One of the reasons that Ruth Rendell is one of my very favorite authors, is that she always knows how to surprise her reader. This can become tricky after years of writing. Having read quite a few of her novels through the years, I find myself looking for the gotcha moment and wondering how she's going to get me this time. And she did it again, from a completely unexpected angle. It's not the only reason that I love her, there's also the elegantly economical prose and the ability to create characters that is virtually unmatched by her contemporaries. Not her best, but I love that it's a departure from her usual offering and even on an off day, she writes circles around the competition.