‘We Will Miss Her Enormously’ – Crime Author Ruth Rendell Dies Aged 85

Author Ruth Rendell has died at the age of 85. The crime writer, who is well known for her Inspector Wexford novels, suffered a stroke in January and her publishers confirmed today that she passed away this morning at 8am. Rendell published over 80 novels and also became a peer at the House Of Lords. "We are devastated by the loss of one of our best-loved authors. Ruth has been published by Hutchinson since 1964 and under her pen name Barbara Vine, she wrote 14 novels for Penguin," said a spokesperson for Penguin Random House. "Ruth was very much part of our publishing family and a friend to many at Penguin Random House. We will miss her enormously. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time."