The Vault

Chief Inspector Reg Wexford has retired, and for a man defined by his work, the quieter life in London and Kingsmarkham proves less satisfying than he anticipated. A chance encounter with a former colleague, now a Detective Superintendent, draws him into an advisory role on a baffling case: three bodies found in the coal hole of a St. John's Wood townhouse, none carrying identification, but one with a fortune in jewelry stuffed in his pockets. Wexford cannot resist, but the investigation will prove more physically dangerous than his previous cases.

Steven Crossley has voiced Wexford through multiple entries in Ruth Rendell's beloved series, and the familiarity shows in every scene. His portrait of a retired detective who misses the work is sympathetic and specific, capturing Wexford's wry self-awareness and his genuine gift for patience. At under nine hours, this is a well-paced procedural that makes excellent use of the retired-detective premise.