About “A Judgement in Stone”
A Judgement in Stone is a 1977 novel by Ruth Rendell. On Valentine's Day, four members of the Coverdale family—George, Jacqueline, Melinda, and Giles—are murdered in 15 minutes by their housekeeper, Eunice Parchman, during a televised performance of Don Giovanni. Detective Chief Superintendent William Vetch arrests Eunice two weeks later and uncovers a hidden tragedy tied to her long-kept secret. The novel explores character, motive, and the pursuit of truth. It is considered one of Rendell’s finest psychological thrillers. Critics have praised it highly, with the London Daily Express calling it an amazing achievement and Time naming Rendell the best mystery writer in the English-speaking world.
Praise for “A Judgement in Stone”
“Rendell writes with such elegance and restraint, with such literary voice and an insightful mind, that she transcends the mystery genre and achieves something almost sublime.”
“It will be an amazing achievement if [Rendell] ever writes a better book.”
“Ruth Rendell is the best mystery writer in the English-speaking world.”
Book details
- Published
- 1977
- Latest edition
- 2000 · ISBN 0375704965
- ISBN
- 9780307557186
View more editions (10)
| Cover | Edition | Year | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | A judgement in stone | 2000 | 0375704965 | Buy on Amazon |
| A judgement in stone | 1987 | 0862202248 | Buy on Amazon | |
| Judgement in Stone | 1987 | 9780745162317 | Buy on Amazon | |
| Judgement in Stone | 1987 | 9780553262858 | Buy on Amazon | |
| A Judgement in Stone | 1983 | 9780891908883 | Buy on Amazon | |
 | A Judgement in Stone | 1981 | 9780553148312 | Buy on Amazon |
 | A judgment in stone | 1979 | 9780553121728 | Buy on Amazon |
 | A judgement in stone | 1978 | 0816166048 | Buy on Amazon |
 | A judgement in stone | 1978 | 0385132239 | Buy on Amazon |
| | A Judgement in Stone | 1977 | 9780307557186 | Buy on Amazon |
Frequently asked questions
How many pages is A Judgement in Stone?
A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell has 190 pages.
More by Ruth Rendell
Book descriptions, author biographies, award records and review quotes on this page are courtesy of Penguin Random House.