The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

Épisode 1 - Wolf to the Slaughter: Part One

2 août 1987

One evening, someone messes up a love-nest on a side street in a small country town. The carpet is soaked with human blood, but there is no body to be found. Meanwhile, a beautiful, promiscuous woman goes missing - as does the bundle of cash she was carrying. But Wexford and Burden have different theories about the disappearance of the eccentric Anita Margolis.

Épisode 2 - Wolf to the Slaughter: Part Two

9 août 1987

Épisode 3 - Wolf to the Slaughter: Part Three

16 août 1987

Épisode 4 - Wolf to the Slaughter: Part Four

23 août 1987

Épisode 1 - A Guilty Thing Surprised: Part One

19 juin 1988

Wexford finds he is dealing with a very nasty case when nature-loving Elizabeth Nightingale is murdered on one of her nightly walks through the woods around Myfleet Manor.

Épisode 2 - A Guilty Thing Surprised: Part Two

26 juin 1988

Épisode 3 - A Guilty Thing Surprised: Part Three

3 juillet 1988

Épisode 4 - Shake Hands Forever: Part One

23 septembre 1988

Angela Hathall is murdered, but Wexford can find no motive and no suspect. Maybe she picked up a stranger who killed her?The line Wexford follows alienates not just his colleagues, including Mike Burden, but his wife, too.

Épisode 5 - Shake Hands Forever: Part Two

30 septembre 1988

Épisode 6 - Shake Hands Forever: Part Three

7 octobre 1988

Épisode 7 - No Crying He Makes

23 décembre 1988

On Christmas Eve, Wexford and Burden are called to the Kingsmarkham Hospital. A baby has been stolen from its pram and another baby left behind in its place, and it seems that the mother of the stolen child may also be in danger.

Épisode 1 - No More Dying Then: Part One

22 octobre 1989

The Kingsmarkham police investigate the disappearance of John Lawrence, a five-year-old boy.Seven-and-a-half months after he goes missing, mad, taunting letters begin to arrive, and another child, Stella Rivers, vanishes.

Épisode 2 - No More Dying Then: Part Two

29 octobre 1989

Épisode 3 - No More Dying Then: Part Three

5 novembre 1989

Épisode 4 - A Sleeping Life: Part One

12 novembre 1989

Wexford investigates when the dead body of a middle aged woman is found in a hedge - but there are no clues to the woman's identity, let alone any clues that might lead to her killer.

Épisode 5 - A Sleeping Life: Part Two

19 novembre 1989

Épisode 6 - A Sleeping Life: Part Three

26 novembre 1989

Épisode 7 - The Veiled One

17 décembre 1989

Gwen Robson, a middle-aged housewife who proves to have been a blackmailer, is found garotted in the car park of a suburban shopping mall. Wexford is no sooner on the case than a car bomb goes off and all but kills him, putting him in hospital. This leaves Mike Burden with the task of solving the case, but he goes off on the wrong scent. Wexford's analysis is better, though.

Épisode 1 - Some Lie and Some Die: Part One

30 septembre 1990

The Kingsmarkham rock festival is going smoothly until the disfigured body of of a local girl, thought to be living in London, is found in a nearby quarry. Wexford investigates the links between a charismatic singer and a young woman gone to the bad.

Épisode 2 - Some Lie and Some Die: Part Two

7 octobre 1990

Épisode 3 - Some Lie and Some Die: Part Three

14 octobre 1990

Épisode 4 - The Best Man to Die: Part One

21 octobre 1990

Wexford joins forces with the bridegroom when his best man is killed at the stag party. And Charlie Hatton's death is only the first in a string of murders which seem to be about cheating husbands, loose women and gangsters.

Épisode 5 - The Best Man to Die: Part Two

28 octobre 1990

Épisode 6 - The Best Man to Die: Part Three

4 novembre 1990

Épisode 7 - An Unkindness of Ravens: Part One

11 novembre 1990

Rodney Williams disappears and then his body found in the woods. Wexford investigates and finds more than one mystery.

Épisode 8 - An Unkindness of Ravens: Part Two

18 novembre 1990

Épisode 9 - Pas de titre

Épisode 1 - A New Lease of Death: Part One

29 septembre 1991

A local clergyman is anxious to re-open a thirty-year-old murder case, which resulted in Harry Painter being hanged for the axe-murder of an elderly woman. Wexford himself, as a young detective sergeant, helped to convict Painter, and he has to face the possibility that the wrong man was hanged.

Épisode 2 - A New Lease of Death: Part Two

6 octobre 1991

Épisode 3 - A New Lease of Death: Part Three

13 octobre 1991

Épisode 4 - Murder Being Once Done: Part One

20 octobre 1991

Wexford is staying in London with his nephew Howard, a police superintendent, convalescing from over-work and under doctor's orders to drink only water. He is supposed to be resting, but he is bored, and his nephew is dealing with a fascinating murder case. The body of a young woman, Loveday Morgan, was found in Kenbourne Vale Cemetery, strangled with a silk scarf, and the only things in her handbag were a photograph and two telephone numbers. It appears that she had no money and was living under a false name. Wexford, keen to get out and about, is drawn to the case. His unofficial investigation uncovers a story of adoption and parental love.

Épisode 5 - Murder Being Once Done: Part Two

27 octobre 1991

Épisode 6 - Murder Being Once Done: Part Three

3 novembre 1991

Épisode 7 - From Doon with Death: Part One

10 novembre 1991

Margaret Parsons, a fairly ordinary housewife who, with her water board official husband Ron, has recently moved to Kingsmarkham, is found murdered in a field. Mrs. Parsons led an extremely uneventful life, being a lay preacher, but Inspector Wexford is intrigued when he is looking through her belongings and fine a number of expensive antique books all inscribed 'From Doon to Minna'.Who is Doon?

Épisode 8 - From Doon with Death: Part Two

17 novembre 1991

Although Mr. Parsons is under the impression that he and his wife knew nobody in Kingsmarkham it turns out that Margaret had two school acquaintances in the town, Helen Missal and Fabia Quadrant, who are now both married to very wealthy men. Wexford assumes that one of these men is Doon, and was having an affair with the victim, but appearances can be deceptive

Épisode 9 - Means of Evil: Part One

24 novembre 1991

Inspector Wexford is confronted with a murder in a vegetarian family and wonders how many kinds of mushrooms there are.

Épisode 10 - Means of Evil: Part Two

1 décembre 1991

Épisode 11 - Achilles Heel

26 décembre 1991

Wexford goes on holiday to Corsica and on arriving home receives a call from a man he met there who claims his wife has been kidnapped. Wexford investigates and finds that the missing woman is in fact dead.

Épisode 1 - The Speaker of Mandarin: Part One

27 septembre 1992

Wexford is in China on a study tour of historic sites. To his amazement, he has psychic experiences, including a vision of the body of a Chinese nobleman dead for two thousand years. Wexford's tour party is made up of strangers, but he feels tense and claustrophobic among them. Then a young Chinese student drowns during the trip. On his return to England, Wexford is called to a murder scene, and the dead woman, who has been shot, was one of those with him on his Chinese trip. There is no obvious motive, and he decides to investigate all his fellow tourists, finding hidden greed, treachery, theft, and adultery.

Épisode 2 - The Speaker of Mandarin: Part Two

4 octobre 1992

Épisode 3 - The Speaker of Mandarin: Part Three

11 octobre 1992

Épisode 4 - The Mouse in the Corner: Part One

18 octobre 1992

Tom Peterlee, a member of a large family who live in three adjoining cottages, is murdered. Eva, his mother is quite cavalier in reaction to his death in Wexford's opinion and other family members are no more helpful. Heather, his widow, seems dumb with grief and his brother and meek sister-in-law are similarly evasive. Family friend Carol is more forthcoming, providing Heather with an alibi, but Wexford is sure one of the Peterlees is a killer. Burden has problems of his own when his daughter starts dating a married man and a series of ramraids in Kingsmarkham add to Wexford's problems.

Épisode 5 - The Mouse in the Corner: Part Two

25 octobre 1992

Épisode 6 - An Unwanted Woman: Part One

1 novembre 1992

Wexford investigates the killing of an elderly woman. Harry and Doreen Betts of Kingsmarkham are suspected of murdering their mother. But did they do it, or have they been framed?

Épisode 7 - An Unwanted Woman: Part Two

8 novembre 1992

Épisode 8 - Kissing the Gunner's Daughter: Part One

15 novembre 1992

A Kingsmarkham police sergeant dies, carrying a replica gun he had taken from his young son... Then, one year later, Wexford is called to Tancred House, where Davina Flory and her family lie shot dead in a pool of blood. The only survivor is seventeen-year-old Daisy Flory. There are no other witnesses, and the two possible suspects have vanished into thin air. Then a blackmailer is found dangling from a tree... Wexford slowly uncovers a web of motives, greed, illicit sex, and revenge.

Épisode 9 - Kissing the Gunner's Daughter: Part Two

22 novembre 1992

Épisode 10 - Kissing the Gunner's Daughter: Part Three

29 novembre 1992

Épisode 11 - Kissing the Gunner's Daughter: Part Four

6 décembre 1992

Épisode 12 - Talking to Strange Men

27 décembre 1992

John Creevey has recently separated from his wife Jennifer and is still obsessed with her and Peter Mullin, the new man in her life. Many years ago his sister Cherry had been murdered and her fiancé, Mark Simms, now John's best friend, had been the prime suspect. When the police reopen the case and Simms is again under suspicion, John begins to doubt his friend's innocence, until Mark tells him of sordid details about Cherry's promiscuous past - and her relationship with Peter Mullin. When John discovers a series of coded messages hidden beneath a railway bridge, he throws himself into solving them, as a way of taking his mind off Jennifer. He believes that he has uncovered the communications of a gang of terrorists, not realising that it is just schoolboys at rival public sc

Épisode 1 - Master of the Moor: Part One

2 septembre 1994

Stephen Whalby is a young man living on the edge of the Moor, where since childhood he has spent most of his time alone. A string of young women, all with fair hair, are killed on the Moor, and suddenly Stephen finds himself the principal police suspect.

Épisode 2 - Master of the Moor: Part Two

9 septembre 1994

Part two of three. Stephen's passion for the moor fuels the detective's suspicions, as his neglected wife is driven into the arms of danger.

Épisode 3 - Master of the Moor: Part Three

16 septembre 1994

Conclusion. A secret hideaway from Stephen's childhood leads to him uncovering the identity of the Master of the Moor.

Épisode 1 - Vanity Dies Hard: Part One

24 mars 1995

Andrew Fielding, a good-looking young teacher, marries Alice Whittaker, a rich woman in her late thirties, more than ten years older than he is. All seems well until Alice introduces Andrew to Nesta Drage, her best friend, who quickly vanishes without trace. Meanwhile, Alice more and more doubts whether Andrew loves her - and if he is just a gold-digger, might he have something to do with Nesta's disappearance? Alice begins a search for Nesta - but Andrew does his best to tie his wife to the house.

Épisode 2 - Vanity Dies Hard: Part Two

31 mars 1995

Bride-to-be Alice Whittaker's marriage plans are thrown into turmoil by the disappearance of a close friend opposed to her impending nuptials. Disregarding assurances that there is nothing to worry about, Alice sets out to investigate - and soon uncovers evidence of foul play lurking just beneath the surface of local life.

Épisode 3 - Vanity Dies Hard: Part Three

7 avril 1995

The spinster's suspicions grow when her best friend mysteriously disappears, and as illness takes control she realises her ally was murdered.

Épisode 4 - The Strawberry Tree: Part One

21 avril 1995

Petra Summers is an attractive middle-aged woman with a past - and her past life is beginning to come back to haunt her. When Petra Sunderton's elder brother Piers falls in love with their Spanish cousin Rosario, the consequences are far-reaching.

Épisode 5 - The Strawberry Tree: Part Two

28 avril 1995

Continuing the drama about a wealthy widow who still grieves the loss of her brother.Petra is lonely. Will's constant attention is no consolation for the loss of her brother Piers. Then she receives a visit from two strangers claiming to be Piers and cousin Rosario, and her past begins to catch up with her.

Épisode 6 - Heartstones (1)

1 janvier 1996

Luke Crossland is a respectable widowed Church of England clergyman, with an important job in a cathedral, but his wife's death came about in strange circumstances, and now Luke's eldest daughter wants to know more about what happened...

Épisode 7 - Heartstones (2)

1 janvier 1996

Luke Crossland is a respectable widowed Church of England clergyman, with an important job in a cathedral, but his wife's death came about in strange circumstances, and now Luke's eldest daughter wants to know more about what happened...

Épisode 1 - Simisola: Part One

26 janvier 1996

At first, this mystery seems to be a missing person case: Wexford's doctor asks for help in finding his daughter, Melanie Akande, a recent college graduate who disappeared after going to her local unemployment office to find a job. The Akandes are an immigrant family from Nigeria, living in a rural area where only a handful of black people live. The woman who handled Melanie's case at the unemployment office, also young and black, is found murdered a few days later. Could the disappearance and the murder be connected? Wexford begins to face up to subtly racist attitudes.

Épisode 2 - Simisola: Part Two

2 février 1996

Wexford visits the victim of another attempted murder in hospital, and notices a pink Volkswagen Beetle in the car park. Later, another attempt is made on her life. The car is traced to the Epson family, who are away, having left their children with a childminder - who turns out to be Melanie Akande. Wexford closes in on the link - Annette Bystock and Zack Nelson.

Épisode 3 - Simisola: Part Three

9 février 1996

Épisode 4 - The Secret House of Death: Part One

8 mars 1996

Susan Townsend is a young woman who goes to see her reclusive next-door neighbour and finds him hacked to death. When another body is found on the neighbour's property, Susan gets mixed up in a tale of mayhem and murder, with the killer adding her to his list of future victims.

Épisode 5 - The Secret House of Death: Part Two

15 mars 1996

Part two of two. Susan Townsend finds herself in danger as details of the double killing begin to emerge.

Épisode 6 - A Case Of Coincidence: Part One

22 mars 1996

The action begins in the year 1954, when a woman's body is found in the fen-land of Norfolk, and a murder investigation gets under way. In the end, Detective Inspectors Masters and Moore find themselves dealing with the deaths of five women, all apparently by the hand of the same murderer. A young man becomes their principal suspect - but is he really a serial killer?

Épisode 7 - A Case Of Coincidence: Part Two

29 mars 1996

Part two of two. Eddie Brannel's protests of innocence urge Masters to go against orders, and as a consequence he learns the true identity of the killer.

Épisode 1 - The Double

3 janvier 1997

Lisa meets Zoe, who is as much like her as an identical twin, but entirely out of the common rut - and dramatic events ensue which change both their lives.

Épisode 2 - Bribery and Corruption: Part One

17 janvier 1997

Nicholas Hawthorne is a young engineer, recently made redundant and looking for a job in the boat-building industry. He has a very realistic nightmare about a woman being murdered. Then, on an unsuccessful dinner date, Nicholas spots Julian Sorensen, the boss of the firm which has laid him off, and the woman with him isn't his wife. Sorensen pays Nicholas's dinner bill. The next day, trying to pay back the money, Nicholas sees a photograph of Sorensen's wife - and she is the woman who was killed in his dream... Nicholas decides to investigate.

Épisode 3 - Bribery and Corruption: Part Two

24 janvier 1997

Part two of two. Nick's attempted suicide implicates him in Emma's death and Annabel casts light on the mystery.

Épisode 4 - Thornapple

31 janvier 1997

A boy obsessively collects poisons - and then he tries them out, with deadly results.

Épisode 5 - May and June: Part One

7 février 1997

May Thrace and June Symonds are sisters, but their lives are very different. While June lives in the lap of luxury, May is struggling. And May becomes convinced that she has been done a great injustice.

Épisode 6 - May and June: Part Two

14 février 1997

Épisode 7 - Front Seat

21 février 1997

Hugh and Cecily Branksome retire to the seaside town where they grew up. There they meet again Arnold Cottle, an old boyfriend of Cecily's. She goes to look for a public seat given to the town by her late father, who was a local alderman, and finds it was destroyed and later replaced by another seat given by a suspected murderer. With Arnold's help, she sets out to investigate the unsolved murder.

Épisode 8 - A Dark Blue Perfume

15 août 1997

Épisode 1 - Going Wrong: Part One

2 juin 1998

As a teenager, Guy Curran leads a street gang and for three years is the lover of Leonora, whose middle-class background is a world away from his own. Leonora's family disapprove of her boyfriend. As the years pass, they drift apart. Guy becomes a successful business man and Leonora goes to college and then gets her first job. When they meet again, Leonora says there is now someone else in her life, but Guy can't accept this. His obsession deepens and turns into a murderous madness...

Épisode 2 - Going Wrong: Part Two

9 juin 1998

Part two. While attending a party with Celeste, Guy argues with Leonora's brother. He then asks Danny to kill him - but when he learns of an impending marriage, Guy realises he has targeted the wrong man.

Épisode 3 - Going Wrong: Part Three

16 juin 1998

Part three of three. After losing the fight with William, Guy decides to forget Leonora and make it up to Celeste, but a surprise invitation rekindles his old obsession and leads to tragedy.

Épisode 4 - Road Rage: Part One

8 novembre 1998

A Kingsmarkham bypass is planned which will take congestion and air pollution out of the town but put tarmac and heavy traffic through a stretch of much-loved countryside. Feelings are running high on both sides. An attractive young German tourist has disappeared, and when her decomposing body is found it is not clear whether the crime is part of a conspiracy or sex-related. Wexford is about to become a grandfather and is struggling to cope with family life and to do his job at the same time. Meanwhile, Dora Wexford has joined the anti-bypass campaign. The murder case continues, and the anti-bypass campaign escalates. People begin to be kidnapped, and this is linked to a militant group of environmental extremists. Under pressure on all fronts, Wexford keeps his cool (even when his wife is kidnapped on the day his daughter gives birth) and pursues the law-breakers to the bitter end.

Épisode 5 - Road Rage: Part Two

9 novembre 1998

A girl's badly decomposed body is found, and cabdriver Stanley Trotter is suspected of murder.

Épisode 6 - You Can't Be Too Careful

24 décembre 1998

A psychological tale of two women who share an apartment, one outgoing and irresponsible, the other shy and neurotic. One day, the chemistry between them leads to sinister events

Épisode 7 - The Orchard Walls

31 décembre 1998

n England, in June 1941, sixteen-year-old Jenny is evacuated from war-torn London to her Aunt Ella's house in rural Hampshire. The elderly Mrs Thorn is preoccupied with thoughts of her son, away fighting the Germans in North Africa, Uncle Daniel is dismal, and Aunt Ella is acting oddly. Then Jenny discovers a secret, with tragic results.

Épisode 8 - The Lake of Darkness

3 mai 1999

tuffy young accountant Martin Urban wins a fortune on the football pools, with the help of his friend Tim Sage, and plans to give it away. But then he meets and falls for Francesca, who, alas, is promised to another... Martin is drawn another way, which may even lead to murder.

Épisode 9 - The Fallen Curtain

6 août 1999

In the present day, a man goes back to the place where, as a small boy, he disappeared for a day. The circumstances were mysterious at the time and have yet to be explained.

Épisode 10 - Harm Done

11 octobre 2000

Young Lizzie Crowne goes missing on the Muriel Campden housing estate, and a hunt for her body is under way when she turns up again. Another teenage girl vanishes on the same estate. Then, just after an elderly paedophile is released from prison, the three-year-old daughter of Fay and Stephen Devenish disappears, leaving them distraught. With the police apparently impotent, residents decide to take the law into their own hands.