''One Across, Two Down'' is a psychological suspense novel by British 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 ...

. It was first published in 1971. In 1976, it was made into the film, ''

Diary of the Dead ''Diary of the Dead'' (promoted as ''George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead'') is a 2007 American found footage horror film written and directed by George A. Romero. Although independently produced, it was distributed theatrically by The Weinst ...

'' by

Arvin Brown Arvin Brown (born May 24, 1940) is an American theatre and television director. He was the Artistic Director of the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut for 30 years. Life and career Born in Los Angeles, California, Brown made his Bro ...

, written by I.C. Rapoport, and starring

Geraldine Fitzgerald Geraldine Mary Fitzgerald (November 24, 1913 – July 17, 2005) was an Irish actress and a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame. In 2020, she was listed at number 30 on '' The Irish Times'' list of Ireland's greatest film actors. Early ...

and

Hector Elizondo In Greek mythology, Hector (; grc, Ἕκτωρ, Hektōr, label=none, ) is a character in Homer's Iliad. He was a Trojan prince and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. Hector led the Trojans and their allies in the defense o ...

Plot

Stanley Manning is a fortysomething petrol-station attendant and hobbyist crossword puzzler who lives with his wife, Vera, and mother-in-law, Maud. Maud is a controlling elderly woman who despises Stanley as a ne’er-do-well, based partly on his conviction prior to meeting Vera for mugging an old woman. They make Vera's life unhappy as they bicker every day, but on learning that Maud has £20,000 (£284,825 as of 2019, per inflation) due in her will to Vera, Stanley plans to deal with Maud once and for all by interfering with her medication. Things go steadily wrong when Maud's friend Ethel comes to stay, and soon Stanley's crosswords become an obsession as he tries to stay calm in the face of danger on several fronts.

References

1971 British novels Novels by Ruth Rendell Hutchinson (publisher) books British novels adapted into films {{1970s-crime-novel-stub