Like father like son. But heredity seems to have gone a gene too far when Pal Maciver's suicide in a locked room exactly mirrors that of his father ten years earlier. In each case accusing fingers point towards Pal's stepmother, the beautiful enigmatic Kay Kafka. But she turns out to have a formidable champion, Mid-Yorkshire's own super-heavyweight, Detective Superintendent Andrew Dalziel. DCI Peter Pascoe, nominally in charge of the investigation, finds he is constantly body-checked by his superior as he tries to disentangle the complex relationships of the Maciver family. At first these inquiries seem local and domestic. What really happened between Pal and his stepmother? And how has key witness and exotic hooker Dolores, Our Lady of Pain, contrived to disappear from the face of Mid-Yorkshire? Gradually, however, it becomes clear that the fall-out from Pal's suicide spreads far beyond Yorkshire. To London, to America. Even to Iraq. But the emotional epicentre is firmly placed here in Mid-Yorkshire where Pascoe comes to learn that for some people the heart too is a locked room, and in there it is always midnight.
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"Several chapter 1's in this book. I put it aside because I thought it was a book of short stories. It isn't, but with many locations and characters it was hard to follow at first. This book is interesting and well written. It is the first book I have read by Reginald Hill, but I will read more. "
— Judy (4 out of 5 stars)
“Some rare series manage to move almost miraculously from strength to strength, getting better and richer with each new entry...In Good Morning, Midnight, that oldest of genre conventions—the apparent suicide inside a locked room—is given such fresh life that you’ll wonder why other writers handle it so badly...You’re in that special library of art and action that keeps Dalziel and Pascoe so full of original energy.”
— Chicago Tribune“Hill captures the flavor and tone of mid-Yorkshire village life...as he unwindes skeins of intrigue, passion, and betrayal...There aren’t many novels in which the words themselves help add to the challenge of identifying a killer.”
— Orlando Sentinel“Literate, nuanced, dark-souled...Hill keeps the reader mesmerized.”
— Providence Journal“A reminder of the cunning mysteries and often dazzling prose that made him one of the best crime writers ever. Always the master of the complex plot, Reginald Hill has produced another fine mystery with its roots in the past, in which the long relationship between the two detectives continues to develop.”
— Sunday Telegraph (London)“Riveting...Mystery writing at its best...Good Morning, Midnight is a real treat. The characters are deftly drawn, the plot constantly delivers surprises, and the assured narrative demonstrates again what a terrific comic writer he is.”
— Observer (London)“As absorbing and enjoyable as anything Reginald Hill has produced. The writing, is brilliant, witty, and erudite...The sharply etched characters are memorably individual.”
— Evening Standard (London)“A superbly crafted thriller.”
— Express (London)“Very adroitly done...Good Morning, Midnight amounts to far more in the totality of its ingredients than do the novels that Hill has been writing for the last decade or more. This one is superior by several degrees: exciting, amusing, original, thoughtful, and intricately constructed...Hill pulls together all the strings in masterly fashion, keeping the story barreling along.”
— Toronto Star“As the elegant solution to this multifaceted tale unfolds, award-winning British mystery writer Reginald Hill raises deeper issues. For at the heart of the mystery is a series of emotional attachments that defy the laws of logic and common sense—relationships ranging from platonic friendship and marriage to an unexpected affair.”
— Barnes & Noble, editorial review“A complex and deeply satisfying tale...one part traditional English whodunit and one part shadowy corporate thriller...Throughout, Pascoe and Dalziel are their usual witty, intelligent selves; they continue to be two of the more interesting police detectives in modern crime fiction...Hill has provided readers with a superior example of the mystery form—one with a delicious cold sting in the final pages.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Hill is in splendid form here, his plot masterful, his scenario up-to-the-minute regarding world events, and his writing suspenseful, stylish, literary, and even philosophical. Topnotch crime fiction from a master.”
— Library Journal“A dazzler—Hill’s best in years.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Sandpaper-voiced Shaun Dooley...excels in the many long dialogue and monologue passages, which he delivers with depth, color, and understatement.”
— AudioFile" I lost part of the audiobook file so I missed out on what the actual Midnight in question had to do with anything, but the rest of it was as solid and entertaining as usual. "
— That70sheidi, 4/28/2011" Avery strange story revolving around the suicide, perhaps murder, of a local big shot. It seems like everyone is lying and everything is going around in circles while Pascoe pursues clusure.<br/><br/>This book was a bit too convoluted for me. "
— Lou, 3/1/2011" excellent book as far as story, characters and language <br/>will have to read more of Hill <br/> "
— Jim, 2/17/2010" Dodgy plot, but the great banter between Dalziel, Pascoe and the other characters is worth reading- better than the TV adaptation. Surprisingly well written for a serial detective novel. "
— David, 11/4/2009" I finished reading this book and had to go back and check details that I had missed. I am still puzzling over parts of the story. A very convoluted story. "
— Jane, 11/1/2009" I give this a 4 for style. This is a later book of the many Reginald Hill has written and I may go back to his early ones and read on. I give it a four because of his detail and his writing style- classy. "
— Linda, 9/3/2009" Like all of Hill's book this has an intriguing plot and lots of characters. Great test of the reader's vocabulary! "
— Clare, 5/21/2009" This was my first by this author, it won't be my last. Love the fact that everything isn't sewed up perfect at the end. I really liked this story. "
— David, 1/24/2009Reginald Hill has been widely published both in England and
the United States. He received Britain’s most coveted mystery writers award,
the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, as well as the Golden Dagger for his Dalziel/Pascoe
series. He lives with his wife in Cumbria, England.