The Tree of Hands

There will be spoilers, so don't go on, if that will ruin your enjoyment.

I picked up a paperback from the book exchange shelf in the hotel, as I often do when these things exist. This review is only for the first of these two stories - The Tree of Hands. It is my first Ruth Rendell. To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of it.

Fairly early on, we start off with the criminal act of a woman who is clearly certifiable. At this point we are following her daughter, Benet, who is set up as a self-sufficient woman. So much so that she has had a child quite deliberately by a man she wants nothing to do with, and perhaps never really did.

Then we meet Carol, and her lover, Barry. Carol is a career petty thief, and has the looks and character that make her unlikely to ever really love anyone. It is Carol's child that goes missing. The police involvement is really a side plot.

Other characters are bought in, some are developed well, others are just there to round out the narrative.

It is a very easy read, and there are plenty of twists and turns. One of those is Carol's murder, which is inadequately explained and seems to be a device to bring the book to a conclusion. Having carefully wrapped up all the other plot lines, this one is terminated messily and seems like an easy way out for the author.

I am not sure if I should be sympathetic with the main character - Benet, or appalled by her actions and her selfish lack of judgement - she got away with it, as some criminals do, but I couldn't be more than disappointed at the ending.