Product Description

This story traces the descent of an upright husband and citizen into blunder, terror, nightmare and murder.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2118430 in Books
• Published on: 1990-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In this third psychological thriller involving Inspector Quantrill, a frustrated man and his sadistic acquaintance plot to murder their elderly in-laws. "Radley illuminates the ease with which an almost innocent slip can be a fatal step that inexorably slides into hell," wrote PW .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
A psychologically intriguing treatment of a murder in absentia, Radley's latest illuminates the repercussions of Derek Cartwright's wish that his mother-in-law were dead. Derek and wife Christine, recently (though unhappily) freed of the burden of a handicapped daughter, now find themselves housing Christine's irritating mother. After a chance encounter with a similarly encumbered but truly evil businessman, Derek starts losing control of events. Well-thought-out plot, bitterly ironic situations, and deeply involving texture make this English village worth a visit.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

disturbingly well-written
Sheila Radley wrote a number of contemporary British mysteries in this series, all featuring the same detective. They are all really enjoyable psychological crime novels that I highly recommend.

This particular novel is the most unusual. I think it may have been the last book in the series (to date) so I would not recommend starting here for someone who has never read this author.

I found this novel compelling reading, but the psychological study of the killer in this instance is so convincing that the story did not leave me in a comfortable frame of mind. This book really gets you inside the mind of the killer -- but with a disturbing difference.

The killer is not your typically savage bad guy. He is actually portrayed very sympathetically. The man makes a series of bad decisions and feels growing panic as he commits his crime and it is subsequently discovered by the authorities. The author put me so much into the mind of this somehow sympathetic killer, that I really felt his remorse over what he had done, and felt his mounting panic as his whole life falls apart with the investigation.

A very powerful book. But be warned, this is not an uplifting or light piece of entertainment. It is a vivid cautionary tale about the thin line that can separate a killer from your average, rather harmless individual.