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  • Vanity Dies Hard

  • By: Ruth Rendell
  • Narrated by: Eva Haddon
  • Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (29 ratings)

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Vanity Dies Hard cover art

Vanity Dies Hard

By: Ruth Rendell
Narrated by: Eva Haddon
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Publisher's Summary

Wealthy Alice Whittaker is known for her generosity, and when her friend Nesta vanishes Alice is determined to find her and help her. If that means money, well, Alice has plenty of it. Then the handsome Mr Fielding enters her life, ten years younger than Alice and they marry. But when Alice starts to feel sick -- a virus perhaps, something she just can't shake, her husband seems determined to keep her at home. Is he just being a doting husband who wants his wife to get better? Or is he trying to keep her from finding Nesta? Unwell though she is, Alice can't help asking questions. And the more she learns about Nesta's disappearance, the more certain she becomes that her own life is in peril

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What listeners say about Vanity Dies Hard

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

definitely not one of her best

I'm a big Rendell fan but this one was laborious. I don't think the narrator helped; some voices were irritatingly overacted. And a small thing; if the character has taken a mouthful the narrator does not need to make slurpy noises. Many people find it disturbing.

The story itself was painfully long-winded and the attempts to create tension were just a long exercise in irritation. I have never before in a Rendell book thought 'for heaven's sake, get on with it.' Other aspects of the story were tenuous and unbelievable.

I don't feel at all that I've listened to a Ruth Rendell.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

love a twist

wonderful story, I really enjoyed the characters and plot, classic Ruth Rendell. lovely narration and character voices.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

I like Ruth Rendell’s books but this one just didn’t measure up - I was disappointed - found it frivolous and difficult to focus on the story …

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not what I expected

Great twists and turns in this book, love the descriptors and the end which was not expected

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing and longwinded

I love Ruth Rendell and had high hopes for this book but the best word to describe it was turgid. Dreadful characters and meandering pointless narrative. i was hoping the "heroine" WOULD get knocked off, she was such an irritating wimp.

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