett being interrogated by Lady Catherine de Burgh.

Secondly, and even more annoying, are the vague references about big events still to happen. The narrator’s tale is told in the present day reminiscing about the events of her time spent in the Cosway household. It’s not a spoiler to suggest that the most dramatic event of the book takes place towards the end but until that point there are so many “if only I’d known then what was to come” lines that I would cheerfully have thrown the book at a wall if only it wasn’t so heavy. The written equivalent of a movie-maker’s Da Da Dunnnn has always been a bugbear of mine and what it did to this book was remove the last hint or suggestion of suspense.

Without that it was a pretty humdrum story about some people who were insular, isolated and a little odd but not nearly intriguing enough to carry an entire book of awkward prose.

[nocto_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fab. I forget how much I like Rendell when she's writing as Vine. This is deceptively simple; nothing much seems to be happening for ages and ages, but it hooks you in and you can't put it down.

Kerstin is apparently pronounced something like "Shashtin" in Swedish, something I didn't know. It's the narrators name here. She's engaged as a nurse to the grown up, apparently schizophrenic, son of a rather odd family in the late 1960s. Rather odd family, rather good book.

[jonesli · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First let me say that I love the difference in writing style when Ruth Rendell writes as Barbara Vine. The gothic tone of this book lets you know that something bad took place and it is slowly revealed page by page, but in a deliberate manner.When I reached the end of this book, I was a little frustrated because there was no clear "whodunit" conclusion. Then I realized what a stroke of genius it is to leave the conclusion open ended and let the reader imagine it instead of tying everything up in a neat little package.Kerstin Kvist takes a position at the home of Mrs. Julia Cosway to care for her son John who is described as schizophrenic. Also living in the family home are John's sisters Ida, Winifred, Ella, and Zorah all dysfunctional in their own right, but none of them are as bad as their mother who appears to show no maternal feeling whatsoever toward her now middle aged children. Their mother is intent on keeping her son John heavily medicated so that she doesn't have to be bothered with him. Unfortunately, she keeps him around only because her late husband left the estate and the majority of his income in trust for his son while his mother receives a small annuity.Kerstin in due time realizes that John is autistic, not schizophrenic and plans to leave the house as soon as she is able and perhaps get John the help that he needs instead of watching him become more and more lifeless before her eyes. Just as she is planning on what her next move will be, a shocking event takes place that will change everyone's lives forever.

[susanbevans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Minotaur by Barbara Vine could best be described as a Gothic-mystery / psychological thriller. Despite a lack of experience in psychiatric nursing, Kerstin Kvist, decided to take a position with the Cosway family at the imposing Virginia creeper-entwined Lydstep Old Hall. John Cosway, her new "charge," is a 39-year-old man man being treated for schizophrenia. He lives in a perpetual drug-induced stupor, with his mother and four sisters. The family matriarch, Julia Cosway is a tyrannical woman who appears to approve of nothing and no one. She does not believe that there is any need for a nurse at the Hall, and immediately makes sure Kerstin is made aware of her opinions. Her eldest daughter Ida Cosway is, well, what do you call a housewife who is not a wife? She basically does all of the cooking and most of the cleaning at Lydstep Old Hall, and seems to be resigned to that appointment. Winifred Cosway appears to be a prim and proper church-going lady. She is a caterer by trade, and has just become engaged to Eric Dawson, the town Vicar. Ella Cosway is an unmarried teacher, and part-time party girl, and the youngest Cosway "child" Zorah is an independently wealthy widow.Lydstep Old Hall is awash with tension, secrets, and locked rooms full of mystery. An observant student of human nature, Kerstin soon finds herself in possession of uncomfortable information about the Cosways - knowledge that when illuminated after a terrible family tragedy, may prove to be the undoing of the Cosway family.The Minotaur is a haunting masterpiece of psychological suspense. Vine's carefully constructed story is incredibly absorbing, and full of labyrinthine twists and turns that will draw you in to this maze of deceit. The plot is fairly obvious, but the build-up of the story is truly superb. The Minotaur is not really a "who-dun-it" type of mystery, and so will not likely appeal to fans of that sub-genre. Vine is much more interested in the "why" aspect of the crime - the psychological reasons behind the family tragedy - and thus is able to create a thoroughly delicious and engrossing read.

[jaimjane · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Having a son with autism, this is a haunting and disturbing book. Mothers hating and willingly harming their children is a difficult concept to fathom, yet it happens. This is a character, rather than plot driven book and with all the colorful characters, it is an absorbing read.

[lenoreva · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Swedish girl gets a job as a caretaker for a disturbed man - though she doesn't have much to do except observe the strange behavior of his spinster sisters and his overbearing mother. Plus there is a strange labyrinth library... Great atmospheric and smart thriller for bleak winter days.

[bookmarque · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This reminded me of A Dark, Adapted Eye in a couple of ways - the rural English setting and the enduring mystery. Vine is up to her usual standard of giving us characters we like, those we don't and those we can sympathize with despite not likiing them. Her portrayal of an Autistic person seemed to be accurate without pitying, which shows a deft touch. Good pacing and interesting dialogue and her usual batch of weirdos.