A review by sistermagpie
Portobello by Ruth Rendell

4.0

I love spending time with Ruth Rendell's characters. This book is basically the tale of how a handful of people who live near each other interact and influence each other's lives, often without realizing it. No matter which pov we were in I was completely engrossed in their story, though probably my favorite was Eugene Wren, a gallery owner who spirals into an addiction to Chocorange (later renamed Oranchoco), a sugar-free candy. I could somehow completely identify with his shameful attempts to hide his "habit" from his girlfriend and pretty much every shopkeeper. They say the most important thing is for a character to want something, and this storyline never leaves you in doubt of what Eugene wants, how much he wants it, how much he wishes he didn't and what he'll do to get it.