Ruth Rendell Suffers Serious Stroke

From England, comes the sad news that Ruth Rendell suffered a serious stroke on January 14.  According to her publisher, Rendell is resting in "serious but stable condition" while her best treatment is determined.  

The Guardian (U.K.) had a short piece on Rendell in its January 15 edition in which it announced the stroke and hospitalization of the author.  Fittingly, that article recalls Rendell's own column about her personal relationship with the recently deceased P.D. James:

In November, she wrote about the death of PD James for the Guardian; the two novelists had been friends for 40 years. “We never talked about crime – because it was what we both wrote about – and we never talked about politics,” Rendell wrote. “Phyllis joined the House of Lords several years before me. We were both utterly opposed to each other politically: she was a Tory and very much a committed Conservative, whereas I’m a socialist, I’m Labour and always have been. Once we were in for a vote and crossed paths going to the two division lobbies, she to the “content” lobby and I to the “not content” – and we kissed in the chamber, which caused some concern and amazement.”

Ruth Rendell is, of course, most famous for her long series of Inspector Wexford mysteries, but she has written twenty-seven standalone crime novels in addition to that wonderful series.  Too, Rendell, writing as Barbara Vine, has written fourteen psychological thrillers, some of which are considered among the author's best work.  She has also published short story collections, children's books, nonfiction titles, and novellas.

Her complete bibliography can be found here on Book Chase's dedicated "Ruth Rendell" page.

Please keep Ruth Rendell in your thoughts and prayers as she begins the journey toward what we all hope will be a complete and full recovery.