Customer Reviews

An Advancement of Learning

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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Some of Hill's earliest novels don't really compare to some of his later ones, but this is one of a couple of absolutely cracking exceptions.

It's got a wonderfully complex plot, some brilliant characters, a great setting, some surprising twists, and it is written wonderfully. Plus, Franny Roote is one of the best villains Hill has ever created. This one, indeed, is essential reading for those who intend to read the later books in the series, because it is Roote's first appearance, and he goes on to appear in quite a large role in all three of Hill most recent books ("Arms and the Women", "Dialogues of the Dead", and "Death's Jest Book"). It's also pivotal in that here Pascoe is first re-united with his former friend, and future wife, Ellie.

A body is found buried in the grounds of Holm Coultram College, and the police arrive, settling themselves in on campus. They meet a wonderful array of interesting and well-drawn interesting characters (students and lecturers alike), but then a new body turns up, and then another...

This is a wonderful crime novel, realistic and strangely chilling, that explores the underbelly of that bastion of the education system, the College, with its strong-willed students, and with it's lectureers all too ready to give in to temptation...

I would reccomend this novel to anyone, especially fans of the police procedural which not only entertains but challenges the intellect. The character, story, writing and setting are all marvellous. Fantastic. Certainly one of Hill's best.

This second entry in the Dalziel and Pascoe series is a winner. It's got a good complex plot, and a very complicated murder. We also get to know our two detectives a bit more, as they work together to solve an old homicide at a College. Dalziel finds himself a bit out of his element in this scholarly setting, but his mind is still razor-sharp and he does manage to make sense out of the puzzle, but not before another body is found. Pascoe provides more of his truly insightful theories which helps them get to the answer. This is a great series - intelligent and well-written.

"An Advancement of Learning" is the second Dalziel and Pasco mystery republished under the terrific Felony and Mayhem label. The revival of these early classics is a major service to readers who can't get enough of the D&P duo and other excellent mysteries from the 70s and 80s.

"An Advancement of Learning" takes the intrepid detectives to a small English college to investigate the appearance of a body that turns up when a campus monument is moved. The uncovered corpse turns out to be that of woman memorialized by the sculpture under which it had been resting for several years. With that novel beginning, the story moves on to explore the complex characters and relationships of the faculty members and antics of the student body. The latter component of the story feels a little dated--the book was written in 1971--but otherwise, the plot is intricate enough to provide a very entertaining read.

The Dalziel/Pascoe relationship was already well established by author Reginald Hill at this early date and their prickly but productive interaction is, as always, more than half of the reading fun. There are a number of other broadly defined characters here that bring piquancy to the book, including the appearance of Ellie Soper--lusty, outspoken and beautiful--who will eventually become Pascoe's wife and figure in several future books.

This is an excellent read that suffers only slightly from its 38-year old context. Well worth the money and time.

This is a Detective-Superintendent Dalziel and Sergeant Pascoe novel. The title is taken from the writings of Sir Francis Bacon. The appeal of a student of her suspension from college discloses, seemingly, an improper relationship with a tutor, Mr. Fallowfield. The question arises, is Mr. Fallowfield to be permitted the use of the faculty room while he is relieved of other duties?

A monument to the deceased head of the school, Miss Girling, is situated in the way of a new science building and must be moved. In the process of the move, a discovery is made of the remains of a body. It is assumed that placement was made five years earlier. Thus, Dalziel and Pascoe begin to investigate their list of missing persons from the previous five years.

Pascoe has a reunion of sorts with a former schoolmate of his, Eleanor Soper, who is on the college staff. Next, the police are surprised to learn that the dental evidence of the remains points to Miss Girling herself. There is the death, too, of girl on the golf course. Investigative work is doubled.

The police find it is difficult to locate people in a college, although college employees do seem to converge on the police with lots of questions. Pascoe suggests to Dalziel that, particularly in a total institution, there is a shadow side to things. Coincidence provides a line of inquiry to the police.

Pascoe is not comfortable with his gruff superior. Each of the officers is, nevertheless, a keen observer and dedicated solver of crimes. This is an excellent offering in an excellent series.

The second Dalziel and Pascoe novel sees the pair at a college of higher education after the discovery of a corpse under a statue's foundation block. Naturally, life gets even more complicated, and not just because they have to wade through both student and staff politics in their pursuit of the truth. Fresh corpses are provided, and it's up to Dalziel and Pascoe to decide which were murder and which were suicide, ideally without becoming corpses themselves.

Dalziel has no time for students, and the feeling's mutual. But Dalziel doesn't let his dislike lead him into underestimating his opponents, while the students make the mistake of thinking that Dalziel's a fascist pig and therefore stupid. Pascoe's feelings are more ambiguous, as he was a graduate recruit to the police force. His former university friends don't approve of his choice of his career, and his liberal sympathies don't always endear him to his colleagues, but this case reassures him that being a copper was the best way for _him_ to change the world for the better. The pair's different experiences and views combine to form a formidable team in this setting, something they'll need to deal with the criminal they're trying to pin down. Even near the end, it seems that it may be a case of knowing who and how without having quite enough evidence to prove it...

This early entry in the series is a relatively simple police procedural, rather than the complex literary game to be found in some of the later novels, but still has Hill's characteristic style and wittiness. It's one for all fans of the series, whether your taste runs to the shorter novels or the long, psychologically complex ones, as it sets up some of the series background. Apart from developing Pascoe's character, it introduces two of the recurring non-police characters. Pascoe is reunited with old university friend Ellie Soper, whom he later marries: and this is the first appearance of Franny Roote, who reappears much later in the series as a major character in a story arc spanning several books. And it is, of course, an entertaining book in its own right.

Reginald Hill is the master of mystery novels. We have read almost all the Dalziel & Pascoe series, and a few of Hill's other novels. They're all excellent, engaging, with character development that is outstanding. Want a good read? Buy/borrow a Reginald Hill book! An Advancement of Learning: #2 Dalziel & Pascoe mystery (Dalziel and Pascoe Mysteries)

It is nice to see Reginald Hill's characters -- Dalziel and Pascoe -- appear again in new editions.
For those familiar with Hill's books, it is a chance to return to good characterization and plots. For those familiar with the old TV series, the characters come to life and it is easy to imagine the 'fat man' and his sergeant in the 'groves of academe.'

First Sentence: There had been a great deal of snow that December, followed by a hard frost.

Coultram College is expanding. To do so, the bronze statue of the former principal, Alison Girling, must be moved. Ms. Girling was killed five years ago on a winter trip in Austria. So why is her skeleton found beneath the memorial? Dalziel and Pascoe are office to college to find a killer.

Hill is such a delight to read. In this, the second book of the series, his characteristic humor begins to make itself known.

I love when Dalziel compares schools to inbred communities and the names of his characters--i.e., Girling, Halfdane, Fallowfield, Cockshut, and Disney, known as "Walt" of course--are delightful. The book is very much character driven. The contrast between Dalziel and Pascoe is wonderful. It's not a case of one being smarter or dumber. The two men are very different, yet each beings a viewpoint and methodology to solving the case.

The plot is rather weak; I identified one killer fairly early. I am also not a fan of the protagonist laying out the facts behind the case at the end of the story. And I hate the use of portents (authors who use them will always lose points from me).

Still, Hill writes a delightful, intelligent book and I shall read on through the series.