Chief Inspector Wexford is a detective character in Ruth Rendell’s books. I’ve been reading her books (not just the Wexford ones) but I watched a TV show version of Wexford last night–the episode was “Simisola,” based on the book of the same name. I enjoyed it, even though I was wary–I hadn’t seen any other episodes and I’m very protective of books I love.
Anyway, any other fans of Wexford? I do so love reading about him. Normally I hate reading about the backgrounds and personal lives of detectives. But I really like Wexford’s family–the calming presence of his wife, Dora, his often shrill but good hearted daughter, Sylvia, grandkids (er…blanking on their names), Sheila, the actress daughter. Oh, and I love Mike Burden as well.
My favorite Wexford books are Simisola and A Sleeping Life. And an Unkindness of Ravens though I’m planning to reread that one–it’s been a while. I’ve read them all but after a while one does forget things so I often return to them. They hold up for a second read quite nicely.
I’m a big fan, FS. I can’t remember the name of the book, but the subplot is that Wexford’s daughter gets involved with a literary douchebag who Wexford can’t stand. I don’t remember the murder, how it was solved or whodunit, but the scenes with Wexford and the DB are totally worth the price of admission.
For every British police series the ratio of soap opera to actual plot increases over time, and while that can be fun sometimes, after enough of it I stop giving a crap about Thomas Lynley’s class issues or Richard Jury having yet another dismally doomed romance.
The Wexford books are no exception, but those lasted longer than average for me before I abandoned them…I stuck with him for maybe a dozen or so.
I really like Wexford as well, but (for some strange reason) I tend to mix him up with Dalgliesh in my head (not while reading either, but when trying to remember plots).
Her books really bring the pre-Thatcher and Thatcher years alive, as well as the progress of women’s lib in Britain. I have never warmed up to his favorite daughter (I always had a sneaking sympathy for the older one, despite her whininess), and his wife is too good to be true (Burden’s is much more real, IMO).
Rendell is an excellent writer.
[slight hijack]I am reading Ian Rankin right now–he’s a bit too street gritty for me, but I like his characters so much I’m putting up with it.
I didn’t think Dora was TOO good…well, maybe a bit. I’m with you on liking Sylvia better than Sheila. Sheila always felt too perfect. Sylvia was way more fun to read about.
I love Ruth Rendell and I love CI Wexford. My favorite was Kissing the Gunner’s Daughter, wherein an old rich woman was murdered and though I suspected the … suspects, it was still hard to believe they actually did that for money. I’ve said it before, Ms. Rendell is in her 80’s and I hope she lives many more productive years. But Wexford is getting old and tired and fed up with the modern world, and the series may be coming to an end. … There are a lot of English/Scottish detective teams I enjoy, Inspector Lynley and Havers, Andy Dalziel and (forgot his name, sorry), Ian Rankin’s books, and Peter Robinson’s books. But Chief Inspector Wexford and his co-workers and family…there’s something familar and homey about them. I learn so much about modern day England, too. There’s a description of the English countryside I read in one of them, remote and deserted, where I think sugar beets are grown. And at night, who comes creeping out of the villages but - punk rockers! Hidden by day, coming alive at night, like vampires.
… There are a lot of English/Scottish detective teams I enjoy, Inspector Lynley and Havers, Andy Dalziel and (forgot his name, sorry), Ian Rankin’s books, and Peter Robinson’s books. But Chief Inspector Wexford and his co-workers and family…there’s something familar and homey about them. I learn so much about modern day England, too. There’s a description of the English countryside I read in one of them, remote and deserted, where I think sugar beets are grown. And at night, who comes creeping out of the villages but - punk rockers! Hidden by day, coming alive at night, like vampires.