Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
In this installment of the Simon Serailler murder mystery series, Simon is confronted with a killer of old ladies. Little old ladies. Nice old ladies. Because nobody is safe in Susan Hill’s world. I don’t read much crime fiction and haven’t read the rest of this series about DCS Simon Serrailler, but that didn’t present a problem.
it's so miserable and depressing. Now, the concept of the police not capturing the criminal isn't necessarily a problem. But it does make what on the surface appeared to be an updated Christie-style into an extremely morbid and pessimistic tale. Not a book for those who want every - or most - issues resolved (fixed, solved, finalized) in their mystery reading. Ms. Hill comes closest to writing fiction which is true-to-the-way-things-really-are, IMO. Police are often flummoxed, frustrated, exasperated and ultimately have to send certain cases to bed. This is...now in spoiler territory...
The Simon Serrailler Crime Series in Order (13 Books)
There is a moment in this book where really not much is happening, but an old lady is alone in her home with an electrician. Suddenly the electrician says "Gotcha!" and I nearly jumped out of my skin. At that point, I broke down, demanded my husband's undivided attention (no small request as he is currently reading the George RR Martin series), and just started telling him all about what was going on in this book. How Hill sets up this evil character then sends him underground with a new identity, how she then moves the action to Lafferton where the snow won't stop falling and small family dramas drive the action, how she introduces you to these older women who are moving to a new housing development -- their lives full of excitement and possiblity, and how you are so tense because you know these women's days are numbered. MY THOUGHTS: I am fond of the Serrailler family, with perhaps the exception of Simon and Cat's father. Each new installment in this series is like visiting with old friends. Simon is still on his own but getting restless, not with his police work but with his personal life. Cat is as busy as ever, and as conscientious as ever. Familywise, things seem to be chugging along quite peacefully. But of course, it can't last.
The crime is solved by the end, but the lives of Simon et al are far from settled - I can't wait to see what direction Hill takes in the next book.
The whole thing is, of course, extremely well written in that way Susan Hill has of crafting elegant, readable prose which never draws attention to itself but carries the reader along beautifully. The story, too, is a timely one and in many ways well done; the stories of the children involved and of the effects on their families are vivid and gripping, for example. However, I did find the policing aspect just a little clunky and preachy; at one point the Chief Constable gives a long and rather sententious speech to his officers, after which, one comments, “Didn’t have the chief down for a rallying-cry-before-battle sort of guy, did you?” Well, no I didn’t – and he was all the better for it. Serrailler himself sounds a bit like a politician with a pre-written answer at times, too, and I’ve come to expect better from Susan Hill. Actually, I was more interested in the sub-plots and the minor characters. The 'hero' of this series is a complete non-event as a policeman. We find out he loves his mentally challenged sister, and that he likes painting. All fine, but he contributes absolutely nothing to the investigation. Sometimes it's a bit tiresome when the main character does EVERYTHING, but...
At best, this book is Part 1 of an unfinished book. At worst, this book is a complete waste of time. Freeman, Hadley (18 October 2003). "Cotswold chameleon". The Guardian (UK). Guardian News and Media Ltd . Retrieved 20 March 2008. We see much more of Serailler himself in this book than we did on the first volume, together with his family: his austere mother with her difficult marriage; his sister Cat; Nathan; and even Karin who has been battling with cancer.This is an intriguing premise, all too believable. As ever with Hill’s novels, this is efficient and chilling. She introduces us to prospective villains, each seems a little questionable: but are we being unfair, reading something into signs that don’t exist, generalising, making assumptions? In parallel with the introduction of prospective villains, we are also shown prospective victims. Children are being recruited to transfer drugs and money. DCS Simon Serrailler has been called out to investigate a suspected overdose. It just happens to be above a shop where Chinese herbal drugs are sold. Simon's sister Dr Cat, also faces issues in her medical practice. This is a well written story but we seem to spend a lot of time with Cat and her family. This book can be read as a standalone. Dr. Cat Deerbon is a G.P in Lafferton, who is married to Chris. Chris is also a doctor by profession.
Great Deal 
New Comment