This is only the second novel I have read by this author and I enjoyed this a lot more than the first. There is just so much going on, strange letters from a released convict, a Roman horde to be shipped out of the country, a young drunk up on charges, a disturbed young woman and more! There were so many red herrings, that I was constantly see-sawing from complete convidence that I had worked it all out, to utter confusion as another character was introduced. And with so much of the action being described from past events, there was a lot of chances of confusion.Still, a couple of questions remain - do the police know that Rye was really a murderer? And would that come out in a future novel?And what with all the odd names? I know this is set in Yorkshire, but come on :). I found them a bit distracting to start with, but have to admit that they did start making me smile.So, overall, a great read. A nice complicated plot-line to keep you guessing, so personal danger for the main characters and some funny moments too. Well worth reading.
I just grabbed this book from my home library were my paretns keep their books and it looked interesting to me because ever since 6th grade i really liked mystery books and i also like mystery tv shows that have to do with crime and stuff because it will teach me more about it, and i want to know about this because i want to be a lawyer when i grow up and i would like to start reading and knowing about it since know. And also by reading the back and reading it it sounds really intersting and scary. cant wait to read it ....
What do You think about Death's Jest-Book (2002)?
Reginald Hill - master writer / plotamatician. Another perfectly written and constructed entrant into the Dalziel/Pascoe series. Every book has multiple layers - just like the lead characters - Hill's the master of blending full-on smarty-pants academic literary threads with the crassness of a good police procedural (Dan Brown is a kindergartner compared to Hill). One note of caution - this one is really a sequel to Dialogues Of The Dead - so will have a much bigger impact if you read them in order.
—charlie
I hot this as an Audiobook. This is my first book by this author and I persevered for several hours trying to get to grip with the story and I cannot I have to concede defeat I would not pick up another book by this author I would not in any way recommend it This is my first time listening to this narrator and I found him clear and could say that he gave an excellent narrative I would happily listen to him again I bought this some time ago from Audible so I cannot get a refund I am very disappointed to have wasted my precious credit
—Maggie Kiely
This is superb. Gripping, convincing characters, humour. It had me constantly thinking about the plot, characters and locations when I had to put it down to react to the real world. It made me feel that it had some deep meaning and that I would be enriched by finishing it. It also made me go and read the original by Thomas Beddoes.I think this is what reviewers mean when they say a book is "immersive". Death's Jest-Book
—Chris Wright
