The Babes in the Wood cover art

The Babes in the Wood

A Chief Inspector Wexford Mystery, Book 19

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The Babes in the Wood

By: Ruth Rendell
Narrated by: Nigel Anthony
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About this listen

 With floods threatening both the town of Kingsmarkham and his own home and no end to the rain in sight, Chief Inspector Wexford already has his hands full when he learns that two local teenagers have gone missing along with their sitter, Joanna Troy.

Their hysterical mother is convinced that all three have drowned, and as the hours stretch into days Wexford suspects a case of kidnapping, perhaps connected with an unusual sect called the Church of the Good Gospel. But when the sitter's smashed-up car is found at the bottom of a local quarry - occupied by a battered corpse - the investigation takes on a very different hue.

For her 19th Chief Inspector Wexford mystery, Ruth Rendell tells a story that is as taut and atmospheric as anything she has ever written. Ruth Rendell has won many awards, including the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger.

©2004 Ruth Rendell (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Crime Thrillers Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Thriller Crime

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Critic reviews

"The plot....marches efficiently to its unguessable dénouement while demonstrating Rendell's grasp of the psychological dynamics of seduction and exploitation which lie at the heart of the case." ( The New Yorker)
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Rendell is an intelligent author so expect twists and turns. I have read her books ragged, like all the best authors her stories improve with every reading and Nigel Anthony's narration adds another dimension. Rendell continues her theme of the abuse of women, physical, sexual and psychological, in this novel. She also explores the abuse of power one person has over another and the sexual abuse of children, all through the eyes of her protagonist, DCI George Wexford whose dispassionate view dissipates the horror of the human tragedy laid before us.

Another triumph for Rendell, a master story teller

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Maybe a bit long and drawn out but excellent narration by Nigel Anthony and on the whole a good story.

Enjoyable story

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Excellent narration brought a great read alive. Well worth listening to. Great storyline with believable characters.

Narration

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I loved all the twists and turns in babes in the woods it kept me guessing till the very end.
And Nigel Anthony does the best inspector Wexford voice

I really enjoyed this book

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Really enjoyed this audiobook and couldn’t wait to get back to listening to it after work!

I thought it was well written, and an interesting topic for a murder mystery.

The narrators voice was very pleasant and helped to keep me hooked into the story.

Loved this!

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Isn’t it frustrating when you know where it starts and will end and still it seems not to be happening. All detours where clear and still annoyingly deceiving and get one to question all what happens. At least Wexford got it almost wrong a few times so the reader is in the right company. Normally I’m more impatient but it’s too well written to just skip the picture painted going through the chapters building a fascinating case nevertheless. Maybe I should change the series for a while to get some sleep though as it’s too tempting to get to the end before guessing any longer. But I’m on a roll now and want to know more how Wexford evolves and still stays the rock in stormy times. And other than reading many of the series in paper years back the audio version gets me to discover nuances missed before. All the literary connections seem obsolete in the book but fit much better narrated.

Long road to success

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Loved this - and Nigel Anthony brings it to life beautifully
Didn’t predict the ending so that’s good

Great plot and story telling

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The reader’s voice made me enjoy the story more than many books, carrying me along with the story in a warm and enticing manner, I resented having to stop reading at times

Warm and enticing

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Great story, fabulous narration, would never has guessed the ending, I enjoy listening to the life of inspector Wexford .

Great audiobook

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Story a bit long winded but excellent narration meant I didn't mind too much. Will listen to more in the series.

Beautifully read.

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