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  • The Saint Zita Society

  • By: Ruth Rendell
  • Narrated by: Carole Boyd
  • Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (145 ratings)
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The Saint Zita Society cover art

The Saint Zita Society

By: Ruth Rendell
Narrated by: Carole Boyd
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Summary

Dex works as a gardener for Dr Jefferson at his home on Hexam Place in Pimlico: an exclusive street inhabited by the rich, and serviced by the not so rich. The hired help, a motley assortment of au pairs, drivers, and cleaners, decide to form the St Zita Society (Zita was the patron saint of domestic servants) as an excuse to meet at the pub and air their grievances. When Dex is invited to one of these meetings, the others find that he is a strange man, ill at ease with human beings... and then they discover he has recently been released from a hospital for the criminally insane, where he was incarcerated for attempting to kill his mother.

Dex's most meaningful relationship seems to be with his mobile-phone service provider, Peach, and he interprets the text messages he receives from the company as a reassuring sign that there is some kind of god who will protect him - and give him instructions about ridding the world of evil spirits....

©2012 Ruth Rendell (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Saint Zita Society

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed again

I am so sad to say that I am once again disappointed by the latest offering from Ruth Rendell once one of my favourite crime writers. I persevered with this for old times sake but it definitely was not worth the effort. Stereotyped characters and far too many of them - I lost track of who was who. Poor dialogue and plot and an extremely tedious listen. If you want to hear classic Rendell listen to the early Wexford novels.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Saint Zita Society

This is the second time that I've listened to this particular audiobook, although the first time was when I reviewed the cumbersome eight disc CD package, so thank goodness for Audible! The story is classic Rendell: ergo a London setting and a series of characters with a myriad of secrets. This novel is set in upmarket Belgravia and concerns the lives of the householders and servants of Hexham Place, the latter of whom convene a servants' union, The Saint Zita Society of the title.

The narration is lively and varied; the characters really come alive. Recommended.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An unusual but excellent book.

really loved this story and it's many characters. The narrator was excellent. Brilliant .

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Terribly dull

Cartoon characters and tedious details - really disappointing. The narrator sounded to me like somebody annoying in the Archers and then I realised it was actually Linda Snell!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Pleasant narration, poorer story

Just didn't take to this one. The narration is pleasant, but found I didn't much get into the plot, or the characters and gave up.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Not her best

Cartoon-like characters, rather silly ending, enough plot to keep you reading but neither a great who-dun-it nor a great story. Can see why it was in the sale!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great.

Another standalone masterpiece by Ruth Rendell. She really brings all the characters to life in their surroundings. The narration was also great.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this

Unusual story, very entertaining and well thought out. I would recommend this. Good who dunnit

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Saint Zita Society

Interesting cast of characters, many of whom are rather unpleasant, but whom I suspect are more accurately portrayed than we would like to admit.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

another Rendell snooze-fest

story was dull, but my main irritation is the narrator's painful children's voice. There's no need for it

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