A new lease of death, by Ruth Rendell

In this second book in Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford mystery series, both Inspector Wexford and his DI Mike Burdon take a back seat in the plot which is lead primarily by the Reverend Archery who is looking into a 16 year old crime. Herbert Painter was found guilty of the murder of his employer and was ultimately executed. Now his daughter and Archery's son want to marry, but the Reverend is concerned by his son marrying the daughter of a murderer and wants to revisit the case. He proceeds to interview people associated with the case including the convicted murderer's widow and her new husband, the victim's maid, and the neighbors from across the street who found the body. They begin to suspect the victim's grandson, and Archery's son Charlie goes as far as accusing him. Throughout the book they continue to check in with Wexford who eventually (spoiler alert) exonerates the grandson. However, their investigations do provide proof that (another spoiler alert), the convicted man was in fact, and further, they find evidence that removes Archery's objections to his son's marriage. Throughout it all, Rendell's writing is top-notch. And in spite of the book being published in 1967, it doesn't have a sense of being dated (perhaps aside from all the smoking), unlike the Inspector Morse series, which I read and reviewed here a while ago. For more reviews: www.bookshighandlow.blogspot.com.