Bibliofemme Reviews
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A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine 
(Published by Penguin Books Ltd)
A Dark-Adapted Eye is actually written by Ruth Rendell using a pseudonym, which allowed her to depart from her usual detective team of Wexford and Burden without alienating any of her fans.
The book tells the story of the Hillyard family; a just about middle class family in the middle of World War II. We have Vera and her twin brother and their much younger sister Eden. The story is told through the eyes of Faith, Vera's niece and she recounts the harrowing tale of her aunt being hanged for murder and the events leading up to her death.
Vera is domineering and possessive who raises her younger sister like her daughter, dotes on her eldest son who detests her with a vengeance and when her second son is born all her affection is heaped on him - but who is his father?
Spinning the tale of a 1940's murder mystery is never easy, but Rendell does an incredible job and this book is quite simple gripping. 
Awards
1986 Edgar Award for best mystery novel
June 2002
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