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Best-selling British crime writer Ruth Rendell, who wrote over 60 books in a career spanning five decades, died today at the age of 85, her publisher said.
Updated : May 02, 2015, 09:10 PM IST
Best-selling British crime writer Ruth Rendell, who wrote over 60 books in a career spanning five decades, died today at the age of 85, her publisher said.
Rendell suffered a stroke in January and had been in a critical condition in hospital. In a statement, Penguin Random House said: "We are devastated by the loss of one of our best-loved authors".
"We will miss her enormously," it added.
Gail Rebuck, chair of Penguin Random House UK, said: "Ruth was much admired by the whole publishing industry for her brilliant body of work. "An insightful and elegant observer of society, many of her award-winning thrillers and psychological murder mysteries highlighted the causes she cared so deeply about," she said.
Rendell was best known for psychological thrillers delving into the criminal mind as well as the successful television adaptation "The Ruth Rendell Mysteries". Her fictional creation, the sensitive Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford, featured in her first novel "From Doon to Death" (1964) and throughout her career.
Many have taken to Twitter to pay tribute Ruth Rendell:
I mourn the brilliant Ruth Rendell, among the most gifted writers in English, who gave me so many joyous hours.#RuthRendell
— Jacquelyn Mitchard (@JackieMitchard) May 2, 2015
RIP #RuthRendell - it was a pleasure knowing you as a mentor, as a good friend & mutual fans of each others writing. I will miss our e-mails
— Duncan Whitehead (@DuncanWhitehead) May 2, 2015
Vale Ruth Rendell. Have had so much pleasure from her dark,clever books over the years. Will re-read all her work forever. #RuthRendell
— Josephine Pennicott (@talepeddlerJo) May 2, 2015
A very sad day for us today. I am remembering happier times with #RuthRendell instead. She will be sorely missed. RIP pic.twitter.com/C63IIiuLjE
— Najma Finlay (@najmafinlay) May 2, 2015
First line of #RuthRendell's A Judgement In Stone changed crime fic. Queen of the whydunnit. Brilliant on social issues. Pioneer.
— Kate Joester (@rebelraising) May 2, 2015