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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Outstanding, Suspenseful Edgar Award-Winning Novel!, 29 April 2005
From the first sentence of "A Dark Adapted Eye," the reader is informed that someone important is about to die. By page six, we know that this person will be hanged by the neck until dead for a murder she committed. So, this extraordinary novel by Ruth Rendell, writing as Barbara Vine, is not a classic whodunit, rather a fascinating and complex psychological drama - a more suspenseful mystery than many of the best in which the perpetrator, or murderer, remains unknown until the conclusion. Faith Severn nee Longley is our narrator, and I believe this is so because she is related in one way or another to all the novel's primary characters, and is of an age, and a position in her family, where her point of view is more objective than most could possibly be, under the circumstances. "A Dark Adapted Eye" is, above all, the riveting story of a middle class English family during the first half of the 20th century. Thirty years after the fact, Faith, with the assistance of an interested journalist, attempt to piece together the events leading up to a tragic murder which would have profound effects on the entire clan. The Longley family appeared to be a relatively normal and united group of people. Like many families, they had their temporary dysfunctional moments, as well as happier gatherings and reunions. Faith, along with her parents, John and Vranni Longley lived just outside of London. John's twin sister, Vera Hillyard, was 32 years-old in 1939, and had been caring for their sister Eden, younger by fifteen years, since the girl was 14. The Longley parents were both dead. Vera had lived with her husband, a military man, in India, and she come home when her father became ill. Her young son, Francis, had been farmed off to boarding school at age 7. Although they are sisters, Vera acted the mother to Eden and obviously adored her. Faith joined her aunts, and Francis, at their country home, Laurel Cottage, Great Sindon, East Anglia, for holidays. Other relatives, who played an important role in their lives, lived within a relatively close distance. Overall, they appeared to be a group of relatively contented human beings, related by blood and marriage. Yet even Faith, as a young girl, realized that many family stories, and other personal news and events of both little or great importance, were never discussed at home, nor with her aunts. They were a closed-mouthed, secretive and repressed bunch of folks. The tragedy and drama that was to eventually unfold began during this time, right before WWII. Ms. Vine is a marvel at creating her characters and developing them. Throughout the skillful narrative, it is remarkable to watch individuals change and grow; to observe how they interact with each other and impact each other's lives. The author builds tension from the beginning of her intricate story, and it increases in intensity, almost non-stop, until the book's conclusion. A sinister air permeates parts of the novel when certain characters are front and center, and then lightens-up considerably when others appear on the scene. This deep psychological study, and the manipulative behavior described, are outstanding. It is obvious why the author won The 1986 Edgar Award for her achievements here. Truly exceptional fiction!
JANA
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by Barbara Vine
by Barbara Vine
by Barbara Vine
by Barbara Vine
by Barbara Vine
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