A Glimpse into the Life of the Author
Ruth Rendell (1930-2015) was a distinguished English author who carved a distinct niche in the realm of crime fiction, psychological thrillers, and mystery novels. Much like P.D. James, she took the mystery subgenre a step further, transforming it into more of a ‘whydunit’ than a ‘whodunit’. Her literary finesse is best encapsulated in her widely acclaimed Inspector Wexford series. Not only did she write under her own name but also adopted the pseudonym Barbara Vine.
The Beginning of a Literary Era
Ruth Rendell’s literary journey commenced with ‘From Doon With Death’ in 1964. This pioneering work served as the stepping stone towards the creation of her Inspector Wexford series.
The Panoramic View of Ruth Rendell’s Books in Order
Below is a comprehensive list of Ruth Rendell’s books in order based on their original release dates and their chronological progression:
Publication Order of Inspector Wexford Books
| From Doon With Death | (1964) |    |
| Sins of the Fathers / A New Lease of Death | (1967) | |
| Wolf to the Slaughter | (1967) | |
| The Best Man to Die | (1969) | |
| A Guilty Thing Surprised | (1970) | |
| No More Dying Then | (1971) | |
| Murder Being Once Done | (1972) | |
| Some Lie and Some Die | (1973) | |
| Shake Hands Forever | (1975) | |
| A Sleeping Life | (1978) | |
| Death Notes / Put On By Cunning | (1981) | |
| Speaker of Mandarin | (1983) | |
| An Unkindness of Ravens | (1985) | |
| The Veiled One | (1988) | |
| Kissing the Gunner’s Daughter | (1992) | |
| Ginger and the Kingsmarkham | (1992) | |
| Simisola | (1994) | |
| Road Rage | (1997) | |
| Harm Done | (1999) | |
| The Babes in the Wood | (2002) | |
| End in Tears | (2005) | |
| Not in the Flesh | (2007) | |
| The Monster in the Box | (2009) | |
| The Vault | (2011) | |
| No Man’s Nightingale | (2013) | |