Adam and Eve and Pinch Me

By Ruth Rendell

«Adam and Eve and Pinch Me went down the river to bathe. Adam and Eve were drowned, who was saved?»

This rhyme is a favourite of Jeffrey Leach (aka Jeff/Jerry/Jock), who, after having sponged off five women, becomes the victim of one of his female prey. It is an excellent Ruth Rendell novel with a neat and tidy plot. Even though it is not the best Rendell book I have read to date, it will definitely stick with me for some time to come.

The novel contains three separate plots. Barely touching each other they still have one thing in common; the three central characters have all had relationships with an attractive scoundrel who was after nothing but their money. Remarkably, all of these characters' lives intersect because of a series of coincidences, with all roads leading back to Jeff/Jerry/Jock. I think part of Rendell’s genius is managing to craft a detailed plot without any confusion, without the coincidences seeming contrived.

First there is single mother Zillah. Although she has not actually been divorced from her estranged husband Jerry, whom she believes died in the train crash at Paddington Station, she tries to escape poverty by marrying Jim, a gay Conservative MP who feels pressured to get married in order to maintain status quo. Zillah accepts his proposal (with a full understanding of his sexuality) for financial stability, although she is not entirely convinced her husband is actually dead, but decides not to pursue the matter.

Secondly, there is the obese Michelle and anorexic Matthew, who do not approve of their wealthy friend and neighbour Fiona's boyfriend, Jeff, who is sponging off her. One day he simply disappears.

Last but not least we have Araminta (Minty) Knox, who is an obsessive-compulsive, washing and rewashing herself and her clothing, and knocking on wood several times a day to prevent some unforeseen disaster. Her fiancé, Jock Lewis, borrows her savings and disappears soon thereafter. Minty is told he died in the train crash at Paddington Station. The truth being he has taken all her savings and run off to be with another woman.

Minty is soon haunted by what she believes is the ghost of Jock. She starts to see in all kinds of odd places, often clad in his usual leather jacket. Even though Minty is not unfamiliar with ghosts (she is often visited by her deceased aunt, who "heard voices" when she was alive), these ghosts are merely annoying to her, while Jock’s ghost is persistent and terrifying. This results in her actually murdering him - believing she has only murdered his ghost!

Okay, I know that was a spoiler but throughout the novel there is little mystery about what has happened. However, the psychological tension is maintained throughout, keeping the reader uncertain of what the effects will be on everyone when the truth comes out.