The Chimney Sweeper's Boy

Informationen zum Autor Barbara Vine is a pseudonym for Ruth Rendell (1930–2015), who won numerous awards, including three Edgars, the highest accolade from Mystery Writers of America, as well as three Gold Daggers, a Silver Dagger, and a Diamond Dagger for outstanding contribution to the genre from England’s prestigious Crime Writer’s Association. She was the author of numerous mystery thriller novels, including the Inspector Wexford series, Dark Corners , and The Child's Child. Klappentext After bestselling author Gerald Candless dies suddenly, his grief-stricken daughter, Sarah, begins research for a biography of her famous father. But shocking revelations come to light and she must reconcile a life of lies and the secrets behind a long-forgotten murder. Chapter One It is an error to say the eyes have expression. Eyebrows and eyelids, lips, the planes of the face, all these are indicators of emotion. The eyes are merely colored liquid in a glass. -- A MESSENGER OF THE GODS "Not a word to my girls," he had said on the way home from the hospital. My girls, as if they weren't also hers. She was used to it, he always said that, and in a way they were more his. "I'm not hearing this," she said. "You're going to have major surgery and your grown-up children aren't to be told." "'Major surgery,'" he said. "You sound like Staff Nurse Samantha in a hospital sitcom. I won't have Sarah and Hope worried. I won't give them a day of hell while they await the result." You flatter yourself, she thought, but that was just spite. He didn't. They would have a day of hell; they would have anguish, while she had a little mild trepidation. He made her promise. It wasn't difficult. She wouldn't have cared for the task of telling them. The girls came down as usual. In the summer they came down every weekend, and in the winter, too, unless the roads were impassable. They had forgotten the Romneys were coming to lunch, and Hope made a face, what her father called "a square mouth," a snarl, pushing her head forward and curling back her lips. "Be thankful it's only lunch," said Gerald. "When I first met the guy, I asked him for the weekend." "He refused?" Sarah said it as if she were talking of someone turning down a free round-the-world cruise. "No, he didn't refuse. I wrote to him, asked him for lunch, and said he could stay at the hotel." Everyone laughed except Ursula. "He's got a wife he's bringing." "Oh God, Daddy, is there more? He hasn't got kids, has he?" "If he has, they're not invited." Gerald smiled sweetly at his daughters. He said thoughtfully, "We might play the Game." "With them? Oh, do let's," said Hope. "We haven't played the Game for ages." Titus and Julia Romney were much honored by an invitation from Gerald Candless, and if they had expected to be put up in the house and not have to pay for a room at the Dunes, they hadn't said so, not even to each other. Julia had anticipated eccentricity from someone so distinguished, even rudeness, and she was pleasantly surprised to encounter a genial host, a gracious, if rather silent, hostess, and two good-looking young women who turned out to be the daughters. Titus, who had his naive side, as she well knew, was hoping for a look at the room where the work was done. And perhaps a present. Not a first edition, that would be expecting too much, but any book signed by the author. Conversation on literary matters, how he wrote, when he wrote, and even, now the daughters had appeared, what it was like to be his child. It was a hot, sunny day in July, a few days before the start of the high season at the hotel, or they wouldn't have gotten a room. Lunch was in a darkish, cool dining room with no view of the sea. Far from discussing books, the Candlesses talked about the weather, summer visitors, the beach, and Miss Batty, who was coming to clear th...

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Barbara Vine
• Editore: Washington Square Press
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Tascabile
• Pubblicazione: 25.04.2006
• EAN: 9781416531937
• ISBN: 978-1-4165-3193-7
• Categoria: Narrativa > Gialli > Polizieschi, thriller, spionaggio