“I started by writing short stories, but they weren't very good; I tried them on various magazines, and none of them was published. People were nicer then about turning you down, and so I didn't lose heart - I kept on writing and wrote a lot of books, one or two of which I finished, and others I didn't.”

English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries

Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, was an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries. She is best known for crime fiction that focuses on suspense, psychology, and the hidden motives behind violent acts. Her work moved between thriller and murder mystery forms, and her books made her a prominent name in English popular fiction.