Thirteen Steps Down cover art

Thirteen Steps Down

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Thirteen Steps Down

By: Ruth Rendell
Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
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About this listen

Mix Cellini (which he pronounces with an S rather than a C) is superstitious about the number 13 and has always felt dogged by ill-luck. In the house where he lives, there are 13 steps down to the landing below his rooms. His landlady lives her life almost exclusively through her library, blind to the neglect and decay around her. However, Mix is obsessed with the life of the notorious John Christie, who lived in the same Notting Hill neighbourhood at 10 Rillington Place. He is also infatuated with a beautiful woman who lives near-by, a model who wouldn’t look twice at him. Both landlady and lodger are caught up in their own psychologically twisted parallel worlds. But when reality intrudes into Mix's life, a long pent-up violence explodes.

©2004 Kingsmarkham Enterprises Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Crime Thrillers Mystery Psychological Thriller Thriller & Suspense Fiction Scary Suspense

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All stars
Most relevant  
I found all the characters interesting and engaging. The story has good pace and is exceptionally well narrated. Well worth the time spent on it

Great characters

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Really enjoyed this one well read and exciting to the end. I know some of the locations so well so atmospheric.

Enthralling

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Yes, this book is dark -- it's about serial killers -- but it's also bloody funny. Rendell is commonly known for being a bit formal, buttoned up, but she can be wildly funny in the blackest variety. The final chapter in the book -- cited by some as disappointing -- is a brilliantly jaundiced endorsement of the kind of misanthropic attitude the author dramatises throughout. Rendell is a superb chronicler of human weakness, hence all the fantasists here, and how the best laid plans turn to la merde. A wonderfully jaded book.

Black comedy -- Rendell's most underrated quality

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This novel, in which exercise machine engineer, Mix Cellini becomes obsessed with a local model, Nerissa Nash. He lives in a large dilapidated house in Notting Hill owned by the elderly bluestocking curmogen, Gwendolyn Chawcher. This being Rendell, Mix's intense interest in local serial killer Reginald Christie (of 10 Rillington Place fame) begins to take over his whole existence.

I suppose that the sheer output of Rendell must have made her repeat a few characters along the way. Also, many of her third person psychopaths began to gel into one character. This novel in particular, reminded me very much of the plot and characterisation of 'Going Wrong'.

That said, it's classic Rendell, so lie back and enjoy. As ever, the versatile vocal talents of the narrator, Ric Jerrom, are an aural treat.

Thirteen Steps Down

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Continuing to work through the non-Wexford novels - this one did not disappoint. Well narrated, a creepy story with some disturbed characters, darkly comic in parts.
I love her rich use of language, and as usual, her elderly ladies have fabulous vocabularies and great lines.
Recommended.

Creepy thriller well narrated and at times funny

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Found it a little dull and drawn out but narrator was ok he is a creepy character and the old woman a typical nosy Parker

Thirteen steps

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Loved this story, enhanced by the excellent narration. Darkly funny at times. Didn’t want it to end. The old lady characters were spot on

A really good read

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I loved it, for people brave enough to have watched the chilling creepy Attenborough portrayal of the 10 Rillington Place story. Warning: Mind out for old fashioned language, values etc as won't be 'PC' enough for any snowflakes in need of constant hugs to understand the old days and old ways.

The Christie murders had me hooked from the start!

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Brilliant book, up until about 5 minutes before the end! such a shame! I love Ruth Rendell, but the ending just ruined the book for me

fizzled out unfortunately

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This although well narrated seemed to just go on and on not her best work

Too long goes nowhere

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