Live Flesh

By: Ruth Rendell

Narrated by: Ian Holm

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

All his life, for almost as far back as he could remember, Victor had had a phobia. In prison, inevitably, he reflected on the grotesque way it had begun, about the panics and violent anger. He asked himself, too, why the child of happily married, middle-class parents should have needed to make motiveless and unreasoning attacks on women.

Holed up in that house with the girl, he had not meant to pull the trigger. It was panic. Panic, which came over him like a second skin, prickling him all over, crawling on him.... An attempted murder not only brings Victor Jenner face to face with himself, but also involves him in a strange and doomed triangular relationship.

©1986 Kingsmarkham Enterprises (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Live Flesh

What made the experience of listening to Live Flesh the most enjoyable?

It was a pretty engrossing listen - interesting and dramatic. Rendell (as ever) brought the characters to life and the twisty plot really complemented the slightly drab suburban London background.

What other book might you compare Live Flesh to, and why?

Any thriller really - I note that Pedro Almodovar based his film, 'Live Flesh' on Rendell's book (although it was a pretty loose fit...) so it's clearly quality material.

What does Ian Holm bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I don't recall ever reading the book, but Ian Holm's performance was excellent - especially whilst portraying the main character, Victor.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

There already is a film of this book!

A good book ruined by boring narrative.

I'm a fervent Ruth Rendell fan, having read all of her books several times. (I thoroughly enjoyed Inspector Wexford both in book form and Audible - Nigel Anthony is the best narrator ever, and makes a perfect Wexford.) Although not one of her very best, I enjoyed reading Live Flesh many years ago and decided to give it a go in Audible. I have to say it's a long drawn out struggle. Ian Holm's narration is tedious at best, his voice isn't by any stretch of the imagination distinguished or distinguishable, and drones on and on and on. I shall trudge my way through for a little longer in the hope that the story keeps me interested enough to finish it......but at this stage it seems unlikely.

It’s a good one.

The book starts off excitingly and continues to build. Re-follow a killer and the contortions of his mind, and his search for explanation of his actions for himself as well as others. Freshly released after a long spell in prison his life improves, or does it?

Excellent

Strange , weird very compelling a must to listen too. Wonderfully written and read. A story that really grips .

Gripping

I love how all the seemingly random events all connect eventually. Ruth Rendell was a genius at plots.

A bit strange

A bit of a weird story, quite difficult to read in parts. Quite different from I her books by this author

Disappointing, Drawn Out and Dull

I hate to leave a negative review like this because I am a huge fan of Ruth Rendell,especially her Wexford novels.

Here she has had an idea that could, more effectively, been expressed in a short story format. Not the most entertaining or original idea but, nonetheless a decent idea.

BUT, it is long, meandering and unstimulating. for most of the chapters the story is without form and lacking in direction and the eventual payoff is unsatisfactory.

The narration is very good and, that alone kept me going. Left to my own devices with the book, I would not have made it past halfway.

Every artist has an off day I suppose.

Looking forward to more stimulating times with Inspector Wexford.

Excellent

A disturbing read, the tension almost unbearable at times. The prose might be a little old-fashioned, here and there, for some modern reader’s; but every sentence is beautifully fashioned, the story unfurling in an even, claustrophobic, unhurried pace. The preoccupations are accident and a psychological quirk that leads to a strange, almost naive interior landscape.. I’m off to listen to another one, now.

Bit of a weird one but stick with it

Creepy! Seeing things from a different perspective - this one will stay with me. The end is fitting

Great

I wasn’t sure, It didn’t seem like a typical Ruth Rendell. I came close to quitting a few times at the beginning but I stuck with it and I’m glad I did.