Simisola: A Chief Inspector Wexford Mystery

By Ruth Rendell

“Ruth Rendell is the best mystery writer in the English-speaking world.”—Time

No one admitted to spotting the doctor's missing daughter—even after the murders began. Melanie Akande, eschewing privilege, had insisted on going to the jobsearch office to find employment. But between that office and the bus stop, she vanished. Inspector Wexford hoped someone would have noticed her, since the Akandes were among the few Africans living in Kingsmarkham. Instead, he had found a middle-aged white woman strangled in bed, and a mysterious black girl buried in a shallow grave.

Now Wexford, seeking connections among the three women, cast his baleful eye on the changes in once rural Sussex—from a Kuwaiti millionaire's Rolls-Royce to the growing slums and dismal hopelessness of unemployed youth. What he can't see among them is the shocking, blood-chilling motive to kill. And what he has yet to find is a doctor's missing child . . . 

Praise for Simisola

“One of the author's best!”—The New York Times Book Review

“Rendell delivers a complex crime deftly unraveled.”—Daily News (New York)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Nov 2, 2011
• ISBN: 9780307806123

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 Simisola

[jalenv_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've been getting used to Ms. Rendell not revealing the source of her Inspector Wexford titles until late in each book, some later than others. For SIMISOLA, we have to wait until almost the last sentence. It's a complex mystery, but the clues were there, although I missed many of them until Wexford explained them. I also fell for a few red herrings. (Hey. it beats waiting for the lead character to catch on when one has already figured it out.)Racism and unemployment are the biggest themes in this thick entry in a good series. Detective Inspector Mike Burden's attitude about both didn't help me dislike him less. Wexford's self-revelation in one scene was something I didn't see coming at all. Wexford's new doctor's daughter is missing. Miss Akande's movements before her disappearance are proving difficult to trace even though there aren't that many Africans (or persons of African descent) in Kingsmarkham. She's also beautiful. Why didn't she get noticed by more of the locals?Melanie Akande has the misfortune of being the only one with average intelligence in a family of overachievers. She got her degree in the only subject in which she felt she had talent, but she can't get a job in her field. She was going to see a counselor about that. What a pity that lady became ill.There are other young women with family troubles in this book. Can they all be sorted out? There are murders and an attempted murder to be solved. Of the mothers in this book, two don't seem to understand that they are pushing their children away by the way they treat them. One may have more of a problem than she thinks. I worry about the future of the youngest mother's child.Finally! So often Reg and Dora's eldest and her family have been mentioned or appeared with only their first names given. NThis time we get their surname: Fairfax. Sylvia and Neil's marriage has been rocky a long time. In KISSING THE GUNNER'S DAUGHTER they bought a house Sylvia loves. Now they're both out of work. Is Sylvia willing to sell? No. The couple do get to save some on food bills and electricity by taking their sons, Robin and Ben, to Reg and Dora's house for dinner a few (several?) times a week. Dora is cooking lovely meals for them. Reg is quietly simmering. Sylvia Wexford Fairfax is a difficult person, and not just because she knows her father prefers her younger sister to her, no matter how hard Reg tries to hide the fact. Although Sylvia spends most of her page time acting in a way that makes me wish I could give her an old-fashioned 'good talking to,' she actually helps her father with this case. Surprising, yes?Near the end, something happens to Mike Burden that isn't at all nice for him, but the reaction of the responsible party learning he's a police officer was enjoyable to read. It's a really good book, both for the mystery and the social commentary.

[annbury_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another terrific thriller from Ruth Rendells, whose books for me have become as much examinations of current society as mystery stories. That's not to downplay the mystery; as usual, I was drawn on through the book by the story and the question, not just "who done it?" but "who did they do it to?". This time, Ms. Rendell focuses on the question of immigrants into Britain, black immigrants in particular. Chief Inspector Wexford's questioning of his own attitudes let me to consider my own; there may be non-racist people in the UK and the US born before 1975, but I don't think there are many.

[jayne_charles_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favourite of the Wexford novels. This begins with an amusingly recounted incident in the doctor's waiting room, and goes on to introduce (it seems) every inhabitant of the town where a young girl has disappeared. Certainly every member of the community with multicultural credentials is rooted out. Such a massive cast only makes the whodunnit side of things more intriguing and challenging, add to that a couple of red herrings and a blind alley or two, and you've got one heck of a good read.

[figgles_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of her best, good story, characterisation and nice beginning of the humanisation of Wexford's less favoured daughter, Sylvia. Nice treatment of racism too.