The Copper Peacock: a hideous bookmark given to Bernard, a writer, by his attractive cleaning lady, Judy. She had brought order to a hitherto chaotic life, but now the bookmark destroys all this, shattering his razor sharp sensibilities. If only she had given herself, then she might have lived...

In this, and eight other landmark short stories, including the Wexford tale An Unwanted Woman, Ruth Rendell once again proves she is the mistress of crime and mystery genres.

A collection of nine short crime and horror stories from the bestselling mystery writer Ruth Rendell, including an appearance by one of the crime genre's most popular characters: Detective Chief Inspector Reg Wexford. A chilling insight into the seemingly ordinary human mind and its potential for psychopathic violence.

About the Author

Ruth Rendell was an exceptional crime writer, and will be remembered as a legend in her own lifetime. Her groundbreaking debut novel, From Doon With Death, was first published in 1964 and introduced the reader to her enduring and popular detective, Inspector Reginald Wexford, who went on to feature in twenty-four of her subsequent novels.

With worldwide sales of approximately 20 million copies, Rendell was a regular Sunday Times bestseller. Her sixty bestselling novels include police procedurals, some of which have been successfully adapted for TV, stand-alone psychological mysteries, and a third strand of crime novels under the pseudonym Barbara Vine. Very much abreast of her times, the Wexford books in particular often engaged with social or political issues close to her heart.

Rendell won numerous awards, including the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for 1976's best crime novel with A Demon in My View, a Gold Dagger award for Live Flesh in 1986, and the Sunday Times Literary Award in 1990. In 2013 she was awarded the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence in crime writing. In 1996 she was awarded the CBE and in 1997 became a Life Peer.

Ruth Rendell died in May 2015. Her final novel, Dark Corners, was published in October 2015.

Reviews
Rendell's psychological insights are so absorbing, it's easy to forget what a superb plotter she is * The Times *
The most brilliant mystery novelist of our time * Patricia Cornwell *
One of the greatest novelists presently at work in our language... A writer whose work should be read by anyone who either enjoys a brilliant mystery - or distinguished literature * Scott Turow *



Book Information
ISBN 9780099928300
Author Ruth Rendell
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint Arrow Books Ltd
Publisher Cornerstone
Weight(grams) 98g
Dimensions(mm) 178mm * 110mm * 13mm