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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Barely any
Historical murder investigation; mild thriller tension
Language
Barely any
Mild language
Sexual Content
Barely any
No significant sexual content
Substance Use
Barely any
Minimal substance use
Emotional Intensity
Some
Moderate psychological complexity; wrongful execution theme; identity and class in English society
What this book is about
A clergyman approaches Inspector Wexford with a troubling question: was the man hanged sixteen years ago for the murder of his parents actually guilty? As Wexford re-examines the old case, he discovers layers of concealment and misidentification that suggest a terrible miscarriage of justice. The second Wexford novel introduces Rendell's characteristic interest in the intersection of class, identity, and guilt.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Wrongful execution theme
Historical murder
Reader Verification
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