Indeed, From Doon With Death, the first Wexford novel, focuses on the mystery of the death of a somewhat rather dowdy housewife who goes missing and then turns up dead. A housewife is reported missing to Inspector Burden by her husband who comes home from work and she is not there.

And you know the author who did it when it was Shocking was a product of her time, and common wisdom was different then, but still you just feel awkward for her.That presents no memorable personality and in this case, I was glad Reginald was not in the story until later; that Mike is an equal protagonist. Review of the Arrow Books 50th Anniversary Kindle* eBook edition (2014), with a Foreword by Ian Rankin and an Afterword by Ruth Rendell, of the original John Long Ltd.

Although a fairly short novel, it is filled with intrigue as Wexford and Burden investigate the murder of a seemingly friendless, quiet wife named Margaret Parsons.The way the book is structured, it will all build to a moment in which that identity is revealed and if the reader feels surprised it will likely result in a rush of excitement and general good feeling. Although the identity of the victim's lover "Doon" would not be much of a surprise to the 21st century reader, at the time of its release it was considered ground-breaking and daring, and this novel immediately garnered Rendell international critical attention. I am reading some contemporary detective series, but i am getting tired of the alternate timelines and multiple POVs. Overall I felt that this was a solid if unremarkable start to the Wexford line of novels but it is one that gives me hope for when the time comes to read some of the later installments. Unusually, Rendell does not make any of the characters particularly sympathetic and that adds to the reality of the crime and suspects.