Synopses & Reviews
An utterly absorbing tale of mystery and obsession by Barbara Vine (a.k.a. Ruth Rendell, winner of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement).
This deft, dark, and unforgettable new novel by Barbara Vine is the story of bestselling author Gerald Candless, whose sudden death of a heart attack leaves behind a wife and two daughters. To work through her grief, one of his daughters, Sarah, decides to write a biography of her internationally celebrated father.
Within hours of beginning her search, Sarah comes across the first of what will be many shocking revelations: Gerald Candless was an impostor who had stolen his name from a boy who had died in infancy. There are few clues to her father's real identity, but as they come to light, a terrible logic emerges that may explain her mother's lifelong bitterness, her father's urgent need to create himself anew, and a long-forgotten murder.
The Chimney Sweeper's Boy is the work of a writer at the top of her craft. A sophisticated, complex exploration of sexuality and love, this riveting mystery will add new luster to Vine's brilliant reputation.
Synopsis
An unforgettable tale of mystery and obsession by Barbara Vine (pseudonym of Ruth Rendell, winner of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement)
This is the utterly absorbing story of best-selling novelist Gerald Candless, whose sudden death from a heart attack leaves behind a wife and two doting daughters. To sort through her grief, one of his daughters, Sarah, decides to write a biography of her internationally celebrated father.
Within hours of beginning her research, Sarah comes across the first of what will be many shocking revelations. As her life is slowly torn apart, a terrible logic finally emerges to explain her mother's remoteness, her father's need to continually reinvent himself in his work, and a long-forgotten London murder.
About the Author
Barbara Vine's first novel, A Dark-Adapted Eye, won an Edgar Award, the highest individual honor of the Mystery Writers of America. A Fatal Inversion won the English equivalent, the Crime Writers Gold Dagger Award. Her most recent novel, The Brimstone Wedding, was published in 1996. She lives in London.