The House of Stairs

De: Ruth Rendell

Narrado por: Annie Wauters

When Lizzie and Bell meet for tea after nearly two decades apart, the topic of conversation is murder - one that Bell herself committed

When Elizabeth Vetch spots Bell for the first time in 17 years, she chases her down in order to learn why her old friend committed a terrible murder all those years ago. Bell has been in prison ever since the mysterious events that took place at the House of Stairs, a London mansion full of over-privileged, overstuffed, and somewhat sinister boarders, landed her there. Now it’s up to Lizzie to put together the pieces of her friend’s - and her own - fateful past.

As the story behind Bell’s crime unfolds, master of suspense Barbara Vine keeps readers guessing at the victim and the motive, letting the sword of Damocles hang over the heads of a fascinating and richly drawn cast of characters.

©2011 Open Road Integrated Media (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“An unputdownable thriller.” (The Sunday Telegraph)

“Barbara Vine is a master practitioner of the genre in which we are not certain until the end what the crime was.” (The New York Times Book Review)

Would rather have read it.

Would you try another book from Ruth Rendell and/or Annie Wauters?

Ruth Rendell, yes. Annie Wauters, no.

What didn’t you like about Annie Wauters’s performance?

Her reading was very measured with a little pause between each word, like she was aiming at an audience of octogenarians. And why didn't they pick an English reader??

Did The House of Stairs inspire you to do anything?

Stop reading it...but I persevered.

Any additional comments?

This novel was all tarnished glitz, unconvincing character development, and it appeared that by the end, even the author was bored with it, but not to say I want go back and buy and listen to some of her earlier work. Ruth Rendell is a wonderful writer, but this is not her best work.

Awful reader

I was in a rush, so didn’t listen to the sample or read comments, trusting I’d be safe with Ruth Rendell as ever. What a mistake. The reading is frankly unbearable. I haven’t gotten more than 10 minutes in and I can’t stand any more. Just hoping Audible lets me exchange this clunker. I’ve learned my lesson for sure.

Classic "whydunnit"

Not a whodunnit (we know that immediately) but a why, how, and "who to." I've only read a couple of other Ruth Rendell novels (she wrote this under the Barbara Vine pseudonym) and while I like them and I enjoyed this one, they strike me as profoundly pessimistic about human relationships.

Story is good but the narrator nearly ruined it

Would you try another book from Ruth Rendell and/or Annie Wauters?

I have always liked Ruth Rendell's books and will continue to recommend her to others. I will not recommend Annie Wauters as a narrator. I have been much more impressed with Jenny Sterlin, Nigel Anthony, Julian Glover, and Davina Porter, who all narrate Ruth Rendell's books very well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The House of Stairs?

The moment at which we realize the protagonist's relationship with Belle was romantic.

What didn’t you like about Annie Wauters’s performance?

Annie Wauters’s performance was stilted, dull, and mechanical. At many points it sounds as if she is simply reading a list of words. Her voice gives no hint of changes in scenes and barely (at most) distinguishes between characters.It was only because I know Ruth Rendell always delivers a good story that I stuck with it.

Was The House of Stairs worth the listening time?

Yes but barely because of the narration.

Very challenging narration

The novel itself is quite remarkable, layered, intricate, worth contemplation.

However, it’s almost impossible to listen to Annie Wauters’s reading. She’s stilted, flat, and seemingly out of breath. Very distracting.