::READERS REVIEWS::

Good short story grafted on to a mediocre novel -
_Bones and Silence_ feels like a really great short story grafted on to a mediocre novel. The novel is about Dalziel's attempt to prove that a man killed his wife, where all the evidence points to suicide. It's not a bad idea, but there's just so much of the hugger-mugger that gives detective novels a bad name -- the obscure clues, the convoluted motivations, and so on. Interspersed through the novel, Dalziel receives letters from a suicidal woman which he refuses to take seriously, and passes on to Pascoe. Pascoe's attempts to unravel the letter-writer's identity make a great little story, but they're too split up by the main novel to be truly effective.

On the other hand, that story only works because Pascoe's got a number of characters from the main story to draw from -- in a short story, it'd be obvious too quickly to us the readers who the letter-writer is. So it seems like Hill had this great story in mind, but couldn't find a way to make it stand effectively on its own. He needed to introduce more characters, and we end up with all the business of Dalziel playing God in the York Mystery Cycle. It's great stuff, but too flimsy to hang a novel on, and I can imagine Hill just deciding he didn't want to throw it all away, and sticking the other story in on top. Unfortunately, in the end the weaker story dominates the novel, which is a pity.

It felt like a bit of a retreat from the high quality of the Dalziel/Pascoe books, which I really enjoyed up till this one.

Dalziel plays God -- one of Reginald Hill's best - 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.

It's Dalziel/Pascoe - What else needs to be said? it's great. Hills books
do tend to get a tad on the dark side occasionally
and this was one of them. The ending was pretty depressing.
I hope anyone who plans to read the book doesn't go to the
end first and see what I mean. That would mean I had spoiled
the story for someone, and I wouldn't like that. it's very
entertaining, like all of the series and all of his stand alone
non series novels. Bones and Silence was indeed a tad on the
dark side. But it also had a lot of humor, so 5 stars it is.

Beautifully written, but flawed - 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.

Excellent Service - 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.