Deadheads

By Reginald Hill

‘Humour and topicality along a cold enigmatic trail of murder’ Observer

Life is on the up for Patrick Aldermann: his Great Aunt Florence has collapsed into her rose bed leaving him Rosemont House with its splendid gardens.

But when his boss, ‘Dandy’ Dick Elgood, suggests to Peter Pascoe that Aldermann is a murderer – then later retracts the accusation – the detective inspector is left with a thorny problem.

Not only have the police already dug up some interesting information about Aldermann’s beautiful wife; it also appears that his rapid promotion has been helped by the convenient deaths of some of his colleagues…

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Jul 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9780007370290

Reginald Hill

Reginald Hill, acclaimed English crime writer, was a native of Cumbria and a former resident of Yorkshire, the setting for his novels featuring Superintendent Andy Dalziel and DCI Peter Pascoe. Their appearances won Hill numerous awards, including a CWA Golden Dagger and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Lifetime Achievement Award. The Dalziel and Pascoe stories were also adapted into a hugely popular BBC TV series. Hill died in 2012.

Reviews for Deadheads

[cassandra2020 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read the first in the series 'A Clubbable Woman' and really disliked both leads. I then read 'Ruling Passion' and it totally turned me around in that both Dalziel and Pascoe were more rounded characters and more sympathetic. 'A Pinch of Snuff' had me back at square one in that I didn't like either of them (and the subject matter even less!!) but I had more on my TBR pile (they were all given to me by a friend) and so have now turned to the next, cronologically, in my possession. I'm so glad I did.

This time around I'm really enjoying the story. Set in a mining village just after the Miners Strike, it evokes the period really well (brought back many memories!): the difficulties of the Miners and their families post strike, the distrust of the Police following all the various incidents that occurred, the awakening of the women to the opportunities they've missed & those that are still available if they can only break free. The characterisation of the various Miners, families, local police are all well done and the humour, of what could be a difficult subject, works really well. So far (about 2/3rds thru), it's all about the main protagonists and the story leading up to 'the murder' so there's been very little including Dalziel and Pascoe specifically, now that they're fully involved, I wonder if I'll find that I dislike them again? Doesn't really matter, the other characters more than make up for them.

Well, I've finished the book now and my opinion hasn't changed. A much better story, nicely written with enough humour to lighten a dark subject. Dalziel and Pascoe are still the same characters, but now there's a 'pinch of salt' in there, plenty of banter to keep the story flowing and to detract from the less pleasant sides of their characters. The story itself gives an interesting insight into the lives in a northern mining community (ok, I suspect, any mining community) and life down the pit - all of which is gone now and yet within living memory.

For some reason, people keep giving me more from this series and now I'm quite pleased! This has been the most enjoyable to date.

(Ooh, wonder when the TV series started - maybe the humour in the book stems from the TV characterisation)

[piemouth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Usual excellent Reginald Hill mystery - a mining town where everybody knows each others' business and a recent strike has created bitterness and schisms; old crimes that may or may not have been solved; and now a new murder. Ellie Pascoe is there to run a class for miners to better themselves, especially one star pupil, which brings out interesting class differences.

[veracite · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like DS Wield so much I got another one. Much fun to be had. Should reading be this easy?

[condorena · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This series goes from strength to strength. Beautifully done.

[laurierking · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Start with 'Ruling Passion' and work your way up through 'Pictures of Perfection', for a view of how characters take hold of an author, and grow into fully formed people.

[jimpratt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dalzeil/Pascoe with Hill on top of his game. This is truly a delightful book, in its clever structure—each chapter is themed by the description of a particular rose variety, and the title provides the unifying concept to the plot. There is some crackling dialogue, with the Pascoes taking more of centre stage this time. And effortlessly the author weaves in story lines of racial discrimination (both malign and benign reactions to Cadet Singh); homosexuality (Wield’s repressed desire); and marital fidelity (Daphne and Dandy Dick). And oh-by-the-way there are several suspicious deaths that follow the oddly disquieting Aldermann around. With a masterful touch Hill continues to leave the answer to the mystery in doubt until the end. Delicious.