Two British Gold Dagger award-winning crime writers appearing together was certainly a star attraction on 15 August at the Edinburgh Book Festival. Rankin introduced Rendell as the writer of over 60 books. "I've lost count" she admits drily - starting with "From Doon with Death" her first Detective Wexford novel published in 1964.
Rendell read from the first chapter of her latest novel, "Not in the Flesh," her latest Wexford thriller. A man out walking with his dog, hunting for truffles, sniffs out a human hand. The plot delves into the everyday police scenario in the search for missing persons and how to identify someone from a ten year old corpse.
Rankin asked Rendell how she decides on the story or theme for a new novel. "I get an idea from someone telling me an anecdote or something I read in the newspaper."
She described how she has gradually developed Wexford's personality, now more liberal, literate, funnier and softer, complimenting Burden's high moral tone. The novels have moved with the times, covering topical issues, racism, road rage, domestic violence and dysfunctional families. With regard to the Wexford television series, Rendell admitted that at first she did not feel that George Barker was right for the role - "too handsome", (but now he's wonderful), and that Christopher Ravenscroft was "Burden made flesh."
Finally, she explained why she needs two authorial names for her different styles of writing. Her non-detective novels by Barbara Vine are psychological thrillers, rich in suspense. And the prolific writer that she is, she delighted fans with the news that she has just completed a new Barbara Vine thriller, "The Birthday Present," due out next Spring.
"Not in the Flesh" by Ruth Rendell, published by Hutchinson.