Asking for the Moon (Dalziel and Pascoe Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Reginald Hill (Author) "'I'M LATE, I'M LATE, for a very important date,' sang Detective Constable Peter Pascoe..." (more)
Key Phrases: Jean Starkey, Silvia Rabal, Wear End (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
'Few writers in the genre today have Hill's gifts: formidable intelligence, quick humour, compassion and a prose style that blends elegance and grace' Donna Leon, Sunday Times 'The fertility of Hill's imagination, the range of his power, the sheer quality of his literary style never cease to delight' Val McDermid, Sunday Express 'He is probably the best living male crime writer in the English-speaking world' Andrew Taylor, Independent 'Reginald Hill's novels are really dances to the music of time, his heroes and villains interconnecting, their stories entwining' Ian Rankin, Scotland on Sunday --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Spanning the careers of two of crime fiction's most esteemed police detectives, these four short mysteries are revelatory episodes in the complex relationship between Dalziel and Pascoe. In the opening tale, the chilling start of the Dalziel and Pascoe partnership--never before revealed--is cemented by a killer and his shotgun. In another, the duo investigates the fate of a woman no one has seen for a year, except her brother, who claims he is being haunted by her ghost. Then the detectives keep vigil at an isolated farmhouse, waiting to see what is making things go bump in the night. Finally, a jump in time to the year 2012, and the partners' last case: the first man murdered on the moon. Set against Yorkshire's brooding landscape, Asking for the Moon shows the full spectrum of Dalziel's eccentric brilliance, the evolution of Pascoe's professionalism, the zenith of Reginald Hill's incomparable talent...and the very best British mystery can be.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Dell (April 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440225833
• ISBN-13: 978-0440225836
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #131,871 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your usual short stories!, February 23, 2007

By	S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Asking for the Moon: A Dalziel and Pascoe Novel (Paperback)

I did not realize that this book was a collection of short stories when I first picked it up. But this is not your usual collection of short stories. These four stories are wonderful snapshots of the Dalziel and Pascoe partnership through their years working together. Dalziel is still at his sharpest here, even in the fanciful story "One Small Step" where Pascoe brings him out of retirement to solve the first murder on the moon. Yes, that's right, I said moon. As I said these stories are totally unique, and each one is a wonderful mystery in its own right. Now I will get back to reding the series, but I am glad that I took this little side trip to delve into Dalziel and Pascoe's world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Entertaining, February 5, 2007

By	agnes bonaparte - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asking for the Moon: A Dalziel and Pascoe Novel (Paperback)

This was the perfect prescription for the murder-mystery doldrums. I have come to expect witty repartee, engaging plotlines, laugh-out-loud comedy, and fascinating characters from Reginald Hill, and this book did not disappoint. I didn't realize it was four stories in one book, and I found nothing lacking in this format. A glimpse into the early days and future days of our favorite boys - Pascoe and Dalziel - was indeed a treat. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone, and especially to fans of Reginald Hill. Nobody will be disappointed!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Short story collection of a funny couple of cops!, March 8, 2002

By	K. L Sadler (Freedom, Pa. USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Ok, first off...no where on the front of the book did it indicate that these were short stories, rather than a full mystery. That is my major complaint. I grabbed the book thinking that since it was Reginald Hill, it was a full mystery. After I read the first story, then I read the back! If the reader prefers a full mystery, then don't get this book!!!

Other than that, and the fact that short stories do not have the time to well develop a mystery plot (my own opinion), I enjoyed Hill's writing. He may not have the plot time in here, but he does develop the characters. Pascoe and Dalziel are a hilarious couple in many ways. Dalziel is an old British curmudgeon, who never ceases to surprise the reader and Pascoe.

The first three stories were pretty good, the last with a mystery based on the moon wasn't as well done. Part of it is trying to write what we expect the future to be like, and that is hard to do. If you base your expectations on science fiction writers like Wells, Verne, Orwell, etc. we are already behind on some things and ahead on others (establishment of space travel versus communications and information retrieval). I am not crazy about mixing the two genres (mystery and science fiction).

But Hill is a good writer. For those who run out of other stuff to read, this book is good enough for a glance...
Karen Sadler