The Babes in the Wood

In Ruth Rendell's 19th Chief Inspector Wexford mystery, the town of Kingsmarkham faces devastating floods while Chief Inspector Wexford grapples with the disappearance of two teenagers and their babysitter, Joanna Troy. As the missing person's case unfolds amidst rising paranoia from the children's frantic mother, Wexford's investigation leads him to suspect a kidnapping linked to a mysterious sect. The discovery of a crashed car containing a battered corpse shifts the narrative dramatically, setting the stage for a gripping, atmospheric tale.