Midnight Fugue
by Reginald Hill, HarperCollins, $34.99
Midnight Fugue was not my first encounter with detective duo Dalziel and Pasco, and other fans won't be disappointed with this latest offering from Reginald Hill, either. Hill writes profusely but is consistently good and innovative, and this latest mystery is no exception.
The last
time we met Superintendent Andy Dalziel, he was recovering from a terrorist blast. Here, he's back in business, a bit confused perhaps, but determined to regain his rightful place as head honcho alongside loyal sidekick DCI Peter Pascoe for a new adventure.
It starts with a phone call to Superintendent Dalziel from an old friend asking for help. But where it ends is a very different story. Gina Wolfe has come to Yorkshire to search for a suspected long-dead husband. Her fiance, the old friend, thinks Dalziel should be able to solve the mystery of the missing husband. Add to the mix a tabloid journalist who thinks the story of a lifetime has landed in his lap, a Tory MP's secretary who suspects her boss' father has a history which could affect his political ambitions, and a couple of ruthless henchmen sent to protect secrets of the past.
It all adds up to an enthralling tale, with each chapter covering a matter of minutes in one day. Definitely one not to be missed.
