Rating: 
Summary: Let down
Review: This is the first Reginald Hill book I read. I liked the book just fine and particularly liked the romance between Rye Pomona and D.C. Bowler. I liked the characters of the others also. I skipped a lot as it seemed to be wordy. The reason I give this one star is I felt the author did not play fair with the reader. I do not expect to invest my emotions in characters to be whacked at the end with no warning. I will not read any other books by this author.
Rating: 
Summary: One of Hill's best books.
Review: This one takes you on a ride that you won't soon forget. The characters are well developed, especially if you've read his other books and there is a new guy thrown into the mix who adds some youthful interest.I think that Reginald Hill is one of the writers today whose novels are written with a wonderful attention to the nuance of the English language at its finest contemporary usage. When I started reading Mr. Hill, I had to go out and buy British English Dictionary - some of the words he uses you will not find in a dictionary of standard American usage.
Rating: 
Summary: doesn't quite measure up to previous mysteries
Review: Unfortunately, I find myself agreeing with the reviewers who were disappointed with this latest Dalziel & Pascoe mystery. To begin with, if I read a Dalziel & Pascoe mystery novel, I want to read about this detecting pair, not a junior detective constable that goes by the nickname of "Hat" and who is, unfortunately, also rather short on charisma -- esp when compared to Dalziel. And while I thought that this mystery novel was based on a really clever plot premise, and while I really enjoyed the word games, like another reviewer, I figured out really early on who the murderer was. And reading along, "seeing" all the mistakes and misapprehensions that the police detectives make was not quite so much fun at all. Especially since unlike previous mysteries in this series the entire "will-they-or-won't-they-figure-things-out-in-time" element was completely absent (for me anyway). I also thought that the last chapter, that was written a la Bernard Shaw (reminiscent of the Don Juan in Hell scene ), was a real cop out (I won't go into this so that other readers can still enjoy this mystery novel). Of course it is true that there are a lot of things to appreciate about "Dialogues of the Dead or Paronomania!" -- to begin with, the plot premise is a really clever one, and the creation of the two librarian characters (Rye Ponoma and Dick Dee) was absolutely brilliant. And the wry tone that coloured this mystery novel made this a rather fun read. But the manner in which the plot unfolded and the focus on "Hat" was, for me anyway, off the mark, and left me feeling somewhat shortchanged.
Rating: 
Summary: Need not be too literary to appreciate
Review: While there is a definite "second level" on which this book can be appreicated by those with an abiding fascination with the Endligh language, this is at its heart a good -- make that great -- mystery novel. Don't let its "wordiness" scare you off. I read it on the train, where I could not pause to look up every word I didn't know. Even without understanding all of the keen tricks of language that Hill employs, this is a very enjoyable mystery novel. The pacing is fast, the dialogue is a notch above most crime fiction, and the twists and turns of the plot are enjoyable. I give this book "only" 4 stars because there are several components of the "twist" ending that he spills too late. To me, a great mystery lays out ALL of the clues before the end so that you can smack yourself in the forehead for not seeing them sooner. Hill holds back too many of these, taking some of the fun out of the ending. Nonetheless, the book is quite good and coherent. It's just not quite perfect. This was my first Hill novel. I will read many more.
Rating:
Summary: Need not be too literary to appreciate
Review: While there is a definite "second level" on which this book can be appreicated by those with an abiding fascination with the Endligh language, this is at its heart a good -- make that great -- mystery novel. Don't let its "wordiness" scare you off. I read it on the train, where I could not pause to look up every word I didn't know. Even without understanding all of the keen tricks of language that Hill employs, this is a very enjoyable mystery novel. The pacing is fast, the dialogue is a notch above most crime fiction, and the twists and turns of the plot are enjoyable. I give this book "only" 4 stars because there are several components of the "twist" ending that he spills too late. To me, a great mystery lays out ALL of the clues before the end so that you can smack yourself in the forehead for not seeing them sooner. Hill holds back too many of these, taking some of the fun out of the ending. Nonetheless, the book is quite good and coherent. It's just not quite perfect. This was my first Hill novel. I will read many more.
Rating:
Summary: Without the ending it's one of the best thrillers I've read
Review: With it, you feel very let down. However, as this is the latest Dalziel and Pascoe novel, the next one in the series may make this ending better. But on its own, after a fantastic read with twist and turns, superb characterisation and genuine tension, you're left with a feeling of complete disappointment
Rating:
Summary: Incredible, powerful crime fiction
Review: Words like unique, creative, compelling, imaginative, althought highly relevant, do not do justice to this masterpiece. Hill is a master stylist, certainly one of the two or three best crime WRITERS (others: Cook, Bill James, Mike Connelly (several of his novels). And apart from the crime aspect of his novels he has something provocative to say about the human condition (e.g. Pictures, Beulah Hill). The framework of this novel, however, surpasses anything else he has written. And what he puts in the frame is a word painting of such depth, ambiguity, ingenuity that it invades the careful reader, paradoxically both subtly and also like a hammer coming down on a recalcitrant human nail. The plot starts as seeming fantasy, but gradually drapes itself in profound reality. This novel introduces a news young "copper" who nicely contrasts with Dalziel and Pascoe. Several other non-cop characters are developed with panache, but at all times come across as richly drawn, realistic characters. The ending is riveting and will make you want to go back and reread the novel, or at least large sections. This book rivals The Four Last Things as the best suspense novel I've read (over 500 novels) and surpasses the powerful Breakheart Hill and Connelly's marvelous Void Moon. I highly recommend this novel.
Rating:
Summary: Mystery leaves unanswered questions. Have the Sequel ready!
Review: ~-~
This Dalziel and Pascoe story was very odd. The murders that comprise the investigation seem far-fetched and inexplicable, even as we are given opportunites to "watch" through the eyes of the killer from the interior monologue of the killer.
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What makes up for the somewhat outlandish plot are the great characterizations and development of the newer additions to the Cast. Dalziel is as churlish as ever. Pascoe is still a perfect foil for Dalziel's grotesque charm. A fairly new character, Detective "Hat" Bowler is really at the center of this story, and he is very endearing as he hopelessly attempts to avoid Dalziel's wrath.
Readers new to the series would have a difficult time, as many minor characters we've met along the way join in without introduction: Dalziel's lady friend, "Cap Marvel", Pascoe's wife Ellie and Sgt Wield's significant other, Edwin all appear at least once.
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It's impossible to describe the mystery without ruining the end. Just be warned, this won't follow the rules of the "classic who-dunit".
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I think you'll be much happier if you plan to read the sequel:
-"Death's Jest-book"
This book is a close follow up which deals with some of the loose ends and unanswered questions.(...) The two books together make a very enjoyable read. Reading this one alone left me feeling a little stunned, and bewildered. Get both if you like Dalziel and the crew.
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