One of Rendell's best (and Rendell never disappoints). An investigation into kidnapping and murder become personal for Inspector Wexford when his beloved wife, Dora, is among a group of hostages taken by an apparently radical conservation group who want a highway bypass project halted permanently. We see a very human Wexford here, who (along with his wife) sympathizes with those who want the project halted to spare forestland, wetlands, and wildlife. We see him in despair when his wife is taken hostage, but a shortage of police man-power preclude his superiors from taking him off the case. A great, fast-paced read.
Gena S. (SouthernDestiny) -
Inspector Wexford case this time involves something more personal. This time his wife Dora has been taken hostage and he fears for her life. In "Road Rage," the respected inspector looks closely at an environmental issue, as construction of a new highway is about to render the harmonious setting of Kingsmarkham asunder. Dora happens to be actively engaged in opposing the construction, so much so that she is kidnapped. It is up to Wexford to unravel all the knots in this case, and to try to stay as professional as possible in so doing. The kidnappers have threatened to kill their hostages if their demands are not met. Wexford and trusty assistant Mike Burden are put to the test in this thriller.
The woods outside of Kingsmarkham were lovely, dark, and deep. And they were about to vanish forever when the new highway cut through them. While Chief Inspector Wexford privately despaired about the loss of his hiking grounds, local residents and outsiders were organizing a massive protest. Some of them were desperate enough to kidnap five hostages and threaten to kill them. One hostage was Wexford's wife, Dora. Now, combining high technology with his extraordinary detecting skills, Wexford and his team race to find the kidnappers' whereabouts. Because someone has crossed from political belief to fanaticism, and as the first body is found, good intentions may become Wexford's personal path to hell.
