''The Vault'' is a novel by British crime-writer

Ruth Rendell Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, (; 17 February 1930 – 2 May 2015) was an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries. Rendell is best known for creating Chief Inspector Wexford.The Oxford Companion ...

, published in 2011. The novel is the 23rd in the

Inspector Wexford Chief Inspector Reginald "Reg" Wexford is a recurring character in a series of detective novels by English crime writer Ruth Rendell. He made his first appearance in the author's 1964 debut '' From Doon With Death'', and has since been the prota ...

series. It is a sequel to her previous standalone novel '' A Sight For Sore Eyes''. The novel is the first sequel Rendell has written, and the first to feature Wexford in retirement.

Plot summary

Reg and Dora Wexford have moved from

Kingsmarkham Chief Inspector Reginald "Reg" Wexford is a recurring character in a series of detective novels by English crime writer Ruth Rendell. He made his first appearance in the author's 1964 debut ''From Doon With Death'', and has since been the protag ...

to a renovated London Coachhouse owned by their daughter Sheila. Although Wexford has retired he acts as a consultant to a friend who works for the

Metropolitan Police The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), formerly and still commonly known as the Metropolitan Police (and informally as the Met Police, the Met, Scotland Yard, or the Yard), is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and ...

. Together they investigate the mystery of the remains of four bodies which have been discovered in Orcadia Cottage, an old house situated in the suburb of St. John's Wood.

References

2011 British novels Novels by Ruth Rendell British mystery novels Novels set in London Inspector Wexford series Hutchinson (publisher) books {{2010s-crime-novel-stub