Edgar Award Finalist: In London, a missing child unites three mothers in grief, madness, and murder. When Benet Archdale was a young girl in North London, her mother, Mopsa, made her nervous. The woman was unsound, and posed ever-present dangers. Yet Benet understood her sickness and forgave her threats. In pursuit of a relatively sane life as a novelist and loving single parent, Benet has … single parent, Benet has since kept Mopsa at a distance. But it’s not only the sudden death of Benet’s two-year-old son that shakes her safe world. It’s the past. Mopsa has returned to be at her inconsolable daughter’s side. Nurturing, rational, and seemingly cured, Mopsa is going to do everything she can to ease Benet’s grief.
Then, on the other side of town, the child of a barmaid has gone missing. Authorities fear the search can’t end well. As Benet and Mopsa are drawn into the disappearance, the secrets, lies, and desperation of three mothers will converge–by chance and by design. For them, it’s a crime that is at once a delusion, an escape, and a nightmare.
“No one surpasses Ruth Rendell when it comes to stories of obsession, instability, and malignant coincidence,” says Stephen King of this New York Times-bestselling author, and all three come into play in this novel, a winner of the Crime Writers’ Association Silver Dagger Award. A classic of psychological suspense, The Tree of Hands was adapted twice for the screen: first in 1989, as Innocent Victim starring Lauren Bacall and Helen Shaver; then again in 2001, for the French film Alias Betty.
The Tree of Hands
By ruthrendell
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Creative mystery genre
You can almost justify the end of this amazingly complicated story!(you have to read it to understand what that means) It’s unlike any story I’ve ever read.
I’m hoping for a sequel!!!!!!
And brilliantly-crafted, as you’d expect from Rendell!
Keeps you guessing.
Found this book to be weird. Several various characters, some not like able, and how they did these character tie into the story, did kept the pages turning. Kept wondering how is this going to turn out. And then it ended. I can only assume the mother and the not her real child went on to lead a happy life? But could they really?? So many …
Bizarrely entertaining. Loved it!
It was hard to get into. Took too long to spark my interest
I enjoyed the unusual twists in the book. Benet’s mother was almost creepy as her madness becomes evident. Benet seemed believable as the grief,-stricken mother, but I doubted the credibility of her actions. Somehow the book became confusing to me because there were almost too many twists and I became a bit confused. However. The book is well …
As usual, her writing is superb
not the author’s usual mystery. disappointing
Ruth Rendell is one of my “Go To” authors
Well written
I love anything that Ruth Rendell wrote. This book is no exception. I am saddened that there will be no more!
Couldn’t put it down.
Ruth Rendell could make a grocery list intriguing. Another interesting book.
Ruth Rendell never disappoints and once again she has delivered an intelligent, thrilling page turner. She is one of my favorite authors.
Anything by Ruth Rendell is bound to be intriguing. This book was no exception.
I love Rendall’s style of writing anyway and this was one of the best yet. It’s quite a nail biting plot. The story begins simply enough and then you are completely underwater with the emotions the tale wrings from you. It’s makes you profoundly sad, angry, helpless and relieved. I thought about it for a long while afterwards and so will you. Very …
When ever her books are available I buy them. I like the way she writes
I was intrigued from the first page. This is so unusual of a story. You won’t believe how this ends. Keeps you turning pages far into the night.