British best-selling crime author Ruth Rendell has died aged 85

By Euronews

Published on 02/05/2015 - 18:28

British crime writer Ruth Rendell has died at the age of 85. She was perhaps best known for the Detective Chief Inspector Wexford series of books

British crime writer Ruth Rendell has died at the age of 85. She was perhaps best known for the Detective Chief Inspector Wexford series of books.

Rendell was one of the UK’s best loved authors who penned more than 60 best-selling novels.

Rendell’s first novel, “From Doon With Death”, was published in 1964 and she since wrote several award-winning books, including “A Demon in My View” in 1976 and “Live Flesh” 10 years later. Last year, she published “The Girl Next Door”.

"Some say life is the thing, but I prefer reading." Sad to say goodbye to Ruth Rendell this morning. One of the best. pic.twitter.com/xw6g1hr64J
— Vintage & Anchor (@VintageAnchor) May 2, 2015

Rendell’s works, some written under the pen name Barbara Vine, have been published in some 30 countries and many have been adapted for television and film.

In 1997, she took the title Baroness Rendell of Babergh after being named to the UK’s upper house of parliament, the House of Lords, for the opposition Labour Party.

In January she suffered a severe stroke.