Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Arms and the Women
Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Reginald Hill
Class/Genre: Mystery Police Procedural
Series: Dalziel & Pascoe # 17
Delacorte, Sep 1999, $23.95, 408 pp.
Two people visit Ellie Pascoe claiming to be from the Education Welfare Department. They inform Ellie that the coach carrying her daughter Rosie ran into a bit of a problem. The duo says they tried to call her, but the phone is dead and her spouse police offer Peter is unreachable. They insist no one is hurt, but Rosie is not feeling well. Initially, Ellie worries because her darling little girl has just been released from the hospital after a meningitis scare. Seeing how shaken Ellie is, the man offers to drive her to pick up her daughter. However, Ellie believes this is a scam and knees the man before running both off her property. Andy Danzil leads the inquiry.
A few days later, Ellie’s friend Daphne Alderman notices a stalker watching the Pascoe home. Her nose is busted for challenging the potential assailant. Andy, Peter, and Sergeant Wield think someone wants to either get back at Peter or influence an investigation. The fourth officer on the case, Constable Shirley Novello wonders if Ellie might be the target. Shirley escorts Ellie and Rosie to their family vacation home as a safety measure. However, if her theory is right, the three females may actually have been placed in greater jeopardy.
The latest Pascoe-Danzil police procedural is a tremendous tale that shows how good a novel can flow. The investigation is entertaining, especially when Andy questions a witness. Peter and Ellie remain fresh characters while the support ensemble brings a genuine feel to the frightening events. Already highly regarded, Reginald Hill is attaining the top levels of reader acclaim as one of the best sub-genre authors with his newest novel ARMS AND THE WOMEN.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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