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The Bridesmaid

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The Bridesmaid

By: Ruth Rendell
Narrated by: William Gaminara
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About this listen

Philip Wardman had more than just the ordinary squeamishness where death was concerned. Yet he could hardly avoid the suspicious disappearance of his sister's friend Rebecca Neave, especially when everyone was ascribing the cause to murder. Philip's feminine ideal is the statue of the Roman goddess Flora in his mother's garden. His marble Flora doesn't fade, doesn't alter, and doesn’t die. But then he meets Senta Pelham, a beautiful, sensual, childlike actress who flagrantly disdains the morals of society and passionately desires the elusive Philip who thinks he has found true love. But darker forces are at work, and Senta is led to propose that Philip prove his love by committing murder.

©1989 Kingsmarkham Enterprises Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Crime Thrillers Mystery Psychological Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Fiction Exciting Scary

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Critic reviews

"Vintage Rendell. Shrewd psychological insight, irresistible narrative force...a true member of that small family of great living authors." (Scott Turow)
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Great narration.
The Senta character is too annoying and cliche description of mental illness. Also unbelieveable that Phillip would be entranced for that long by her given that he comes from a relatively stable, clean home. Saw the twist fairly early on but despite all this clever and gripping enough to finish. Just about.

Gripping enough but irritating characters and slow in places

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Story struggles to end. No conclusion. Repetitive, bland in spite of attempts to horrify.

Not the best of Ruth Rendell

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Outstanding story, one of Ruth Rendell's best. Enjoyed William Gaminara's narration (I usually prefer women narrating but his voice is somehow just right for the story.)



Philip is a very likable young man who falls for Senta, his sister's bridesmaid. You sense almost from the beginning that there is something 'not quite right' about her, and as the story develops this becomes more and more clear!

Very scary and shocking!

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I love Rendell's marginalised characters and how they build and interact, but this story dragged a little for me.

Interesting but slow

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Another fascinating novel from Ruth Rendell. Superbly narrated, this is an uncomfortable and difficult slice of sheer madness and obsession, set amongst the commonplace and the unpleasant.

Madness and murder

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Boring and flat kinda knew half way through how it would end. Not her best work

Boring

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having read much Rendell over many years, this was the best one yet! gripping. unnervingly good.

brilliant

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Utterly absorbing, perfectly narrated, characters you can care for. Only Senta remains an enigma until she, the bridesmaid of the title, is revealed in all her complicated horror. Philip is a good man with a kind hearted widowed mother Christine and two sisters Fee and Cheryl. Their suburban family life with Hardy the dog comes to a climax of sorts with Fee’s wedding. The domestic detail, the way this shipwrecked group have carried on after the father’s death is poignant and commendable. I loved listening to this long drawn out story that inevitably must end in tears… Wow, what a mind dreamt this up, what language Ruth Rendell employs, what depths of research into the human mind she has managed. Amazing, one of her finest.

Timeless human drama

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A gripping psychological thriller, this captivated me. Good plot, good characters, taut writing. Prepare for a dark treat.

One of her best

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Didn’t really enjoy this one sadly.
Didn’t like any of the characters.
Guessed the “twist” at the end fairly soon on.

Disturbing & plodding

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