Third of the Dalziel and Pascoe books. At the end of the last book Peter Pascoe had got back together with old flame Ellie, and now they're invited to spend a weekend with four of their old university friends. They're late because Peter's been tied up with a serial burglary case that looks as if it's escalating to violence. [return][return]What they find when they finally arrive is a scene of carnage. Three people are dead, the fourth is missing in circumstances that lead the local police to make him chief suspect. Pascoe's involvement in the case is officially as a witness, but he can't help but get involved in the investigation, even if unofficially. These are his friends, after all, and he can't believe that one of them could really have changed so much as to commit murder. As the case progresses, Pascoe finds his ambiguous status of use to the official investigation, but an ever increasing source of frustration for himself. And Dalziel wants him back in Yorkshire, the more urgently because the burglary case has turned very nasty indeed.[return][return]The nature of the plot means that the book focuses strongly on Pascoe, with Dalziel largely present as a supporting role. It nevertheless shows the growth in the relationship between the two men, in a story that twists and turns until the various plot strands finally come together. This is a superb study of a policeman struggling and frequently failing to retain his professional detachment in the face of a crime that strikes only too close to home.
I think this is where the Dalziel and Pascoe series really starts to hit its stride. Although I enjoyed the first two books, I didn't really think they were fully representative of the strengths of the series. This book, while not as strong as some of the later ones, feels like it has all of the elements in place. In particular, Andy Dalziel and Peter Pascoe both really come across as well-rounded characters.It's a small thing, but I was also impressed with how Hill handled the passage of time between this book and the last. It was clear that some time had passed since the last book, and Peter and Ellie's relationship had evolved from "awkwardly reunited" to "seriously involved." Hill makes all of this clear without a lot of expository backstory at the beginning of the book.If I have a complaint, it's that the chain of coincidences and previously unrevealed connections linking the crimes in this book feels a bit forced. Though it is quite entertaining watching it all being untangled.
What do You think about Ruling Passion (1990)?
onto the next dalziel and pascoe. you can see this series is good but these early books have nothing like the power i saw in on beulah height. this one is a tale of two villages, two plots tangled up together and pascoe can't tell which is which. i like the way that every little detail seems to count; nothing is filler; every subplot has a purpose in the wider plot. i know it's only book three but it's been the most satisfying so far. i've noticed in putting these web pages together that the early hill books aren't in print in the states as they are here. i suspect their popularity in the uk has been boosted tremendously by the tv series. i've only seen one episode of it but i thought it was pretty well done. anyway, i'm glad these books from the early seventies are still in print for me to enjoy however that came to be. (this is book 3 in the dalziel and pascoe series)
—Kirsty Darbyshire
Another great Andy Dalziel (pronounced De-el for those not familiar) and Peter Pascoe novel. I will just go with the Independent's review when this book was first published in 1973. "He is probably the best living male crime writer in the English speaking world."(Although he died in 2012 - a sad loss to his avid readers). The TV series is well worth watching but the books are simply brilliant. This multiple murder case plus a series of seemingly unrelated robberies is clearly worked through by Hill. His writing style is so eloquent and entrancing that even if the stories were not as good as they are, his style is enough to engage even the most demanding reader. The more I read, the more I enjoy Reginald Hill's work. As I have commented regarding some other author's, if you like the genre, just start at book one and work your way through them.
—Jim Whitefield
Another excellent read in the Dalziel & Pascoe series. The title really turns out to be a key to the solution of the horrific murders with which the book opens. Nicely paced, with confrontation, deduction, information-gathering, and humorous argumentative rivalry all playing a part. Pascoe is central to this one, and we get to see his relationship with Ellie develop. We also get to watch him deal with a different superior officer, one whose methods are very different from Dalziel's. Altogether very entertaining.
—Jon
