The Birthday Present

by: Barbara Vine

Published by: Shaye Areheart Books

Reviewed by Sharon Broom

Ivor Tesham is young, single, highly sexed–and a bit kinky. His political star is rising in Britain when he meets the beautiful and very married housewife, Hebe Furnal, the mother of one child, wife of Gerry. The affair is abruptly terminated when Hebe dies in a car accident that was meant to be a mock kidnapping that was part of her sexual playacting with Ivor.

The police determine Hebe’s death as a case of mistaken identity, and Ivor seems to have avoided discovery as her lover. But five years following Hebe’s death, things become undone. Someone knows details about Ivor’s relationship with Hebe and her death. If Ivor’s role in Hebe’s life is discovered, his political future will be over.

The story is slowly and painfully revealed from the perspective of Ivor’s brother-in-law, Rob Delgado, an accountant, and Hebe’s “so-called” friend, Jane Atherton, who provided the alibis for Hebe when she was seeing Ivor.

Barbara Vine examines her characters thoughtfully. She knows exactly what each one will do in every circumstance that arises. Their personalities and behavior mimics, in many ways, the cruel part that exists in all of us to some degree. The clarity with which Vine unfolds the story, and the characters’ agendas, is breathtaking. My only criticism is that the “unfolding” is somewhat drawn out and tedious at times. That said, The Birthday Present is well worth the time.

Armchair Interviews says: Barbara Vine is the pseudonym of Ruth Rendell who has won three Edgar Awards and four Gold Daggers.