Review: 13 Steps Down by Ruth Rendell

If asked, most people can name a couple mystery writers without much trouble, but Ruth Rendell is a mystery/suspense author who I had not heard of until recently. I’ve always enjoyed a good suspense story, and they help keep my reading from being overwhelmed by books on serious subjects. Rendell’s books are particularly enjoyable because they are clever in a way that not all mystery writers manage to be.

13 Steps Down is about a man named Mix Cellini who is obsessed with a serial killer who had lived in his neighborhood years ago. Mix rents a small apartment in the house of an elderly, reclusive woman who needs extra money. Both are isolated from the outside world and their companionship does little for the mental well-being of either.

If nothing else, this novel may be one useful in motivating procrastinators. The antagonist of 13 Steps Down is constantly putting things off when he can’t afford to. He regularly offers very sensible sounding reasons as to why he puts off urgent tasks, for example: going to work, hiding incriminating evidence, etc. Even though the reader knows that he is a dangerous, delusional man, it is so frustrating listening to him put off so many important tasks.

Also, women in suspense novels always seem to have male protectors that are investigating the crimes against them. Though this is partially the case in 13 Steps Down, Rendell manages to impress me with the independence of her female characters. Possibly my favorite part of this novel is at the end when we get an unexpected affirmation of one character’s self-sufficiency.