The Speaker Of Mandarin

Chief Inspector Wexford travels with a British tour group through China, visiting ancient sites and observing his fellow tourists with the professional attentiveness that never entirely turns off, even on holiday. When one of the group is found murdered after their return to England, Wexford's observations from the trip become the foundation for an investigation that uncovers the layers of guilt and secrecy that a shared journey made unexpectedly visible. Ruth Rendell's twelfth Wexford novel is quieter than many in the series but carries its own precise intelligence.

Michael Bryant narrates with a measured authority that suits Rendell's careful social observation. His rendering of the English tourist type is precise without being unkind, and his handling of Wexford's methodical reasoning gives the investigation its proper pace. At just over six hours, The Speaker of Mandarin is a compact, satisfying mystery from one of crime fiction's most disciplined craftspeople.