Customer Reviews

Bones and Silence [Signed]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A wonderful combination of mystery and philosophy, Bones and Silence presents Yorkshire detective inspector Andrew Dalziel with the opportunity to play God. In the community production of the York mystery cycle, a religious play from medieval times, the gargantuan detective is cast as the Deity; in real life he is receiving anonymous notes from someone threatening suicide. He knows that the writer of the letters is an acquaintance of his-- but which one? Reginald Hill is an excellent prose stylist. He deserves as wide a readership and as much acclaim as P.D. James, with whom he is often compared. This novel was a finalist for the Edgar in 1990, when I chaired the Best Novel committee, and it won the Golden Dagger in England. Reginald Hill is an extraordinary writer.-- Sharyn McCrumb

Regardless of other reviewers and the difficulty of Hill's linguistic excursions sometimes, Hill is still one of the top producers of well-written mysteries of this current batch. This particular book had its good points and its bad points, but overall the book was a great read. I enjoyed the introductions that use the York Cycle of Mystery Plays. Apparently, like many other European countries such as Germany, theatricals explaining the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and in this particular group of plays, the period of creation and Lucifer's involvement in free agency, was used because people at that time simply could not pick up the Bible and read it. It was written in Latin, and only the clergy (and some royalty) had the ability to read. I expect that these theatricals were an extremely popular change of pace from the daily grind and I look forward to learning more concerning them, now that Hill has brought them to my attention.

As usual Dalziel is his perturbing, acidic, and curmudgeonly self. He doesn't like it when he ends up on the other side as a witness to a crime, that he's having a heck of a time proving actually happened as a homicide and not an accident. Like most of us, we don't like it when the shoe is on the other foot, and Dalziel doesn't take well to being seen as wrong. In the end...well...that would ruin the story. Not going to give it away. Pascoe has his own set of problems to deal with. He's still recuperating from the last case that nearly killed him, and his more sensitive psyche has taken a beating. His wife gets him involved in some of her pet projects, which he is not crazy about...but it ends up being of some assistance to providing keys of understanding to Dalziel's witnessed crime, and to the person who is writing Dalziel letters about her future self-inflicted demise.

This side story confuses a few readers, but life is never so tidy as to give us one problem at a time. IF it were, I think more crimes and problems would be solved. Dalziel can't be bothered with figure out who the looney is who is writing him suicide notes (and the writer knows this). But as usual, Pascoe gets saddled with this annoying problem, and it weighs on him. I really am not sure what happened at the end...but it was certainly not what I expected.

A sign of a good writer for me is one where I deliberately go back and look for his other books, rather than just browsing through and picking up a mystery that 'looks' good. I did that for too long, and it ends up wasting my time. When I want a good writer with a good plot and decent characters, I know where to go look for one. Hill still has plenty I have not read yet. Time to go get another!

Karen Sadler,
University of Pittsburgh

First all, I will admit that this book moves a little slowly, especially compared to most mysteries written by American authors. However, what you get here that you don't get with 99% of American mysteries is complex, interesting characters, a great plot, plenty of humor, and a wonderfully literate style. I will definitely read more of this series. The ending of this book is particularly powerful and it stayed with me for a while after I had finished it; an affect few mysteries have ever had on me.

This is one novel, I couldn't put down and finished in a little over a day. Hill has a great style. It was been sometime that I novel had me reaching for a dictionary to look up definitions. The Yorkshire dialect was just perfect.
The characters are well drawn and the plot winds in on itself just enough. I am looking forward to reading other Reginald Hill novels.

This book is by far the best so far in this wonderful series. Hill's characters are so very real, that they seem to come right off the page. His portrayal of Dalziel in this one is right on the mark. Dalziel is at his very best here - sharp, to-the-point, and oh so clever! Beware if anyone thinks they can pull a fast one on him. He has a nose for stories and fabrications like no copper you'll ever meet! This book won a Gold Dagger Award for the best crime novel of the year when this was written in 1990, and it well deserved this honour. It is stunning, and the climax is something that will leave you gasping. And Hill portrays his opposites (Dalziel and Pascoe) each at their own opposite ends of the spectrum. They are a formidable team, and beware to any crooks that try to get away with something in their patch! I can't say enough good things about this book. It left me breathless, and I can't wait to continue on with the series.

The writing and characterization are superb. This is probably the best book in the series when it comes to portraying the Dalziel / Pascoe relationship. However, the mystery is nonexistent and the side-plot, annoying in its own right, is so blindingly predictable! All in all, a disappointment.

Great story and even better characters. "Bones and Silence" is classic Reginald Hill/Dalziel and Pascoe. In this 1990 novel, the relationship between the two detectives is fleshed out (no pun intended, Andy D.); detailed homage is paid to a score of secondary players in the police, township, and attendant families; and an intricate story line is drawn out in ways that are not visible until the end of the novel.

Author Hill almost always serves up mysteries that are as much pure literature as genre. There is interesting language, great humor and an unbelievable range of characters. This is a writer with a seemingly inexhaustible capacity for imaginative scenarios and interesting interaction between subjects. He respects his readers and always presents them with some challenges and surprises. Definitely one of the best writers at work over that past 25 years. Highly recommended.

I was very pleased with the speed of delivery and the quality of the product. This book really looks like new, it is in excellent condition. I would definitely buy from this seller again.

My first R. Hill read. I have now embarked on reading the rest of the Dalziel/Pascoe mysteries Very user friendly. Very funny british humor.

Like the lead character, Dalziel, this book is fat, humorous and sometimes slow moving, but when necessary, surprisingly fast. A stylish mystery novel, Hill sustains a high writing level and keeps the story moving with plenty of twists and turns. As the story moves along you can't help but despise the villain more and more. All of the police are likeable and well developed characters.

Although it is a bit ponderous at times, the novel is never boring and you will not be able to put it down until the surprising ending. This was worthwhile reading.