::READERS REVIEWS::

Superb Detective Story; Great Characters; Complicated Plot - You may want to jot down the names and relationships of the major characters of this well-done book, because they keep popping up throughout the novel and you have to keep asking "Now, who is this, again??" But that's the only sour note (and not a very sour one at that) in this clever and enjoyable book. Dalziel and Pascoe complement each other as they try to solve the mystery of an old death that may have been a suicide or may have been a murder. The two detectives verbally duel with often-hilarious witticisms and mild put-downs --testament to Hill's amazing facility with the English language. This is a fine English mystery and the first from the pen of Hill that I've read. It won't be the last.

Echoes of an old sex scandal - "Recalled to Life" is one of the best and most challenging books of the Dalziel and Pascoe series and ultimately, one of the most enjoyable for the reader. The story revolves around the release from prison of a nanny involved in a 1960s sex/murder case involving A-list personalities in a manor house setting. The newly freed (and exonerated) woman creates a serious disturbance in the social and political equilibria which eventually leads to the entrance of the indomitable duo of Dalziel and Pascoe onto the scene.

The story that follows is one of author Reginald Hill's most creative labyrinths yet. Another great strength of this Dalziel and Pascoe novel is its ongoing humor, which goes into high gear when Dalziel follows the crime trail to America and collides with American English and Southern cooking.

Reginald Hill has no peer in mystery writing and his novels' characters are almost always flawlessly drawn and presented. He rarely insults or disappoints his readers, and with "Recalled to Life," he has only reinforced his reputation as one of the finest living authors of any genre practicing his trade today.

Good writing, great service - I'm rereading Reginald Hill and devouring Robert Goddard (whom I hadn't encountered before). I love these books. Hill's have a more romantic, 1950s flavor, but their detectives are timeless and extremely funny. Goddard's are more British-ly understated, with more lone not-meant-to-be-detective heroes swept into an investigation. Both are completely entertaining, and Amazon's service, as usual, was great. ~ Anne, DC

An absolute treat of a book! - I think it's safe for me to say that this is my favourite Dalziel and Pascoe mystery since I began this series. That is saying a lot since I really have enjoyed each and every book up to this one. This one is a winner for me because of a number of reasons. The first is the humour that Hill displays throughout the book. It is actually "laugh-out-loud" funny. Some of the Dalzielisms are absolutely priceless. Secondly is Dalziel's trip to the States. This also crosses over to the humourous since Dalziel is really like a fish out of water in busy New York City. Thirdly, but certainly not the last reason, is that this is a really good story with lots of intrigue, mystery and a wonderfully tight plot. Dazliel has enlisted Pascoe's aid in attempting to prove beyond a doubt that Dalziel's old mentor was right with the way that he solved a case in 1963. So it is a Cold Case book, but it's different too since Dalziel and Pascoe are operating independently in trying to prove that the right person was hanged for a murder. And they have to do this while under the noses of what Dalziel calls the "silly buggers" or the spooks of the world who are so busy trying to protect ancient information that they will stop at almost nothing. As much as I loved this book, I wouldn't recommend reading it unless you've read at least some of the books written before this one since it would be difficult to follow and wouldn't put readers into the picture as the "world according to Andy" that is so wonderfully portayed in this book.

A really good read - I like British murder mysteries, and this book, and others by Reginald Hill are right at the top of my personal list of favorites, just after anything written by Dorothy Sayers.

Cake and the Fat Man - This is the first book I've read in the Dalziel & Pascoe series. I'm not all that impressed. The mystery was ok but dragged out to a silly degree - that may be because the murder took place 30 years before. Whether one enjoys this book depends on whether you find the character of Andy Dalziel a humorous force of nature with the deducting powers of Sherlock Holmes or an oaf. I'm in the oaf camp. All the references to Andy as "the fat man" left me wondering where Jake was hiding.

Listening to this on audiobook probably didn't help as the narrator, Brian Glover, should be legally barred from doing American accents. He shouldn't be allowed to do British accents either (only two speeds there - Yorkshire and Winston Churchill) but his American accents where appalling. Every single American character, and there were many, no matter what age, sex or social class sounded like Archie Bunker. Ok, not all of them. The train conductor sounded like a Steppinfetchit and the southern belle sounded like Aunt Jemima.

Cake and the Fat Man - This is the first book I've read in the Dalziel & Pascoe series. I'm not all that impressed. The mystery was ok but dragged out to a silly degree - that may be because the murder took place 30 years before. Whether one enjoys this book depends on whether you find the character of Andy Dalziel a humorous force of nature with the deducting powers of Sherlock Holmes or an oaf. I'm in the oaf camp. All the references to Andy as "the fat man" left me wondering where Jake was hiding.

Listening to this on audiobook probably didn't help as the narrator, Brian Glover, should be legally barred from doing American accents. He shouldn't be allowed to do British accents either (only two speeds there - Yorkshire and Winston Churchill) but his American accents were appalling. Every single American character, and there were many, no matter what age, sex or social class sounded like Archie Bunker. Ok, not all of them. The train conductor sounded like a Steppinfetchit and the southern belle sounded like Aunt Jemima.