The Copper Peacock: a hideous bookmark given to Bernard, a writer, by his attractive cleaning lady, Judy. She had brought order to a hitherto chaotic life, but now the bookmark destroys all this, shattering his razor sharp sensibilities. If only she had given herself, then she might have lived...

In this, and eight other landmark short stories, including the Wexford tale An Unwanted Woman, Ruth Rendell once again proves she is the mistress of crime and mystery genres.