Harm Done

The intrepid Inspector Wexford takes on three cases all connected to the abuse of children or women in Ruth Rendell's 47th novel. While one case involves the kidnapping of a female university student and a mentally challenged girl, two others lead Wexford into protecting a convicted child molester and scoping out a wealthy man who finds pleasure in torturing his wife. Wexford's daughter Sylvia, who volunteers for a local battered women's shelter, lends her bit of expertise on these cases wrought by disturbing social issues.