Why? Why did he do it? Why had it happened? What sort of fiend was he? Why should he, Victor Jenner, the child of happily married, middle-class parents, succumb to such violent rages? Why should he have needed to make motiveless attacks on women? Victor didn't know. But Victor did know that the last ten years - the years in prison - had been a mistake. He had never intended to rape the girl. He had never intended to harm anyone. It had all been an accident. In fact, his life had been a series of accidents, one mistake leading to the next. Now, out of prison at last, Victor still isn't free. The past holds him so he can't go forward. So Victor goes back - and begins a new chain of accidents, a new string of tragic mistakes.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Powerfully claustrophobic (Guardian )
Ruth Rendell shows an unparalleled understanding of human evil. (John Mortimer Sunday Times )
Compelling, disturbing and masterfully written. (The Times )
Rendell knows how to make your hair stand up straight on your head (Maeve Binchy )
There are quite a few Ruth Rendells: the doyenne of the traditional English detective novel; the queen of the psychological thriller; the celebrated author of the literary thriller (Mail on Sunday ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Ruth Rendell shows an unparalleled understanding of human evil. (John Mortimer Sunday Times )
Compelling, disturbing and masterfully written. (The Times )
Rendell knows how to make your hair stand up straight on your head (Maeve Binchy )
There are quite a few Ruth Rendells: the doyenne of the traditional English detective novel; the queen of the psychological thriller; the celebrated author of the literary thriller (Mail on Sunday ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Book Description
Winner of the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel of the Year in 1986, this is a chilling insight into the mind of the criminally insane, from the world's greatest living crime writer. Perfect for fans of Rendell's chilling psychological thrillers, including Thirteen Steps Down and Adam and Eve and Pinch Me. (20031017)
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By RachelWalker
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
I read this book years ago. Years ago. I lost my copy. As soon as randomhouse reprinted it, I snapped up this new version and immediately re-read it. It's another Rendell gem. I won't say too much about it, because it's brilliant in the ways Rendell is traditionally brilliant (and I've gone on about them enough in previous reviews), but it's without doubt another of her excellent pieces. Victor Jenner is a truly horrific Rendell character - possibly one of her most memorable, in that Live Flesh is an intense study of his character and no other. He's the beast at the centre of it all, and with the usual frightening insight it is that she crafts him. As one reads, you cannot help but shiver as this self-centred criminal lays the blame for his violence at every door but his own, as he finds everyone but himself wanting as concerns the path of his fate. Self-obsessed in the traditionally Rendellian fashion, he considers himself one of life's great victims ("as much a victim as Fleetwood, really", he muses at one point - David Fleetwood is the policeman Victor shoots in the spine, paralysing him for life, in the opening scene). Never has one man's mania for the self seemed so real, never has the mind of a deluded been made so starkly logical. Rendell might, indeed, have outdone herself in this respect. She almost has you believing it along with Victor.
Live Flesh is another of Rendell's Gold Dagger winners, and again its deserved. It's a deeply unsettling, but beautifully wrougt, portrait of a scarred mind, written impeccably and, even when you come to the last page, there are still a few drops of bitter poison left in the vial. Superb.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Live Flesh" is not the usual crime mystery/thriller. It is, however, a thrilling psychological study of a rapist, Victor Jenner, who suffers from chorea, a disease of the nervous system marked by involuntary, jerky movements of the arms, legs, and/or face. Sometimes this illness is called "live flesh." Victor also has a severe phobia of tortoises, along with a multitude of other neuroses. Throughout the novel, he feels a need for psychiatric treatment, but never follows through. Typically, he blames the system for not providing him with therapy. He does understand that he has serious problems, though, and more often than not knows the difference between right and wrong. The inimitable Ruth Rendell thoroughly explores Jenner's motives, secrets, and complex emotions. She paints a chilling portrait of a man doomed by violence he cannot control. This is obviously much more a book driven by characters, and their development, than by action. The heart of "Live Flesh" lies in the complexity of Victor Jenner's personality and how he interacts with others, two characters in particular. These people are all steeped in a web of consequences stemming from one single event, a gunshot, which alters their lives forever.
Victor Jenner was convicted of shooting a young police officer in the lower back and permanently crippling him. He had been holding a young woman hostage in her bedroom, after breaking and entering her home, while escaping from the scene of an attempted rape. David Fleetwood, the officer, had been trying to gain the woman's release. Victor was not tried for the attempted rape, or the numerous other acts of sexual violence he had successfully committed. The police probably had no idea he was responsible for the crimes. After ten years Jenner is released early, for good behavior.
... Read more ›6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an absorbing story that could only have been crafted by Ruth Rendell, the doyenne of the quirky murder mystery and chiller killer thrillers. Here, she takes a look into the socio-pathic mind of the amoral Victor Jenner, released back into the world after serving ten years in prison for shooting and paralyzing a young police sergeant.
He tracks down the now wheelchair bound officer, meeting both him and his devoted, beautiful girlfriend. You see, in Victor's skewed world view, it was the officer's fault that he got shot, costing Victor ten of the best years of his life. Victor just wants to set the record straight. Who would have thought that they could all be friends? Therein lies the tale.
By grannie mac
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am not a great fan of Ruth rendell and after reading this book it has done nothing to change my view. However books are very personal and I'm sure her fans will love it. It was delivered quickly and well wrapped.
Agnes McLuckie
Agnes McLuckie
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Its very wordy and long winded would be better to watch on TV than read but intresting enough to continue.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Another brilliant psychological thriller from an amazing author! Ruth Rendell's characters are really convincing. She is skillful in her portrayal of the psychopathic Victor and his ability to rationalise and justify his thoughts and behaviours.
This was a real page-turner for me.
This was a real page-turner for me.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By J. Gillespie
Format:Paperback
I'm reading this book at the moment - again. It nust be the 7th or 8th time for me to read it and each time I find things I missed. It's very dear to me as well becasue it covers areas of London that I know very well, but the character of Victor, as a previous reviewer has commented, is one of Ruth Rendell's enduring "villains". The commas are there because the character has been created with so many complex facets that the word villian is a hard one to apply. A wonderful book - I thought today that it probably is my favourite work of non-fiction ever, and that says something. Read, enjoy and think
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