- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd; New edition edition (Dec 1984)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099328100
- ISBN-13: 978-0099328100
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.4 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 323,291 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Speaker Of Mandarin (Inspector Wexford Mysteries)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
A crime thriller, featuring the detective work of Chief Inspector Wexford, who finds himself having to solve a mystery that begins on a trip to China. From the author SHAKE HANDS FOREVER.
From the Back Cover
China both delighted and frustrated Wexford: the beauty, the history, all of that brought immense pleasure. But the unending attention of Mr Sung of the Chinese Tourist Board was hugely irritating – and that an old woman with bound feet should haunt him was puzzling and slightly frightening, without explanation. Back home, he found an answer to the last and then a whole new mystery opened up when he found himself in charge of yet another murder investigation, this time of one of his fellow tourists. And suddenly an apparently accidental death in China no longer seemed so accidental…
Ruth Rendell takes the listener on a brilliantly devious journey in this immaculately-plotted murder mystery.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is not a review, as such. The Speaker of Mandarin is one of the best Wexford tales, clever and surprising as they all are, with the added feature of seeing Wexford on holiday in China, which Rendell renders wonderfully!
However, as I say, this is not a review, this is more of a plea. Several of these relatively early titles by RR remain stubbornly out of print, impossible to acquire. To Fear A Painted Devil and Vanity Dies Hard are two more examples. All excellent books, which seem to have been passed by by her publishers, randomhouse, left unacceptably out of print. This is quite clearly wrong, as this in particular is a fantastic book. If you are an ardent Rendell fan and can't get hold of these titles, email her publisher (the adress for emailing the sales department can be found on their site) without further ado! The more people who request info on out-of-print titles, the more likely it is that they will be reprinted. So, I urge you, get emailing in order that everyone will be able to experience the joys of every one of Rendell's works!
If you can manage to get hold of The Speaker of Mandarin these days, enjoy it. It's one fantastic crime novel, clever and unguessable, in a brilliant setting. In Rendell's canon, it is unique.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Mystery writing at its best-every page full of intrigue-could not put it down-a good and unexpected ending-will read again at a future date
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Good entertainment
26 Jun 1998
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Although SPEAKER OF MANDARIN does not contain the depth of psychology and characterization for which Rendell/Vine is famous, it is a light-hearted, entertaining, and at some points funny, read. Wexford's travels in China, which are described in detail, are intriguingly written, and Rendell's observations of the trip are sharp and humorous without being racist. The book is ingeniously plotted, full of red herrings, although the final solution is somewhat rushed and a bit of a let-down. But the book is easy to read and entertaining.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
A Must Read for Wexford fans
20 Nov 2001
Format:Audio Cassette
I have read all the Wexford books and this one has stayed with me.
I think about it often as it made a huge impact on me when I read it. The characters are complex and there is an almost mystical quality about it. This book along with "Semisola" are my favorite Wexford stories.
I think about it often as it made a huge impact on me when I read it. The characters are complex and there is an almost mystical quality about it. This book along with "Semisola" are my favorite Wexford stories.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Wexford goes international!
25 Aug 2001
Certainly Chief Inspector Wexford is "out of his bailiwick" in this Ruth Rendell suspense! In "Speaker of Mandarin," the erstwhile police detective finds himself in China, enjoying the sights. So much so that some sights keep recurring! Even after he returns home to his routine of solving murders in Kingsmarkham! Following the trip to China, one of Wexford's fellow travelers is murdered. And Rendell & Company are off and running. This series, certainly one of the best in the police procedural genre, always provides the reader with plenty of suspense, intrigue, intelligence, and great characterization. In his investigation, Wexford finds that there's more to this group of travelers than meets the ey, much like an Oriental puzzle box: until you press the exact button, it remains a mystery. Through Wexford's skill, ably assisted by Mike Burden with a little help from Wexford's wife Dora, the puzzle--and murderer--is soon revealed. Rendell is true to form here,
although finding her in China is a bit surprising! Nevertheless, Rendell fans will applaud and new readers will be impressed! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)
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