Review for a reread of "A sleeping life" read April 2023. Given current a current political brouhaha (which one I'll not say as it will spoil a major plot point) I remembered that Rendell had written a Wexford mystery that dealt with this theme, so I thought I'd revisit it to see how well it stood up. Pleased to say it did so very well - yes there are are outdated attitudes (published 1978), and opinions that may make the modern reader cringe a little, but Wexford's compassion and willingness to question his own attitudes (a theme of the series) makes this very re-readable. What's the story you may say? A body of an overdressed middle aged woman is found stabbed to death on the outskirts of Kingsmarkham, a woman who grew up there but who had made her life in London and who only returned for duty visits to her elderly father. Wexford and his team are sure that the motive for her murder must lie in her London life, a life that seems mysteriously blank... ( )