''A Sleeping Life'' is a crime-novel by British writer

Ruth Rendell Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, (; 17 February 1930 – 2 May 2015) was an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries. Rendell is best known for creating Chief Inspector Wexford.The Oxford Companion ...

, first published in 1978. It features her popular investigator Detective Inspector Wexford, and is the tenth novel in the series. ''A Sleeping Life'' was a finalist for the 1979

Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel The Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel was established in 1954. Only hardcover novels written by a published American author are eligible. Paperback original novels are eligible for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Paperback Original. Debut n ...

. It was one of two Inspector Wexford novels to have been shortlisted for either of the "big two" crime-fiction awards, the Edgar or the CWA

Gold Dagger The CWA Gold Dagger is an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association of the United Kingdom since 1960 for the best crime novel of the year. From 1955 to 1959, the organization named their top honor as the Crossed Red Herring Award. ...

. ''

An Unkindness of Ravens ''An Unkindness of Ravens'' is a murder mystery by British crime-writer Ruth Rendell. First published in 1985, it is the 13th in her series featuring Inspector Wexford. Plot Inspector Wexford is asked to look into the disappearance of his Kin ...

'' was also nominated in 1986.

Reception

In a starred review, ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

'' wrote, "When Rendell writes crime-from-the-criminal-point-of-view, she is gripping and creepy. When she writes straightforward detection starring homely, countryish Inspector Wexford, she is even better".

References

1978 British novels Novels by Ruth Rendell Hutchinson (publisher) books Inspector Wexford series {{1970s-crime-novel-stub