One Across, Two Down is a psychological suspense novel by British writer Ruth Rendell

Ruth Rendell

Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE, , who also writes under the pseudonym Barbara Vine, is an English crime writer, author of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries....

. it was first published in 1971. In 1976, it was made into the film, Diary of the Dead

Diary of the Dead (1976 film)

Diary of the Dead is a 1976 neo-noir film directed by Arvin Brown, based on the novel One Across, Two Down by Ruth Rendell. It was produced by Charles B. Moss. Robert L...

by Arvin Brown

Arvin Brown

Arvin Brown is an American theatre and television director and was the Artistic Director of the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut for 30 years. He was married to actress Joyce Ebert until her death in 1997....

, starring Geraldine Fitzgerald

Geraldine Fitzgerald

Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lady Lindsay-Hogg was an Irish-American actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.-Early life:...

 and Hector Elizondo

Hector Elizondo

Héctor Elizondo is an American actor. Elizondo's first major role was that of "God" in the play Steambath, for which he won an Obie Award...

.

Plot summary

There are only two things that interest Stanley: the crosswords and getting his hands on his mother-in-law's money, which he has dreamed about for 20 years. He finally realises that he must construct a puzzle of his own in order to give death a helping hand.