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  • A Judgement in Stone

  • By: Ruth Rendell
  • Narrated by: Carole Hayman
  • Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (110 ratings)
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A Judgement in Stone cover art

A Judgement in Stone

By: Ruth Rendell
Narrated by: Carole Hayman
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Summary

Four members of the Coverdale family - George, Jacqueline, Melinda and Giles - died in the space of fifteen minutes on the 14th February, St Valentine's Day. Eunice Parchman, the housekeeper, shot them down on a Sunday evening while they were watching opera on television. Two weeks later she was arrested for the crime. But the tragedy neither began nor ended there...

©2011 Ruth Rendell (P)2011 Random House Audio Go

What listeners say about A Judgement in Stone

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I wonder if there's anyone she likes

Revisiting this book after first reading it more than 30 years ago reminded me of what a misanthrope Rendell comes across as. My Lord, she has it in for everyone, making digs at the rich man in his castle and the poor man at his gate with equal glee. You do just want to get a bucket of popcorn sometimes and sit back and watch whilst she helps you understand how vile or stupid just about everybody in the country is these days, what with murdering one another and eating baked goods of inferior quality in cafes. And I do mean these days, because you always get the feeling that Rendell believes things were better in the past. But this is all baffling, because we know what a kind, helpful, generous person she was IRL. This has to be one of her best books. The crime itself isn't really the point: it's more of an excuse for us to gawp at how ghastly some people are, whether they are reading the Guardian arts pages and discussing opera with their children or deploying soft furnishings to silence forever a troublesome invalid. But oh, the crime is horrible, too, and will stay with you.

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10 people found this helpful

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

superb story

Would you consider the audio edition of A Judgement in Stone to be better than the print version?

I prefer the audio version as with Carole Boyd giving such a wonderful voices reading it just brings the story alive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Judgement in Stone?

When Eunice lifted Norman against the wall for hitting his wife.

Have you listened to any of Carole Hayman’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I think this one of the best readings by Carole Hayman I can listen to this again and again and again.

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

LEARN TO READ AND WRITE

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4 people found this helpful

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

Thoroughly enjoyed it

I'm not a fan of thrillers and murder mysteries, but I friend recommended Ruth Rendell. I really enjoyed the story, the way the psychology of the characters and lives were presented and I felt like I really understood them. The narrator was excellent. I've read that some found the characters a bit shrill but I loved the way she played them, especially Joan, who was utterly nuts. I could totally imagine she spoke that way. I'll definitely listen to another. If they're all as good as this I'm looking forward to a good Ruth Rendell binge!

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2 people found this helpful

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

A murder with a difference!

I loved it from the beginning to the end.
Great story and so well read.

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1 person found this helpful

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

One of her best

I read this nearly 40 years ago and I have always considered it my favourite Ruth Rendell book. Listening to it again I haven’t changed my mind. Perfectly plotted, satisfying and great narration.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Ending and beginnings and vice versa

A tale to prove a fine writer can up-end the usual conventions of a who dunnit, tell the story 'backwards', and create just as much suspense. Well worth a read for a new take on what can lead to murder, and protagonists you can believe in. Slightly grating mimickry of female voices but not enough to spoil it.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Narration dreadful

I really liked this book when I read it many years ago. I made the mistake of purchasing this without listening to a sample. The narrator’s versions of Melinda and Joan’s voices are like nails down a blackboard, so shrill I had to turn it off. Such a shame. Good book, awful narration.

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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

Really enjoyable ..

with a range of characters who are all either pretty awful or downright appalling! Loved it - the structure is clever in that you know the outcome yet still want to know how and what next. Some of the dialogue I found laugh out loud funny, particularly the lady who makes up her own biblical quotations. Great stuff.

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

Fine writing and crystal clear narration

I loved this. I thought the narrator really understood the characters and it was a pleasure to listen to if desperately sad.

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

not sure about narrators attempt at accents

see title - some of the accents made my teeth hurt

other than that RR story very good

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