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Simon Serrailler #8
The Soul of Discretion
From the outside, the cathedral town of Lafferton seems idyllic, but in many ways it just like any other place. It suffers from the same kinds of crime, is subject to the same pressures from a rapidly changing world, has the same hopes and fears as any number of towns up and down the land.
When one day DC Simon Serrailler is called in by Lafferton's new Chief Constable, Kieran Bright, he is met by two plainclothes officers. He is asked to take the principal role in a difficult, potentially dangerous undercover operation and must leave town immediately, without telling anyone - not even his girlfriend Rachel, who has only just moved in with him.
Meanwhile, Simon's sister Cat is facing difficult choices at work, as Lafferton's hospice closes its bedded units; and at home, as her daughter is presented with a glittering opportunity that they would struggle afford. And all is not well with Simon and Cat's step-mother, Judith, either.
To complete his special op, Simon must inhabit the mind of the worst kind of criminal. This takes its toll on Simon and, as the op unfolds, also on the town and some of its most respected citizens.
Hardcover
First published February 27, 2014
277 people are currently reading
1738 people want to read
About the author
Susan Hill
180 books2,275 followersSusan Hill was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire in 1942. Her hometown was later referred to in her novel A Change for the Better (1969) and some short stories especially "Cockles and Mussels".
She attended Scarborough Convent School, where she became interested in theatre and literature. Her family left Scarborough in 1958 and moved to Coventry where her father worked in car and aircraft factories. Hill states that she attended a girls’ grammar school, Barr's Hill. Her fellow pupils included Jennifer Page, the first Chief Executive of the Millennium Dome. At Barrs Hill she took A levels in English, French, History and Latin, proceeding to an English degree at King's College London. By this time she had already written her first novel, The Enclosure which was published by Hutchinson in her first year at university. The novel was criticised by The Daily Mail for its sexual content, with the suggestion that writing in this style was unsuitable for a "schoolgirl".
Her next novel Gentleman and Ladies was published in 1968. This was followed in quick succession by A Change for the Better, I'm the King of the Castle, The Albatross and other stories, Strange Meeting, The Bird of Night, A Bit of Singing and Dancing and In the Springtime of Year, all written and published between 1968 and 1974.
In 1975 she married Shakespeare scholar Stanley Wells and they moved to Stratford upon Avon. Their first daughter, Jessica, was born in 1977 and their second daughter, Clemency, was born in 1985. Hill has recently founded her own publishing company, Long Barn Books, which has published one work of fiction per year.
Librarian's Note: There is more than one author by this name.
She attended Scarborough Convent School, where she became interested in theatre and literature. Her family left Scarborough in 1958 and moved to Coventry where her father worked in car and aircraft factories. Hill states that she attended a girls’ grammar school, Barr's Hill. Her fellow pupils included Jennifer Page, the first Chief Executive of the Millennium Dome. At Barrs Hill she took A levels in English, French, History and Latin, proceeding to an English degree at King's College London. By this time she had already written her first novel, The Enclosure which was published by Hutchinson in her first year at university. The novel was criticised by The Daily Mail for its sexual content, with the suggestion that writing in this style was unsuitable for a "schoolgirl".
Her next novel Gentleman and Ladies was published in 1968. This was followed in quick succession by A Change for the Better, I'm the King of the Castle, The Albatross and other stories, Strange Meeting, The Bird of Night, A Bit of Singing and Dancing and In the Springtime of Year, all written and published between 1968 and 1974.
In 1975 she married Shakespeare scholar Stanley Wells and they moved to Stratford upon Avon. Their first daughter, Jessica, was born in 1977 and their second daughter, Clemency, was born in 1985. Hill has recently founded her own publishing company, Long Barn Books, which has published one work of fiction per year.
Librarian's Note: There is more than one author by this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 488 reviews
July 30, 2018
Well! I didn’t realize that this series could top itself, but it has with The Soul of Discretion. The level of tension, the intensity of action and feeling in all the story lines was maintained at a consistently high level throughout the novel, throughout all of the relationships.
In the primary story, Simon goes off the grid in an undercover op for the police, in an attempt to find usable information to undermine a pedophile ring. While missing Simon’s presence, his sister Cat continues trying to decide what is the best future course for her for work, both for financial security but perhaps more for happiness. Meanwhile, Rachel has moved in with Simon, but what next? And Richard and Judith. All is not quiet in their marriage and the future is uncertain.
There are many sections of the book that I liked, but I particularly appreciated a conversation Cat has with a dying woman who she is referring to hospice services at home. They discuss the difficulty of talking about dying, how so many people, even close family, avoid this talk, refuse it up to the end, thereby missing some important sharing and truths. They also talk about beliefs.
’Do you believe in anything, Doctor - sorry, Cat?’
‘Yes. It’s often very hard but I do think my Christian faith has sustained me
through an awful lot and it still does.’
‘What if it isn’t true?’
‘I’ve got to this position, Elaine...that if you try to follow the essential
teaching then that’s got to be a good way to live, and besides, I love
the Church of England. I love the services and the language and the
music and the prayers... And I decided to go on loving them and believing
because of the way I’m sustained by it all - and if I’m wrong, well, I shan’t
know anyway. None of us will. But meanwhile, it’s given a point and a
purpose to life and made it better. It’s religion twisted by men to back up
their own desires which has caused so much harm, don’t you think?
(pp 229-230)
I like this section for multiple reasons. Firstly I appreciate the sentiment. In the second place, this piece is just one section of one chapter devoted to a secondary character and her work with a patient. I am impressed with the level of attention and depth Hill gives to all of her characters, even those who are on stage for the shortest time. Of course Cat is not a minor character, being Simon’s sister, but Hill provides levels of motivation, feeling, etc to all but the most minor of presences in the story. Third, the conversation feels like one that could happen between patient and caregiver, especially as death approaches and patients feel a need for knowledge and honesty.
All in all, I found this to be a very strong, well written novel and I am definitely awaiting the follow up book scheduled for release this fall.
I recommend the entire series and suggest beginning with the first in the series.
In the primary story, Simon goes off the grid in an undercover op for the police, in an attempt to find usable information to undermine a pedophile ring. While missing Simon’s presence, his sister Cat continues trying to decide what is the best future course for her for work, both for financial security but perhaps more for happiness. Meanwhile, Rachel has moved in with Simon, but what next? And Richard and Judith. All is not quiet in their marriage and the future is uncertain.
There are many sections of the book that I liked, but I particularly appreciated a conversation Cat has with a dying woman who she is referring to hospice services at home. They discuss the difficulty of talking about dying, how so many people, even close family, avoid this talk, refuse it up to the end, thereby missing some important sharing and truths. They also talk about beliefs.
’Do you believe in anything, Doctor - sorry, Cat?’
‘Yes. It’s often very hard but I do think my Christian faith has sustained me
through an awful lot and it still does.’
‘What if it isn’t true?’
‘I’ve got to this position, Elaine...that if you try to follow the essential
teaching then that’s got to be a good way to live, and besides, I love
the Church of England. I love the services and the language and the
music and the prayers... And I decided to go on loving them and believing
because of the way I’m sustained by it all - and if I’m wrong, well, I shan’t
know anyway. None of us will. But meanwhile, it’s given a point and a
purpose to life and made it better. It’s religion twisted by men to back up
their own desires which has caused so much harm, don’t you think?
(pp 229-230)
I like this section for multiple reasons. Firstly I appreciate the sentiment. In the second place, this piece is just one section of one chapter devoted to a secondary character and her work with a patient. I am impressed with the level of attention and depth Hill gives to all of her characters, even those who are on stage for the shortest time. Of course Cat is not a minor character, being Simon’s sister, but Hill provides levels of motivation, feeling, etc to all but the most minor of presences in the story. Third, the conversation feels like one that could happen between patient and caregiver, especially as death approaches and patients feel a need for knowledge and honesty.
All in all, I found this to be a very strong, well written novel and I am definitely awaiting the follow up book scheduled for release this fall.
I recommend the entire series and suggest beginning with the first in the series.
August 10, 2019
I’m still loving Susan Hill’s books. The story in this one is based on several sensitive subjects: rape, sexual abuse of children, snuff films. Might also include death and dying. All delicately handled, though, I thought.
I’m eager for the next book and will read it soon.
I’m eager for the next book and will read it soon.
July 20, 2016
I didn’t even have time to mark this as currently reading because I read it so fast! Which made me realise how some readers on GR can race through so many books per week, if they stick with a steady diet of genre fiction which has only the plainest vocabulary and deals in characters, scenes and plots we have encountered already a bajillion times in tv shows, movies and other genre fiction books. So even though this was about busting open a hardcore paedophile ring it was easy reading. One’s eyes simply melted through each page, one did.
AND THEN AND THEN AND THEN
Plot : it hardly exists in proper grown-up literature. The more plotty a book is, the further it is from real literature. E.g. anything by Thomas Bernhard, Underworld, Ulysses, The Sound and the Fury, Proust, Sentimental Education - all stone-cold 500 carat literature; a little more plotty – Dickens, Joseph Conrad, Jonathan Franzen, still literature but only 50 carat; then totally plotty genre fiction : not literature.
(Then you get the 15-tentacled giant squid-beasts that are TV soap operas, the plottiest things ever, and the trashiest.)
So you see how this thing goes.
For example “Can I Come Over Tonight” by The Velours (1962)
Even though the story could only go one or two ways at each twist, and even though each of these ways would have been unrelated to any form of originality, still, I kept glomming though this book. Glom, glom, read, read.
But I do understand the pleasures of genre, being a fan of doo-wop music, the American pop harmony groups which flourished between 1956 and 1962. They only ever used four chords, their lyrics and tunes were interchangeable, at 1 minute 15 seconds there was always a saxophone break (never guitar), and there were only ever four varieties of doo wop : fast, slow, black and Italian American. I imagine fans of detective thrillers have the same kind of relationship, and love the similarity and the microtonal differences – a great falsetto, a pyrotechnic hero-gets-beaten-up scene. Same kind of thing going on.
NOTE ON ENGLISH ALCOHOLISM
Every other scene in this entire novel, apart from when they’re in prison, features alcohol. Susan Hill, you may not want to acknowledge this, but I think your book has a problem.
Let us pick a random few pages:
The drinks cupboard was well stocked and the supper straightforward… they cleared everything , plus a bottle and a half of burgundy p274
The drink had gone to his head faster than usual p276
Will held up a bottle of beer, smoking with cold from the fridge… “Gin and tonic? Vodka?” p296
Morson got up and refilled his own glass, handed Will a second bottle of beer without asking p297
“Make yourself comfortable, Johnno. What can I get you to drink?” The vodka bottle came up from the fridge. P300
A soft knock on his door. “Brought you a beer.” P308
“Want me to slip down and get you a Scotch to chase the beer?” p310
“I’m in need of a drink. Can I get you a glass of wine or a beer?” p 323
And on and on and on.
Don’t bother to get up. I can see myself out. Oops! Never mind, I'm okay.
AND THEN AND THEN AND THEN
Plot : it hardly exists in proper grown-up literature. The more plotty a book is, the further it is from real literature. E.g. anything by Thomas Bernhard, Underworld, Ulysses, The Sound and the Fury, Proust, Sentimental Education - all stone-cold 500 carat literature; a little more plotty – Dickens, Joseph Conrad, Jonathan Franzen, still literature but only 50 carat; then totally plotty genre fiction : not literature.
(Then you get the 15-tentacled giant squid-beasts that are TV soap operas, the plottiest things ever, and the trashiest.)
So you see how this thing goes.
For example “Can I Come Over Tonight” by The Velours (1962)
Even though the story could only go one or two ways at each twist, and even though each of these ways would have been unrelated to any form of originality, still, I kept glomming though this book. Glom, glom, read, read.
But I do understand the pleasures of genre, being a fan of doo-wop music, the American pop harmony groups which flourished between 1956 and 1962. They only ever used four chords, their lyrics and tunes were interchangeable, at 1 minute 15 seconds there was always a saxophone break (never guitar), and there were only ever four varieties of doo wop : fast, slow, black and Italian American. I imagine fans of detective thrillers have the same kind of relationship, and love the similarity and the microtonal differences – a great falsetto, a pyrotechnic hero-gets-beaten-up scene. Same kind of thing going on.
NOTE ON ENGLISH ALCOHOLISM
Every other scene in this entire novel, apart from when they’re in prison, features alcohol. Susan Hill, you may not want to acknowledge this, but I think your book has a problem.
Let us pick a random few pages:
The drinks cupboard was well stocked and the supper straightforward… they cleared everything , plus a bottle and a half of burgundy p274
The drink had gone to his head faster than usual p276
Will held up a bottle of beer, smoking with cold from the fridge… “Gin and tonic? Vodka?” p296
Morson got up and refilled his own glass, handed Will a second bottle of beer without asking p297
“Make yourself comfortable, Johnno. What can I get you to drink?” The vodka bottle came up from the fridge. P300
A soft knock on his door. “Brought you a beer.” P308
“Want me to slip down and get you a Scotch to chase the beer?” p310
“I’m in need of a drink. Can I get you a glass of wine or a beer?” p 323
And on and on and on.
Don’t bother to get up. I can see myself out. Oops! Never mind, I'm okay.
November 20, 2017
EXCERPT: He went through the gate and stopped. Later, he said that he would never forget the child's face until his dying day. Later, he could not sleep because the face was in front of him. Later, he was haunted during his waking hours by sudden flashbacks to the child's face as it looked up at him. . .
It was a girl. She was perhaps four years old. She was filthy, she had smears of blood on her arms and legs. Her long, fine, fair hair was matted to her scalp. She was completely naked.
THE BLURB: The cathedral town of Lafferton seems idyllic, but in many ways it is just like any other place. As part of the same rapidly changing world, it shares the same hopes and fears, and the same kinds of crime, as any number of towns up and down the land.
When one day DC Simon Serrailler is called in by Lafferton’s new Chief Constable, Kieron Bright, he is met by four plainclothes officers. He is asked to take the lead role in a complex, potentially dangerous undercover operation and must leave town immediately, without telling anyone – not even his girlfriend Rachel, who has only just moved in with him.
Meanwhile, Simon’s sister Cat is facing difficult choices at work that will test her dedication to the NHS. But an urgent call about her and Simon’s father, Richard, soon presents her with a far greater challenge much closer to home.
To complete his special op, Simon must inhabit the mind of the worst kind of criminal. As the op unfolds, Lafferton is dragged into the sort of case every town dreads. And Simon faces the fight of his life.
MY THOUGHTS: OMG!!!!! This is the most compelling, gut wrenching book I have read by this author.
Over the previous seven books in the Simon Serrailler series Susan Hill, while holding me spellbound with her writing and storytelling skills, has lulled me almost into a sense of complacency, of security. Then she goes and turns everything upside down and gives it a shake for good measure.
I am almost speechless. I never saw any of this coming. I read The Soul of Discretion in one sitting. And now, the next morning, I am still shell-shocked. Still reeling.
I have only one more thing to say. Susan Hill, I hope you are already hard at work on book #9. You can't leave Simon there!
☆☆☆☆☆ bright, bouncy, shining stars for The Soul of Discretion by Susan Hill. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about'page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
It was a girl. She was perhaps four years old. She was filthy, she had smears of blood on her arms and legs. Her long, fine, fair hair was matted to her scalp. She was completely naked.
THE BLURB: The cathedral town of Lafferton seems idyllic, but in many ways it is just like any other place. As part of the same rapidly changing world, it shares the same hopes and fears, and the same kinds of crime, as any number of towns up and down the land.
When one day DC Simon Serrailler is called in by Lafferton’s new Chief Constable, Kieron Bright, he is met by four plainclothes officers. He is asked to take the lead role in a complex, potentially dangerous undercover operation and must leave town immediately, without telling anyone – not even his girlfriend Rachel, who has only just moved in with him.
Meanwhile, Simon’s sister Cat is facing difficult choices at work that will test her dedication to the NHS. But an urgent call about her and Simon’s father, Richard, soon presents her with a far greater challenge much closer to home.
To complete his special op, Simon must inhabit the mind of the worst kind of criminal. As the op unfolds, Lafferton is dragged into the sort of case every town dreads. And Simon faces the fight of his life.
MY THOUGHTS: OMG!!!!! This is the most compelling, gut wrenching book I have read by this author.
Over the previous seven books in the Simon Serrailler series Susan Hill, while holding me spellbound with her writing and storytelling skills, has lulled me almost into a sense of complacency, of security. Then she goes and turns everything upside down and gives it a shake for good measure.
I am almost speechless. I never saw any of this coming. I read The Soul of Discretion in one sitting. And now, the next morning, I am still shell-shocked. Still reeling.
I have only one more thing to say. Susan Hill, I hope you are already hard at work on book #9. You can't leave Simon there!
☆☆☆☆☆ bright, bouncy, shining stars for The Soul of Discretion by Susan Hill. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about'page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
June 4, 2023
The Soul of Discretion is the 8th book in the Simon Serrailer series. It may have been Susan Hill’s best book so far. I’m giving it 4.5 rounded up to 5.
Simon is asked to do some undercover work and accepts without hesitation. He leaves without telling anyone where he is going or what he is doing. Only the people closest to the case have any knowledge of this and Simon is not reachable during this time. So, as you can expect, this is very stressful for everyone, including the reader. I can’t imagine anyone having the strength to take on what he did.
Meanwhile, there is something going on within the Serrailer family. I don’t know how many times I gasped and held my breath as I was reading this book.
We are also introduced to a new character: Chief Constable Kieron Bright.
** I want to let readers know that there are some really difficult triggers in this book. It can be very disturbing and truly sickening. Unfortunately, I can’t write them without spoiling the direction of the book.
Simon is asked to do some undercover work and accepts without hesitation. He leaves without telling anyone where he is going or what he is doing. Only the people closest to the case have any knowledge of this and Simon is not reachable during this time. So, as you can expect, this is very stressful for everyone, including the reader. I can’t imagine anyone having the strength to take on what he did.
Meanwhile, there is something going on within the Serrailer family. I don’t know how many times I gasped and held my breath as I was reading this book.
We are also introduced to a new character: Chief Constable Kieron Bright.
** I want to let readers know that there are some really difficult triggers in this book. It can be very disturbing and truly sickening. Unfortunately, I can’t write them without spoiling the direction of the book.
August 8, 2018
3.5 rounded up. Whenever I need a fast paced mystery/police procedural type of novel, this Simon Serrailer series fits the bill nicely. A little formulaic at this point (set-up, catch up from last installment, build-up, denouement), no wrap up because each book just leads us straight into the next, with lots of dangling ends to carry forward. I actually like having those loose ends, because it's much more realistic. What I love most about these novels though is the character development. Simon, his sister Cat, his father and step-mother, Richard and Judith, even all the peripheral characters in the town of Lafferton; everyone changes and grows. Not always for the better, either. One thing you have to say about Susan Hill, she's not afraid to do terrible things to her star players.
I had thought this was the last of this series, but now I see that #9 will be published in October. And of course, this one ended with a major cliffhanger .......
I had thought this was the last of this series, but now I see that #9 will be published in October. And of course, this one ended with a major cliffhanger .......
November 8, 2023
This was my first of the Simon Serrailler series, and my first Susan Hill book ever. I know right? Have I been hiding under a rock or something? Avid crime fan, somehow I missed this talented author. No more. Whilst this was book eight in the series, for me, the newcomer it read totally fine as a stand alone book. I didn't feel I missed out by not reading prior books in the series.
I knew from the opening chapter I was going to like this book, first chapters are good indicators sometimes.
From the outside, the cathedral town of Lafferton seems idyllic, but in many ways it just like any other place. It suffers from the same kinds of crime, is subject to the same pressures from a rapidly changing world, has the same hopes and fears as any number of towns up and down the land.
When one day DC Simon Serrailler is called in by Lafferton's new Chief Constable, Kieran Bright, he is met by two plainclothes officers. He is asked to take the principal role in a difficult, potentially dangerous undercover operation and must leave town immediately, without telling anyone - not even his girlfriend Rachel, who has only just moved in with him.
This book has so much going for it. A clever, tight plot that continues to throw up surprises. Exceptional characters, flawed and interesting. Story lines that work well in tandem then flow together into one brilliantly executed finale, like two rivers flowing into the great big blue ocean.
The book tackles some dark elements, some very real and disturbing crimes are committed and the focus of this book. Child pornography, child sex crimes, child killings. Not nice stuff. I seriously take my hat off to the men and women that work in this department of child sex crimes in any police force around the world, the images, the horrific things they see would send anyone around the bend with madness from the sheer evil of it all.
Pretty soon DC Simon Serrailler is asked to get closer to this evil than he ever imagined he would. He is to play a key role in bringing evil men to justice, to see their day in court and pay the ultimate price for their crimes. I loved the way his role was played out in the story line for this book, very interesting reading.
Can he play his role in cracking open secret networks of criminals? What's more can he do it without rocking anyone's boat and alerting them he is on the case?
There is an interesting sub-plot weaving through the novel at the same time as Simon is on his secret case. Again, the plot tackles difficult subject matter, but is written so well, it had me, the reader also wanting to know the outcome of this story too.
Not your average crime novel by any means, I liked a lot of aspects of this book. It flows and it sucks you in and makes you want to keep reading until the final outcome. My only criticism if any, is that in the middle I felt it hit a bit of a lull period, but wasn't long before it picked up into first gear again.
Most crime fiction fans usually are hardened to most things in crime books, graphic scenes, kill methods, torture etc. Thankfully, Susan Hill does not go into graphic detail around the child sex crimes, thank God, thank God, thank God - as THAT is hard stuff to read, even for the hardened crime reader like me.
A brilliant novel, entertaining, intriguing and one to put on your "to-read" list for sure. I am going to be finding more of this series to bury my crime lovers nose into in the very near future. 4 stars from me.
I received an advance readers copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks so much for reading my review! If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request. 🐱I love to read other reviews and talk about books we are reading.
If you are an Author and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book please just message me.
You can also find me on Twitter @bookishcats (I follow back) and on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer as Booklover Catlady.
I knew from the opening chapter I was going to like this book, first chapters are good indicators sometimes.
From the outside, the cathedral town of Lafferton seems idyllic, but in many ways it just like any other place. It suffers from the same kinds of crime, is subject to the same pressures from a rapidly changing world, has the same hopes and fears as any number of towns up and down the land.
When one day DC Simon Serrailler is called in by Lafferton's new Chief Constable, Kieran Bright, he is met by two plainclothes officers. He is asked to take the principal role in a difficult, potentially dangerous undercover operation and must leave town immediately, without telling anyone - not even his girlfriend Rachel, who has only just moved in with him.
This book has so much going for it. A clever, tight plot that continues to throw up surprises. Exceptional characters, flawed and interesting. Story lines that work well in tandem then flow together into one brilliantly executed finale, like two rivers flowing into the great big blue ocean.
The book tackles some dark elements, some very real and disturbing crimes are committed and the focus of this book. Child pornography, child sex crimes, child killings. Not nice stuff. I seriously take my hat off to the men and women that work in this department of child sex crimes in any police force around the world, the images, the horrific things they see would send anyone around the bend with madness from the sheer evil of it all.
Pretty soon DC Simon Serrailler is asked to get closer to this evil than he ever imagined he would. He is to play a key role in bringing evil men to justice, to see their day in court and pay the ultimate price for their crimes. I loved the way his role was played out in the story line for this book, very interesting reading.
Can he play his role in cracking open secret networks of criminals? What's more can he do it without rocking anyone's boat and alerting them he is on the case?
There is an interesting sub-plot weaving through the novel at the same time as Simon is on his secret case. Again, the plot tackles difficult subject matter, but is written so well, it had me, the reader also wanting to know the outcome of this story too.
Not your average crime novel by any means, I liked a lot of aspects of this book. It flows and it sucks you in and makes you want to keep reading until the final outcome. My only criticism if any, is that in the middle I felt it hit a bit of a lull period, but wasn't long before it picked up into first gear again.
Most crime fiction fans usually are hardened to most things in crime books, graphic scenes, kill methods, torture etc. Thankfully, Susan Hill does not go into graphic detail around the child sex crimes, thank God, thank God, thank God - as THAT is hard stuff to read, even for the hardened crime reader like me.
A brilliant novel, entertaining, intriguing and one to put on your "to-read" list for sure. I am going to be finding more of this series to bury my crime lovers nose into in the very near future. 4 stars from me.
I received an advance readers copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks so much for reading my review! If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request. 🐱I love to read other reviews and talk about books we are reading.
If you are an Author and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book please just message me.
You can also find me on Twitter @bookishcats (I follow back) and on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer as Booklover Catlady.
September 27, 2014
I love the Simon Serrailler novels. Always have done from the moment I picked up “The Various Haunts of Men” all those years ago, and fell in love with a character, his family and the place in which they reside, a town called Lafferton.
Without doubt, whilst every single novel has been brilliant, this was the best one for me since the original – the plot is poignant, scary, heart wrenching and horrific, with some extremely dark themes at the heart of it and a series of events that sends our well known characters into a place of shadows, and will leave you bewildered and overwhelmed. Stunning in its emotional resonance, whilst often being very matter of fact, in a lot of ways with “The Soul of Discretion” Ms Hill has given the series a completely new lease of life and when I put this down my first thought was “how in the HECK am I going to wait until the next one?”. Which says it all.
The writing really is sublime, especially when you think that most people would call this Crime Fiction. I’m not sure I would give it that label, even though there is always a crime and a mystery within the pages. For me it is really more of an ongoing family drama as we watch events unfold around Simon, Cat, Judith, Richard et al, sometimes life affirming, sometimes completely awful, but actually when taken overall pretty close to life. There are ups, there are downs, good things happen, bad things happen, and throughout it all the characters we come to know and love cope with it all or don’t – the sideline that Simon is a Police Officer is really just an anchor around which to base things.
That is not the say the Crime/Mystery elements of the Serailler series are not the very best anchor to have – every single time Ms Hill manages to comes up with an intelligent, emotive and intriguing storyline that adds to the series as a whole whilst allowing her characters to move on in life, with new experiences that always have resonance in the next novel – as such, taken as a body of work, this is really really excellent.
The depth of characterisation is sensational, the prose is gorgeous and flowing, bringing to life the story being told. In the case of this particular instalment there are some truly breathtaking moments – towards the end, as things came together, I was on the edge of my seat…the author achieves a slow but sure build up then BAM, suddenly you are off on a race against time where you are honestly not sure if there will be a happy ending. Clever and boy did I enjoy this one!
This is actually one series that I would highly recommend you read in order rather than dip in and out of, it is one of my collection series (yes chronic impatience meant I devoured the story via netgalley but I will certainly be buying a physical version to accompany the others) and one that in a few years, perhaps when it is done, I shall look forward to going back to and reading start to finish.
Highly Recommended. Especially as a series.
Without doubt, whilst every single novel has been brilliant, this was the best one for me since the original – the plot is poignant, scary, heart wrenching and horrific, with some extremely dark themes at the heart of it and a series of events that sends our well known characters into a place of shadows, and will leave you bewildered and overwhelmed. Stunning in its emotional resonance, whilst often being very matter of fact, in a lot of ways with “The Soul of Discretion” Ms Hill has given the series a completely new lease of life and when I put this down my first thought was “how in the HECK am I going to wait until the next one?”. Which says it all.
The writing really is sublime, especially when you think that most people would call this Crime Fiction. I’m not sure I would give it that label, even though there is always a crime and a mystery within the pages. For me it is really more of an ongoing family drama as we watch events unfold around Simon, Cat, Judith, Richard et al, sometimes life affirming, sometimes completely awful, but actually when taken overall pretty close to life. There are ups, there are downs, good things happen, bad things happen, and throughout it all the characters we come to know and love cope with it all or don’t – the sideline that Simon is a Police Officer is really just an anchor around which to base things.
That is not the say the Crime/Mystery elements of the Serailler series are not the very best anchor to have – every single time Ms Hill manages to comes up with an intelligent, emotive and intriguing storyline that adds to the series as a whole whilst allowing her characters to move on in life, with new experiences that always have resonance in the next novel – as such, taken as a body of work, this is really really excellent.
The depth of characterisation is sensational, the prose is gorgeous and flowing, bringing to life the story being told. In the case of this particular instalment there are some truly breathtaking moments – towards the end, as things came together, I was on the edge of my seat…the author achieves a slow but sure build up then BAM, suddenly you are off on a race against time where you are honestly not sure if there will be a happy ending. Clever and boy did I enjoy this one!
This is actually one series that I would highly recommend you read in order rather than dip in and out of, it is one of my collection series (yes chronic impatience meant I devoured the story via netgalley but I will certainly be buying a physical version to accompany the others) and one that in a few years, perhaps when it is done, I shall look forward to going back to and reading start to finish.
Highly Recommended. Especially as a series.
October 29, 2014
As I read the first few sentences I knew that this would be a book that I would enjoy with a style of writing invites the reader to care. This is the eighth book in the Simon Serrailler series but if like me you've missed a few, don't worry this can easily be read as a standalone.
All is not going smoothly for Simon as he struggles to accommodate his latest girlfriend Rachel in his life and the tensions are growing between the two when everything changes when Simon is summoned to a top secret meeting. Simon is being sent off on an undercover mission to a secure unit that seeks to rehabilitate child abusers, a tough subject to cover but Susan Hill handles it incredibly well as she portrays these men as individuals but without sympathy and as the reader we are invited to watch their therapy sessions where they seek to rationalise their past behaviour with worthy words of how they are going to change, to become better men and live, either in prison, or out of it, cured of their habits.
Meanwhile unknown to Simon, his father, Richard is becoming more boorish and his wife Judith is assessing whether they can ever capture their earlier happiness. Cat, Simon’s sister is also having a hard time readjusting to life now the aims of the hospice have changed leaving her with less contact with patients so when a terminally ill patient in the Lafferton needs someone to listen she is glad to make a difference.
Susan Hill’s writing draws you into the story which is populated with a multitude of characters who feel so realistic. I may not have liked many of those I met in this book but they were far from two-dimensional characters and the writing flows so well so that even the subject matter of this book is extremely dark at no point did it feel too much. This is partly because the awful acts are not described but rather happen ‘off screen’ which allowed me to sympathise with the victims and decry the perpetrators without the awfulness perpetuated page after page.
Simon’s family provide a number of side-plots, all with thought-provoking issues which neatly dovetail into the main plot. Susan Hill cleverly uses these sub-plots to keep the reader’s interest and move the story along at a good pace throughout cleverly building the tension before a heart-stopping finale which had me racing through the pages at the end of the book.
Reading this book has convinced me to go back and read those I have missed in the intervening years as I have been missing out on an excellent series.
I’d like to thank the publishers Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for giving me a copy of this book to read in return for this honest review
All is not going smoothly for Simon as he struggles to accommodate his latest girlfriend Rachel in his life and the tensions are growing between the two when everything changes when Simon is summoned to a top secret meeting. Simon is being sent off on an undercover mission to a secure unit that seeks to rehabilitate child abusers, a tough subject to cover but Susan Hill handles it incredibly well as she portrays these men as individuals but without sympathy and as the reader we are invited to watch their therapy sessions where they seek to rationalise their past behaviour with worthy words of how they are going to change, to become better men and live, either in prison, or out of it, cured of their habits.
Meanwhile unknown to Simon, his father, Richard is becoming more boorish and his wife Judith is assessing whether they can ever capture their earlier happiness. Cat, Simon’s sister is also having a hard time readjusting to life now the aims of the hospice have changed leaving her with less contact with patients so when a terminally ill patient in the Lafferton needs someone to listen she is glad to make a difference.
Susan Hill’s writing draws you into the story which is populated with a multitude of characters who feel so realistic. I may not have liked many of those I met in this book but they were far from two-dimensional characters and the writing flows so well so that even the subject matter of this book is extremely dark at no point did it feel too much. This is partly because the awful acts are not described but rather happen ‘off screen’ which allowed me to sympathise with the victims and decry the perpetrators without the awfulness perpetuated page after page.
Simon’s family provide a number of side-plots, all with thought-provoking issues which neatly dovetail into the main plot. Susan Hill cleverly uses these sub-plots to keep the reader’s interest and move the story along at a good pace throughout cleverly building the tension before a heart-stopping finale which had me racing through the pages at the end of the book.
Reading this book has convinced me to go back and read those I have missed in the intervening years as I have been missing out on an excellent series.
I’d like to thank the publishers Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for giving me a copy of this book to read in return for this honest review
August 23, 2020
Where I got the book: audiobook on Audible.
Dear Ms. Hill,
When they say you should create great characters and then put them through the wringer…
THEY DIDN’T MEAN IT LITERALLY.
Sincerely,
(And thats all the spoilers you’re going to get.)
As with the previous book, Hill is able to rein in her love of subplots a little bit and stick to two main plotlines, one involving Simon Serrailler and the other involving his family, with a side order of Rachel being a boring doormat. At one point I thought she (Rachel) was going to start being interesting, but I should have known better. I did find it hilarious that Simon can’t cope with Rachel changing the look of his flat, being territorial to the point of paranoia myself. Oh, and then there’s another little bunny trail involving Cat and, yet again, dying people. Which is kind of interesting in its way, but then again it isn’t, or it belongs in a different book. Has Hill written a book set in a hospice? Because given the last three or four Serrailler books, I feel like this is an area she really likes exploring. How about a murder mystery set in a hospice? Where somebody dies JUST a little too soon…wrap in a will that exists in three or four versions à la Dorothy L. Sayers and you’ve got a winner there. Oh, and make it Victorian (did the Victorians have hospices? I must investigate) so they can make another Woman In Black-type movie. And while you’re at it, persuade Rupert Penry-Jones to play Simon in a TV series, and ensure he has to take his shirt off in every episode.
But I digress (yow). All of the storylines except the dying one are linked by this novel’s theme, which is sex crimes. Simon goes undercover to trap a ring of pedophiles; meanwhile a rape takes place all too close to home. Hill stops short at getting into the nastiest details of the child abuse, although there’s enough there that I started to feel a bit overwhelmed and depressed at a certain point, so I was glad the plot took a different turn. She does a good job describing the effects of the rape on the victim’s life and the difficulty she has in convincing people that she wasn’t making it up—one thing Hill does very well is to make you think about the impact crime has on the lives of the people around both the victims and the perpetrators. In fact, I was a bit disappointed she didn’t work in something about the long-term effects of child abuse on the victims, but perhaps she’s saving that for another day.
Hill certainly had my attention from pretty much the first few minutes till the end of the book, which was narrated with Steven Pacey’s usual flair (although he does NOT do a convincing West Indian accent, quite apart from the fact the character in question would probably be third-generation English). She’s set up a very hard act to follow for the next book, not to mention taking some of the characters in some quite startling directions. Two things I wished she hadn’t done: stepping the POV back a bit at a couple of points, which took me out of Simon’s head and into the narrator’s (“What he had experienced was going to give him nightmares for the rest of his life” kind of thing) and having another character with total baldness caused by alopecia. Hill seems to equate baldness with badness, which I find slightly odd.
C'mon, TV show guys, what are you waiting for? There was talk of a TV series a while back, but so far nothing...
Dear Ms. Hill,
When they say you should create great characters and then put them through the wringer…
THEY DIDN’T MEAN IT LITERALLY.
Sincerely,
(And thats all the spoilers you’re going to get.)
As with the previous book, Hill is able to rein in her love of subplots a little bit and stick to two main plotlines, one involving Simon Serrailler and the other involving his family, with a side order of Rachel being a boring doormat. At one point I thought she (Rachel) was going to start being interesting, but I should have known better. I did find it hilarious that Simon can’t cope with Rachel changing the look of his flat, being territorial to the point of paranoia myself. Oh, and then there’s another little bunny trail involving Cat and, yet again, dying people. Which is kind of interesting in its way, but then again it isn’t, or it belongs in a different book. Has Hill written a book set in a hospice? Because given the last three or four Serrailler books, I feel like this is an area she really likes exploring. How about a murder mystery set in a hospice? Where somebody dies JUST a little too soon…wrap in a will that exists in three or four versions à la Dorothy L. Sayers and you’ve got a winner there. Oh, and make it Victorian (did the Victorians have hospices? I must investigate) so they can make another Woman In Black-type movie. And while you’re at it, persuade Rupert Penry-Jones to play Simon in a TV series, and ensure he has to take his shirt off in every episode.
But I digress (yow). All of the storylines except the dying one are linked by this novel’s theme, which is sex crimes. Simon goes undercover to trap a ring of pedophiles; meanwhile a rape takes place all too close to home. Hill stops short at getting into the nastiest details of the child abuse, although there’s enough there that I started to feel a bit overwhelmed and depressed at a certain point, so I was glad the plot took a different turn. She does a good job describing the effects of the rape on the victim’s life and the difficulty she has in convincing people that she wasn’t making it up—one thing Hill does very well is to make you think about the impact crime has on the lives of the people around both the victims and the perpetrators. In fact, I was a bit disappointed she didn’t work in something about the long-term effects of child abuse on the victims, but perhaps she’s saving that for another day.
Hill certainly had my attention from pretty much the first few minutes till the end of the book, which was narrated with Steven Pacey’s usual flair (although he does NOT do a convincing West Indian accent, quite apart from the fact the character in question would probably be third-generation English). She’s set up a very hard act to follow for the next book, not to mention taking some of the characters in some quite startling directions. Two things I wished she hadn’t done: stepping the POV back a bit at a couple of points, which took me out of Simon’s head and into the narrator’s (“What he had experienced was going to give him nightmares for the rest of his life” kind of thing) and having another character with total baldness caused by alopecia. Hill seems to equate baldness with badness, which I find slightly odd.
C'mon, TV show guys, what are you waiting for? There was talk of a TV series a while back, but so far nothing...
November 13, 2015
Susan Hill is one of my favourite authors. I was introduced to her (not literally) by an old headmaster who ran special tutorials for his English scholars, and he said to me that if I wanted to become a writer one day to study Susan Hill. It's no coincidence one of her books, I'm the King of the Castle, was chosen to be on the GCSE syllabus. She does deserve study. That simple, short novella is one of the most intense and horrific descriptions of childhood bullying I've ever read--but don't go into it expecting blood and gore. It's psychological bullying at its very finest, the kind only children (and adults with sensitive imaginations and long memories) find debilitating. The kind that when you take it to an unheeding, uncaring parent you are told, "Don't be silly, darling. It's was just a bit of silly nonsense."
Hill's The Woman in Black is one of the most terrifying novels I've ever read and once you've read it it rather ruins you for the better known slasher/gore kind of horror novels.
In the Springtime of the Year is an almost too-painful-to-read meditation on death and overcoming grief. It's a master class in writing.
So I was delighted a few years ago to discover that Susan Hill had begun a detective series--the Simon Serrailler novels. Set in a small market town somewhere in the East of England, Simon is a detective, rising through the ranks to Chief Superintendent by this, the 8th in the series. Not only do you have Susan Hill's undeniable writing genius, you have very well crafted and interesting crime novels as well. The cast of characters is wide and fascinating, particularly Cat, Simon's twin sister, a doctor in the town.
Simon is a fascinating character. I am convinced he's gay, but I am probably bringing my own bias to that assessment. If he's not, he ought to seriously consider giving it a go, because he is a man utterly unwilling to compromise his life or work for the sake of a woman. He definitely doesn't want a woman to move into his exquisite flat in the Cathedral close and move things around. Who would?
I highly recommend this series for those who like fine writing rather than high-adrenaline action. These novels are quintessentially English, but are very richly rewarding in every way.
Hill's The Woman in Black is one of the most terrifying novels I've ever read and once you've read it it rather ruins you for the better known slasher/gore kind of horror novels.
In the Springtime of the Year is an almost too-painful-to-read meditation on death and overcoming grief. It's a master class in writing.
So I was delighted a few years ago to discover that Susan Hill had begun a detective series--the Simon Serrailler novels. Set in a small market town somewhere in the East of England, Simon is a detective, rising through the ranks to Chief Superintendent by this, the 8th in the series. Not only do you have Susan Hill's undeniable writing genius, you have very well crafted and interesting crime novels as well. The cast of characters is wide and fascinating, particularly Cat, Simon's twin sister, a doctor in the town.
Simon is a fascinating character. I am convinced he's gay, but I am probably bringing my own bias to that assessment. If he's not, he ought to seriously consider giving it a go, because he is a man utterly unwilling to compromise his life or work for the sake of a woman. He definitely doesn't want a woman to move into his exquisite flat in the Cathedral close and move things around. Who would?
I highly recommend this series for those who like fine writing rather than high-adrenaline action. These novels are quintessentially English, but are very richly rewarding in every way.
November 18, 2020
This was one of the toughest in the series to read because of the subject matter it tackled (child pornography, including snuff porn), but I applaud Hill for being willing to peel back society's veneer and acknowledge the grosser crimes that lurk underneath. The only way we can hope to make progress towards ridding ourselves of this disgusting behavior is if we are first willing to acknowledge that it exists.
I also appreciate that Hill refuses to simplistically divide her characters into the good guys and the bad guys, and this novel went even further than any of the previous ones in the series to blur those lines. To see one of Simon's family members become a criminal was surprising (though not quite as surprising, given who it was and the hints we'd already gotten about his behavior in the last installment), and yet, that's how real life works. Much respect to Hill for her willingness to taint her pages with the messiness of actual human existence.
I also appreciate that Hill refuses to simplistically divide her characters into the good guys and the bad guys, and this novel went even further than any of the previous ones in the series to blur those lines. To see one of Simon's family members become a criminal was surprising (though not quite as surprising, given who it was and the hints we'd already gotten about his behavior in the last installment), and yet, that's how real life works. Much respect to Hill for her willingness to taint her pages with the messiness of actual human existence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2024
This is one of the best crime series being written imo. It was an absorbing but not an easy read for the topic matter (trigger warning:
My favorite character for at least the last couple of books is the main character’s sister and some of the women connected to her who are more minor characters. This was a difficult time for not just the m/c, but for his sister too, for multiple reasons.
Note to self: If I ever reread this series I may not actually want to reread this one. The first half was doable but the last roughly 1/4 was really tough, when the m/c runs into (inevitable) trouble and we learn some of the details of the crimes being committed that are just, frankly, horrific in nature. There is also another theme (trigger warning ) that’s difficult.
Having said all of that, the recurring characters in here are terrific. There are a couple of recurring animal characters as well, one of whom is a cat who really makes me miss my old girl (see profile pic 🙂). Her stories grab you instantly and they are all very hard to put down. You can’t help but care about her recurring characters and sometimes even the ones that come in for just one novel are memorable and interesting. There is a hospice patient in here who I’d really like to learn more about, for example. ( The m/c’s sister is a doctor and her patients are often non-recurring, interesting characters.)
Thankfully, the story ends on a hopeful note, but I do wonder about the repercussions for the rest of the series, as some fairly important events occur to the main character and more than one recurring character in this.
The audio version of every book in this series is performed by Steven Pacey who is absolutely dynamite. I was able to get all but this one and the next one via Hoopla from my local library. It was totally worth the Audible credit for this, even tho I’m unlikely to ever read this again, because Pacey is just brilliant. He knows these characters so well and his performances reflect that. Six stars for his performances, straight across the board.
My favorite character for at least the last couple of books is the main character’s sister and some of the women connected to her who are more minor characters. This was a difficult time for not just the m/c, but for his sister too, for multiple reasons.
Note to self: If I ever reread this series I may not actually want to reread this one. The first half was doable but the last roughly 1/4 was really tough, when the m/c runs into (inevitable) trouble and we learn some of the details of the crimes being committed that are just, frankly, horrific in nature. There is also another theme (trigger warning ) that’s difficult.
Having said all of that, the recurring characters in here are terrific. There are a couple of recurring animal characters as well, one of whom is a cat who really makes me miss my old girl (see profile pic 🙂). Her stories grab you instantly and they are all very hard to put down. You can’t help but care about her recurring characters and sometimes even the ones that come in for just one novel are memorable and interesting. There is a hospice patient in here who I’d really like to learn more about, for example. ( The m/c’s sister is a doctor and her patients are often non-recurring, interesting characters.)
Thankfully, the story ends on a hopeful note, but I do wonder about the repercussions for the rest of the series, as some fairly important events occur to the main character and more than one recurring character in this.
The audio version of every book in this series is performed by Steven Pacey who is absolutely dynamite. I was able to get all but this one and the next one via Hoopla from my local library. It was totally worth the Audible credit for this, even tho I’m unlikely to ever read this again, because Pacey is just brilliant. He knows these characters so well and his performances reflect that. Six stars for his performances, straight across the board.
August 25, 2015
Lafferton, England. A naked child wanders down a street. A woman is raped at a black tie Freemansons’ Dinner. Detective Simon Serrailler is coming to terms with his girlfriend moving into his flat which now seems very small and confined, no longer his own private space. His widowed sister is struggling for money and must decide what to do about it. His stepmother is struggling to deal with the detective’s increasingly irritable and irascible father. Serrailler’s girlfriend feels like the lodger in her boyfriend’s flat. And then Serrailler is posted undercover.
This is the eighth novel about detective Simon Serrailler and as far as I’m concerned, Susan Hill can continue writing them until kingdom comes. I have read them all over the years, but this is the first I have reviewed [something I will remedy over the coming year]. Serrailler is a thoughtful, solitary-minded detective, surrounded by a family which, in ‘The Soul of Discretion’, has its own crises. But the central thread of the book, which kept me reading late into the night, was Serrailler going undercover. In this book, you wonder if he will live or die. I read this book in 24 hours, including a night’s sleep.
The subject matter is difficult, the nastiest child abuse, and to go undercover Serrailler must know his subject, be able to act the part of a ‘nonce’, he must look as if he likes the nasty stuff. Susan Hill doesn’t show us the unpleasantness, she lets us imagine it by showing us Serrailler’s reaction. He becomes Johnno Miles and we take every step with him as he goes to prison, the aim to get close to a prisoner who it is hoped holds the key to unlocking a prolific child abuse ring. With him is a James Bond-style watch with coded buttons to send messages to HQ, except it is a cheap black plastic watch, not a Rolex. There are a lot of heart-in-mouth passages, Hill’s writing makes you turn page after page. And just when you get to a key bit, the chapter ends and the attention switches - to Cat who is trying to decide whether to work for a hospice or a GP practice, or his stepmother Judith on holiday in France with his father, or Serrailler’s girlfriend Rachel who is opening a bookshop - and you get an emotional breather from the tension. But all the stories are linked, in the end.
This is the eighth novel about detective Simon Serrailler and as far as I’m concerned, Susan Hill can continue writing them until kingdom comes. I have read them all over the years, but this is the first I have reviewed [something I will remedy over the coming year]. Serrailler is a thoughtful, solitary-minded detective, surrounded by a family which, in ‘The Soul of Discretion’, has its own crises. But the central thread of the book, which kept me reading late into the night, was Serrailler going undercover. In this book, you wonder if he will live or die. I read this book in 24 hours, including a night’s sleep.
The subject matter is difficult, the nastiest child abuse, and to go undercover Serrailler must know his subject, be able to act the part of a ‘nonce’, he must look as if he likes the nasty stuff. Susan Hill doesn’t show us the unpleasantness, she lets us imagine it by showing us Serrailler’s reaction. He becomes Johnno Miles and we take every step with him as he goes to prison, the aim to get close to a prisoner who it is hoped holds the key to unlocking a prolific child abuse ring. With him is a James Bond-style watch with coded buttons to send messages to HQ, except it is a cheap black plastic watch, not a Rolex. There are a lot of heart-in-mouth passages, Hill’s writing makes you turn page after page. And just when you get to a key bit, the chapter ends and the attention switches - to Cat who is trying to decide whether to work for a hospice or a GP practice, or his stepmother Judith on holiday in France with his father, or Serrailler’s girlfriend Rachel who is opening a bookshop - and you get an emotional breather from the tension. But all the stories are linked, in the end.
August 30, 2014
Just when I thought the Serrailler series might be running out of steam…….
Susan Hill was a fabulous and thoughtful writer of complex and often dark psychology long before she embarked on the crime genre
So when, all those years ago, she joined the ranks of detective novel writers, with an on-going cast of characters, to appear novel by novel, she was never going to abandon her initial writerly strengths and vision, and would instead bring these to her interpretation of the genre.
She begins with a particular person DCI Simon Serrailler, as her detective to follow and over the years (this is outing 8) traces the development not just of Serrailler himself, and relationships he has as a professional, the development of and relationships of individuals within his team, but also looks at Serrailler himself and his immediate and wider family. That family of course also being set within a particular time and place ‘Lafferton’ a small cathedral town, somewhere in Southern England.
This gives, as the series wears on, Hill a chance to explore much wider themes, within the lives of her characters, and the culture of the times. The particular ‘crime’ which may be the page turning element of the plot will spread out into the lives of the community at large, and Hill may also investigate further ethical and philosophical themes and sub-themes in each novel, as well as charting how decisions from Central Government may be filtering down onto the ground. These will obviously be around the policing and judiciary, and may deal with issues such as economic migrants and how they are viewed, but, as Serrailler’s sister Cat Deerbon is a doctor, the exploration of the changing face of health-care and policies relating to this, are also, increasingly, at the centre.
This might make her sound dry, white-paper minded and pedantic. Anything but – it adds depth, integrity and interest. Continuing readers of the series know all the above, and my advice of course for the first time reader would be that though this (book 8) is absolutely fine, as they all are, to read as a stand-alone first book, if you enjoyed it, go and explore, in order, the rest of the series, from book 1, and work your way through, then reading this again, for even more enjoyment.
Later books in the series have explored strong meta-themes.
In this one, we are back into the territory of sexual crimes – and the wide context is about consent, and who is capable of giving consent; without consent, is always violation. Centrally, we are in the horrid territory of organised paedophilia, but there is also another story going on around rape. Hill is never salacious, there are no accounts designed half to titillate as they repel, but she does not hesitate to make the reader understand difficulties, injustices, ambiguities and challenges.
She also continues to explore a theme which surfaced in Serrailler 6, around terminal care, and assisted dying, death itself – both un-natural, visited through violence by one on another, and the process itself which comes to all, which in the main we find so difficult to engage with. As a contrast to the difficulties in Serrailler 6, we have here, through Cat Deerbon’s medical practice, an exploration of what proper hospice care could offer, what is being lost through cost-cutting policies, and indeed a humbling (for Deerbon) and revealing series of conversations with a patient in the process of dying (this is no spoiler, it is very obvious, immediately, known to Deerbon, known to the family) This is part of the ‘heart’ of the book, an exploration of communities, both what is supportive about communities – and of course, that flip-side, the community of perversion which the police story is all about.
Initially, I started this book with a sense that maybe the series had run its course, that there was nowhere else to go. I do believe Hill proved me wrong. There are very certain developments, and onwards, not to mention an ending which has beautiful poise.
So yes, I will be interested in Serrailler 9, should Hill want to take us from that poise, onwards.
Her books are not really about guessing plot, we know who, we often can surmise, through the meta-themes, ‘and who else’; we often also know generally why (the litany of human chosen wrongdoing often comes down to simple motives), but the trick, or the point, is to get down to the particular weft and weave of individuals.
I received this as a digital ARC, via the publishers, Random House Vintage, complete with a few strange vanished sentence or clause endings, and the odd typo, which I assume will be corrected by an eagle-eyed and diligent final proof reading. That aside, recommended
Publication date in the UK 2nd October, Stateside has the same date for Kindle, but next year for the ‘proper bookie book’
Susan Hill was a fabulous and thoughtful writer of complex and often dark psychology long before she embarked on the crime genre
So when, all those years ago, she joined the ranks of detective novel writers, with an on-going cast of characters, to appear novel by novel, she was never going to abandon her initial writerly strengths and vision, and would instead bring these to her interpretation of the genre.
She begins with a particular person DCI Simon Serrailler, as her detective to follow and over the years (this is outing 8) traces the development not just of Serrailler himself, and relationships he has as a professional, the development of and relationships of individuals within his team, but also looks at Serrailler himself and his immediate and wider family. That family of course also being set within a particular time and place ‘Lafferton’ a small cathedral town, somewhere in Southern England.
This gives, as the series wears on, Hill a chance to explore much wider themes, within the lives of her characters, and the culture of the times. The particular ‘crime’ which may be the page turning element of the plot will spread out into the lives of the community at large, and Hill may also investigate further ethical and philosophical themes and sub-themes in each novel, as well as charting how decisions from Central Government may be filtering down onto the ground. These will obviously be around the policing and judiciary, and may deal with issues such as economic migrants and how they are viewed, but, as Serrailler’s sister Cat Deerbon is a doctor, the exploration of the changing face of health-care and policies relating to this, are also, increasingly, at the centre.
This might make her sound dry, white-paper minded and pedantic. Anything but – it adds depth, integrity and interest. Continuing readers of the series know all the above, and my advice of course for the first time reader would be that though this (book 8) is absolutely fine, as they all are, to read as a stand-alone first book, if you enjoyed it, go and explore, in order, the rest of the series, from book 1, and work your way through, then reading this again, for even more enjoyment.
Later books in the series have explored strong meta-themes.
In this one, we are back into the territory of sexual crimes – and the wide context is about consent, and who is capable of giving consent; without consent, is always violation. Centrally, we are in the horrid territory of organised paedophilia, but there is also another story going on around rape. Hill is never salacious, there are no accounts designed half to titillate as they repel, but she does not hesitate to make the reader understand difficulties, injustices, ambiguities and challenges.
She also continues to explore a theme which surfaced in Serrailler 6, around terminal care, and assisted dying, death itself – both un-natural, visited through violence by one on another, and the process itself which comes to all, which in the main we find so difficult to engage with. As a contrast to the difficulties in Serrailler 6, we have here, through Cat Deerbon’s medical practice, an exploration of what proper hospice care could offer, what is being lost through cost-cutting policies, and indeed a humbling (for Deerbon) and revealing series of conversations with a patient in the process of dying (this is no spoiler, it is very obvious, immediately, known to Deerbon, known to the family) This is part of the ‘heart’ of the book, an exploration of communities, both what is supportive about communities – and of course, that flip-side, the community of perversion which the police story is all about.
Initially, I started this book with a sense that maybe the series had run its course, that there was nowhere else to go. I do believe Hill proved me wrong. There are very certain developments, and onwards, not to mention an ending which has beautiful poise.
So yes, I will be interested in Serrailler 9, should Hill want to take us from that poise, onwards.
Her books are not really about guessing plot, we know who, we often can surmise, through the meta-themes, ‘and who else’; we often also know generally why (the litany of human chosen wrongdoing often comes down to simple motives), but the trick, or the point, is to get down to the particular weft and weave of individuals.
I received this as a digital ARC, via the publishers, Random House Vintage, complete with a few strange vanished sentence or clause endings, and the odd typo, which I assume will be corrected by an eagle-eyed and diligent final proof reading. That aside, recommended
Publication date in the UK 2nd October, Stateside has the same date for Kindle, but next year for the ‘proper bookie book’
January 29, 2015
Fair warning...I have a lot to say about this one. My friend Emily, who is a regular contributor to Goodreads, said in a recent review that she uses the word "love" a lot. Well, of course she does--it's what we bibliophiles do! We love our books, our authors, their stories and series, the characters. So, unapologetically, I'll channel Emily and say I love Susan Hill, I love this series, and I loved this book. I'm not sure I love Chief Superintendent Simon Serrailler. I'm smitten, perhaps. He's handsome, brave, heroic, intelligent, and excellent at what he does. He's a loving brother to his twin sister Cat and a loving uncle to her kids, who idolize him, but there's a distance and remoteness to him as well. I think the author has yet to peel away some important layers to this fascinating character and his almost pathological aversion to sharing his life fully with any of the many women who'd love to do so. Also fascinating are the members of Simon's strange and wonderful family, who as individuals are either strange or wonderful, but unlike Simon, not both. Wonderful are the aforementioned Cat, who is widowed doctor, her children, and her and Simon's step-mother Judith. Richard (Cat and Simon's father) is strange and far from wonderful. Strange and intriguing is the older brother sometimes mentioned but living abroad and not yet present in any books so far. Hmmmm.
This book focuses on three major plots that are separate but intertwined because of the family relationships. One of them centers on Cat, and the other on Judith and Richard. These plots, although one is quite awful, are welcome distractions nonetheless, because the main plot with Simon is bloody hideous.
Simon's mission in this one is to do what he does best...going after the bad guys. In this book, the bad guys are very bad indeed, and as ugly, I think, as depraved humans can get. (and calling these villains human is overstating it). The plot involves pedophilia, and Simon going undercover to get close to an imprisoned ringleader of a ghastly network of these monsters who has refused to give any of the members up. Simon's sent in to get names.
This writer has skirted the edge of darkness from the start, as far as her characters' actions and fates are concerned.
She can be very hard on beloved characters. I gave up on C.J. Box very early in the series because of this, and it took me years to go back to Elizabeth George. I know literary wisdom says to put your characters through the wringer. There are some important wringers involved in this one. But give up on this series? Never! I LOVE it. Besides, after this one, I'm thinking there will have to be some serious layer peeling in the next.
This book focuses on three major plots that are separate but intertwined because of the family relationships. One of them centers on Cat, and the other on Judith and Richard. These plots, although one is quite awful, are welcome distractions nonetheless, because the main plot with Simon is bloody hideous.
Simon's mission in this one is to do what he does best...going after the bad guys. In this book, the bad guys are very bad indeed, and as ugly, I think, as depraved humans can get. (and calling these villains human is overstating it). The plot involves pedophilia, and Simon going undercover to get close to an imprisoned ringleader of a ghastly network of these monsters who has refused to give any of the members up. Simon's sent in to get names.
This writer has skirted the edge of darkness from the start, as far as her characters' actions and fates are concerned.
She can be very hard on beloved characters. I gave up on C.J. Box very early in the series because of this, and it took me years to go back to Elizabeth George. I know literary wisdom says to put your characters through the wringer. There are some important wringers involved in this one. But give up on this series? Never! I LOVE it. Besides, after this one, I'm thinking there will have to be some serious layer peeling in the next.
June 19, 2015
I haven’t read any of the Simon Serrailler series- but will have to work through the back catalogue now. These are JUST my sort of books.
Serrailler is a Detective, whose girlfriend has just moved into his flat. They are going through an adjustment phase- she still feels like she’s ‘lodging’ and he’s getting used to the reduction in space available.
He is called into the Chief Constables office and told that he will be going undercover on a dangerous mission connected with child abuse- and that he has to leave straight away without even getting to tell his girlfriend.
The dark side to the book is lightened by visiting his sisters dilemma, his stepmother and his girlfriend.
This was a harrowing but totally absorbing read and I can’t wait to read more by Susan Hill.
Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this book.
Serrailler is a Detective, whose girlfriend has just moved into his flat. They are going through an adjustment phase- she still feels like she’s ‘lodging’ and he’s getting used to the reduction in space available.
He is called into the Chief Constables office and told that he will be going undercover on a dangerous mission connected with child abuse- and that he has to leave straight away without even getting to tell his girlfriend.
The dark side to the book is lightened by visiting his sisters dilemma, his stepmother and his girlfriend.
This was a harrowing but totally absorbing read and I can’t wait to read more by Susan Hill.
Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this book.
November 14, 2024
I. CAN’T. EVEN. I believe I have given 5 stars to every book in this series. I could not imagine how they could have been any better, but…I CAN’T. EVEN. Oh, I already said that. This is book 8, and the author has outdone herself.
The sections that involve Simon are suspenseful. The sections that involve Cat are poignant. The sections that involve their father, Richard, make me furious. There is a real range of emotions happening here. By now, I am so invested in this family, and I will order the next book tonight from my library.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The sections that involve Simon are suspenseful. The sections that involve Cat are poignant. The sections that involve their father, Richard, make me furious. There is a real range of emotions happening here. By now, I am so invested in this family, and I will order the next book tonight from my library.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
August 2, 2023
It is my custom to listen to, rather than read these novels, and this, the most recent of the Serraillier series was no exception. Ms Hill is of course a prolific and successful writer, though I do not generally find her prose style engaging. What I do find is that without exception her novels adapt well to audiobook narration and the narrator of these novels, Steven Pacey, is quite exceptional adding a depth to both the story-telling and the characters that a conventional reading experience would not achieve.
So, if you're not familiar with Simon Serraillier, prepare yourself for the sainted detective (though his halo slips slightly during this outing). Simon: Detective Superintendent, tall, handsome, kind, understanding, intuitive, brave, loving and loved by his staff, colleagues and a random selection of unlikely women, with whom, during the course of the series, he is tempted to settle down - but of course for fearless, dedicated Simon "the job" always comes first, and gets in the way. Understand also, that loving and loved though he may be he's proved a bitter disappointment to his father, a doctor, because of his failure to follow in the family footsteps and become a medic. Meet also his sister, Kat. Kat is also in line for beatification. A GP, not only beloved of ALL her patients but also her father, Kat has been recently widowed and is "struggling" (so much I should struggle!) to bring up three children, work as a locum GP and complete a PhD in palliative care.
Mum has died, dad has remarried Judith, quite saintly herself - but as nothing compared to St. Simon. Dad is a shadowy figure, though is starting to display some singularly unsaintly qualities which are explored in more depth in this novel. Also lurking in the shadows is a disabled sister, confined to a long-term care facility, and now dead; another brother who, clearly unable to live-up to the saintliness of his close siblings, has emigrated (oh by the by, St Simon, Kat and this brother are triplets - well they had to be didn't they?!); and Rachel, Simon's current love interest, and the only woman to have infiltrated Simon's private space - a home which is, of course, is starkly elegant (white leather sofas, placed adjacent to each other not at right angles please) - and to which he wishes to see NO change - and I mean - NO change.
In this outing, St Simon is sent under cover to investigate a predatory child abuse ring - because, of course, despite the fact that he has no specialist knowledge of child protection, he's the most trusted and brilliant officer Lafferton Police has - and the only possible contender for the investigation. He's provided with a new identity (though to push the story along some pretty obvious parts of a new identity for an online child abuser are omitted) sent to a therapeutic community prison and the story rattles on from there.
Running alongside the main story is a sub-plot involving St Simon's father - an interesting and fairly accurate observation of the treatment of certain types of victim (I mince my words to avoid spoilers) by the Crown Prosecution Service. There is also a new application for beatification of novice saint-in-waiting, Sam, Kat's son and St Simon's nephew. Sam of course, hero-worships St Simon - well how could he not? There is the ongoing story of novice St Kat - peppered with a continuing, rather less than oblique commentary on the English Health Service - and unless I'm much mistaken an introduction of some new, future love interest for her - we shall see. Also looks like a neat build-up to Rachel's interest in St Simon being conveniently shifted elsewhere - leaving our beloved protagonist to continue his selfless service to the world unhindered.
I've been - well shall we just say a little cynical in this review - and I make no apology for that. HOWEVER, what I should add is that this is a fantastic LISTEN. Pacey has narrated the whole series and he does so beautifully, making these fantastical characters human and believable, even provoking some sympathy for some of them, sometimes; pushing the stories along, making you want to keep on listening.
I honestly couldn't recommend this as a read - but I'm prepared to admit that that may be me - I just don't like her prose style - but as well narrated audiobooks I defy you not to get wrapped up in the story and to keep listening - all day probably!
Four stars, as this isn't one of the best of the series, and the ending is not entirely satisfactory. I also felt that some of her research into police operations in cases of child protection was flimsy - though to be fair, my background is child protection, so I'm probably more picky and better informed than most.
Notwithstanding, I recommend this as a narrated experience - certainly makes the housework more palatable - and indeed the rest of the series. If you're minded to listen following this review I'd certainly recommend starting at the beginning and going through in order as you'll get the back-stories that way.
So, if you're not familiar with Simon Serraillier, prepare yourself for the sainted detective (though his halo slips slightly during this outing). Simon: Detective Superintendent, tall, handsome, kind, understanding, intuitive, brave, loving and loved by his staff, colleagues and a random selection of unlikely women, with whom, during the course of the series, he is tempted to settle down - but of course for fearless, dedicated Simon "the job" always comes first, and gets in the way. Understand also, that loving and loved though he may be he's proved a bitter disappointment to his father, a doctor, because of his failure to follow in the family footsteps and become a medic. Meet also his sister, Kat. Kat is also in line for beatification. A GP, not only beloved of ALL her patients but also her father, Kat has been recently widowed and is "struggling" (so much I should struggle!) to bring up three children, work as a locum GP and complete a PhD in palliative care.
Mum has died, dad has remarried Judith, quite saintly herself - but as nothing compared to St. Simon. Dad is a shadowy figure, though is starting to display some singularly unsaintly qualities which are explored in more depth in this novel. Also lurking in the shadows is a disabled sister, confined to a long-term care facility, and now dead; another brother who, clearly unable to live-up to the saintliness of his close siblings, has emigrated (oh by the by, St Simon, Kat and this brother are triplets - well they had to be didn't they?!); and Rachel, Simon's current love interest, and the only woman to have infiltrated Simon's private space - a home which is, of course, is starkly elegant (white leather sofas, placed adjacent to each other not at right angles please) - and to which he wishes to see NO change - and I mean - NO change.
In this outing, St Simon is sent under cover to investigate a predatory child abuse ring - because, of course, despite the fact that he has no specialist knowledge of child protection, he's the most trusted and brilliant officer Lafferton Police has - and the only possible contender for the investigation. He's provided with a new identity (though to push the story along some pretty obvious parts of a new identity for an online child abuser are omitted) sent to a therapeutic community prison and the story rattles on from there.
Running alongside the main story is a sub-plot involving St Simon's father - an interesting and fairly accurate observation of the treatment of certain types of victim (I mince my words to avoid spoilers) by the Crown Prosecution Service. There is also a new application for beatification of novice saint-in-waiting, Sam, Kat's son and St Simon's nephew. Sam of course, hero-worships St Simon - well how could he not? There is the ongoing story of novice St Kat - peppered with a continuing, rather less than oblique commentary on the English Health Service - and unless I'm much mistaken an introduction of some new, future love interest for her - we shall see. Also looks like a neat build-up to Rachel's interest in St Simon being conveniently shifted elsewhere - leaving our beloved protagonist to continue his selfless service to the world unhindered.
I've been - well shall we just say a little cynical in this review - and I make no apology for that. HOWEVER, what I should add is that this is a fantastic LISTEN. Pacey has narrated the whole series and he does so beautifully, making these fantastical characters human and believable, even provoking some sympathy for some of them, sometimes; pushing the stories along, making you want to keep on listening.
I honestly couldn't recommend this as a read - but I'm prepared to admit that that may be me - I just don't like her prose style - but as well narrated audiobooks I defy you not to get wrapped up in the story and to keep listening - all day probably!
Four stars, as this isn't one of the best of the series, and the ending is not entirely satisfactory. I also felt that some of her research into police operations in cases of child protection was flimsy - though to be fair, my background is child protection, so I'm probably more picky and better informed than most.
Notwithstanding, I recommend this as a narrated experience - certainly makes the housework more palatable - and indeed the rest of the series. If you're minded to listen following this review I'd certainly recommend starting at the beginning and going through in order as you'll get the back-stories that way.
December 30, 2015
Started reading this last night. Got up early to finish it and I have spent the rest of today trying to recover.
This is no easy book to read, or to forget. I will not put any spoilers in, but suffice it to say this has to be one of the most disturbing yet at the same time, brilliantly written and heart-breaking (fiction) books I have read in a long, long time.
I was left feeling shaken and in some places close to tears by the depth of emotions, the superb insight into peoples' minds and the sheer brutality.
Five stars. I wish I could give it more and yet this is not a book I will pick up when I want an easy read, or something to entertain me. But I will definitely read it again.
I may well add to this review in the weeks to come, once I can read the book without being overwhelmed by the events.
This is no easy book to read, or to forget. I will not put any spoilers in, but suffice it to say this has to be one of the most disturbing yet at the same time, brilliantly written and heart-breaking (fiction) books I have read in a long, long time.
I was left feeling shaken and in some places close to tears by the depth of emotions, the superb insight into peoples' minds and the sheer brutality.
Five stars. I wish I could give it more and yet this is not a book I will pick up when I want an easy read, or something to entertain me. But I will definitely read it again.
I may well add to this review in the weeks to come, once I can read the book without being overwhelmed by the events.
February 22, 2015
Review to follow.
November 2, 2025
Another good one by Ms Hill. A series I enjoy even though...
I do not like DCI Simon Serrailler all that much. However, I do not have to 'like' the MC if he's also interesting. (Looking at you again, Scarlet O'Hara.) Simon is tall, attractive and vain. He's also a triplet - sister Cath is an MD - smart and opinionated, but he does NOT treat his romantic partners very well. He's not abusive, but he swiftly becomes indifferent to the woman he supposedly loves. (Echoes of his father Richard, who is HORRIBLE.) At any rate...
In this one Simon is asked to go undercover to infiltrate a notorious ring of pedophiles - and they are MORE than notorious. Disgusting. Egregious. Vile. Pile on the adjectives, and when I read the brief descip. of the book I was like oh, no, not for me. (I have passed on books, even in series I enjoy, if the victim(s) are children or disabled.) But I still gave this one a go, and was surprised to see those elements of the book downplayed. (Not to say there's no tough reading here.)
But in this series the story is never about 'just' the investigation. Simon has a complex family history and many of them are here, too, as subplots or sidelines. This does not deter from the main storyline; in fact it adds interest. Here we see a lot of Simon's father, a recent widower who has just remarried. And WOW, Richard could own a book of his own...
Suffice to say, I love this series, will be sorry to see it end. The latest addition has been delayed by about two years, but I do hope the author finishes and it sees publication.
Five stars.
I do not like DCI Simon Serrailler all that much. However, I do not have to 'like' the MC if he's also interesting. (Looking at you again, Scarlet O'Hara.) Simon is tall, attractive and vain. He's also a triplet - sister Cath is an MD - smart and opinionated, but he does NOT treat his romantic partners very well. He's not abusive, but he swiftly becomes indifferent to the woman he supposedly loves. (Echoes of his father Richard, who is HORRIBLE.) At any rate...
In this one Simon is asked to go undercover to infiltrate a notorious ring of pedophiles - and they are MORE than notorious. Disgusting. Egregious. Vile. Pile on the adjectives, and when I read the brief descip. of the book I was like oh, no, not for me. (I have passed on books, even in series I enjoy, if the victim(s) are children or disabled.) But I still gave this one a go, and was surprised to see those elements of the book downplayed. (Not to say there's no tough reading here.)
But in this series the story is never about 'just' the investigation. Simon has a complex family history and many of them are here, too, as subplots or sidelines. This does not deter from the main storyline; in fact it adds interest. Here we see a lot of Simon's father, a recent widower who has just remarried. And WOW, Richard could own a book of his own...
Suffice to say, I love this series, will be sorry to see it end. The latest addition has been delayed by about two years, but I do hope the author finishes and it sees publication.
Five stars.
July 3, 2018
Simon goes undercover to infiltrate a pedophile ring in a difficult storyline. Hill handles the subject matter of child abuse masterfully without any unneeded sensationalism or detail. T h ere is a parallel storyline concerning an acquaintance rape. Hill continues to develop the characters without going soap operaish which makes for a smart and suspenseful series.
November 12, 2015
4.5 stars
I love and admire the Simon Serrailler series for the level of detail and Hill's way of telling stories not about one person or one case, but a larger family and in a way, an entire town. I was afraid the series was losing steam --it's set in a very small village, so you can only have so many plausible murders/serial killers-- but I was pleasantly surprised to find this book one of the best yet. I don't usually summarize much plot in these reviews, but I'm about to spoil a bit of the setup which wasn't revealed on the back cover text. If you'd like to remain completely pure of all spoilers, stop reading here.
Okay? Okay.
The basic premise of the novel is that our enigmatic detective Simon is sent on an undercover mission to a very particular kind of prison: a sort of therapeutic clinic for people who deal in child pornography. Simon has to pose as one of them in order to get close to an inmate who has information about an extensive ring of child pornographers.
I admit, I was a little hesitant to jump in once I figured out the subject matter --in fact, this was probably the first Simon Serraillier novel since the first where I downloaded the Kindle sample first before I committed to the whole book. But Hill does a nice job of glossing over the details of the child pornography Simon is forced to watch, without taking anything away from the gravity and atrocity of the situation. If child abuse of any kind is a trigger for you I'd recommend skipping this one, but most hardcore crime fiction readers will have seen worse. It's also interesting, and perhaps important, to get a look inside an actual investigation into these horrendous crimes. As unpleasant as they are to think and talk about, there really are police officers who must do so every single day.
I finished this book at midnight on a school night, and immediately stayed awake for another twenty minutes trying to determine when I can read a sequel. It would be hypocritical of me to grouse about the amount of time it takes for Hill to release a new Simon book, but man, I'm now anxious for the next.
Final note: My only real qualm about this book is an issue of timeline: at the end of the story it seems like Rachel's story takes place over several months, while everyone else's timeline seems to cover a week or two. (It's of course possible that I missed something and misunderstood). Other than that, I thought this was a fantastic novel. I've actually had a hard time starting something else, knowing it wouldn't be as good.
I love and admire the Simon Serrailler series for the level of detail and Hill's way of telling stories not about one person or one case, but a larger family and in a way, an entire town. I was afraid the series was losing steam --it's set in a very small village, so you can only have so many plausible murders/serial killers-- but I was pleasantly surprised to find this book one of the best yet. I don't usually summarize much plot in these reviews, but I'm about to spoil a bit of the setup which wasn't revealed on the back cover text. If you'd like to remain completely pure of all spoilers, stop reading here.
Okay? Okay.
The basic premise of the novel is that our enigmatic detective Simon is sent on an undercover mission to a very particular kind of prison: a sort of therapeutic clinic for people who deal in child pornography. Simon has to pose as one of them in order to get close to an inmate who has information about an extensive ring of child pornographers.
I admit, I was a little hesitant to jump in once I figured out the subject matter --in fact, this was probably the first Simon Serraillier novel since the first where I downloaded the Kindle sample first before I committed to the whole book. But Hill does a nice job of glossing over the details of the child pornography Simon is forced to watch, without taking anything away from the gravity and atrocity of the situation. If child abuse of any kind is a trigger for you I'd recommend skipping this one, but most hardcore crime fiction readers will have seen worse. It's also interesting, and perhaps important, to get a look inside an actual investigation into these horrendous crimes. As unpleasant as they are to think and talk about, there really are police officers who must do so every single day.
I finished this book at midnight on a school night, and immediately stayed awake for another twenty minutes trying to determine when I can read a sequel. It would be hypocritical of me to grouse about the amount of time it takes for Hill to release a new Simon book, but man, I'm now anxious for the next.
Final note: My only real qualm about this book is an issue of timeline: at the end of the story it seems like Rachel's story takes place over several months, while everyone else's timeline seems to cover a week or two. (It's of course possible that I missed something and misunderstood). Other than that, I thought this was a fantastic novel. I've actually had a hard time starting something else, knowing it wouldn't be as good.
May 27, 2016
For some time I'd been struggling with reading on this series, but this book made me finally give up on it. Susan Hill can be both a brilliant writer and the most annoying series creator. Her writing is very evocative and descriptive; she doesn't shy away from killing off major characters and touching upon difficult issues like euthanasia, hospices, cutbacks in medical care, domestic violence, and child abuse. Unfortunately, there are often instances of continuity problems between the books, editorial errors and unconvincing character developments, reinventions or assassinations.
The main idea of this book i.e. Simon Serrailer going undercover to get info about the paedophile ring is a ridiculous one. While it is true that Simon is a seasoned cop with years of investigation under his belt, he holds a senior police post with much media exposure. He is not the person one would choose to go undercover, because of the high risk of exposure his true identity. Not to mention he has only a limited experience in child abuse cases and has worked for years as a leading officer with his men, not alone undercover (even if he did it in the distant past).
The next controversial issue in this book is the total destruction of the character of Richard Serrailer, Simon's father. His unbelievable downward spiral started with revealing his dead wife's secret which he had promised never to disclose to his children. Then he changed from a brooding but otherwise decent man into a frustrated spousal bully. In this instalment he became a rapist. What would happen next? A serial killer?
The main idea of this book i.e. Simon Serrailer going undercover to get info about the paedophile ring is a ridiculous one. While it is true that Simon is a seasoned cop with years of investigation under his belt, he holds a senior police post with much media exposure. He is not the person one would choose to go undercover, because of the high risk of exposure his true identity. Not to mention he has only a limited experience in child abuse cases and has worked for years as a leading officer with his men, not alone undercover (even if he did it in the distant past).
The next controversial issue in this book is the total destruction of the character of Richard Serrailer, Simon's father. His unbelievable downward spiral started with revealing his dead wife's secret which he had promised never to disclose to his children. Then he changed from a brooding but otherwise decent man into a frustrated spousal bully. In this instalment he became a rapist. What would happen next? A serial killer?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2014
Wow. So dark. So very, very dark. Not just the Simon main story but Richard's side story - it did make me wonder why we needed both in one volume (and dropped this to a 4.5). Hill frequently "goes there" with darkness, yet this felt a little more than usual. Richard's part felt a little forced, despite our seeing him increasingly as a bully and potentially an abuser.
So the main story? Disturbing to say the least: Simon enters the world of child pornography, and while we don't "see" anything, his reactions to what he's watching and hearing let us know exactly how bad it is. And coming just after his really negative reaction to Rachel's moving in (which he's ok with, except for her moving furniture or adding her own touches... let alone her suggestion that they move)? Poor Simon. I've often thought of him as a new version of Adam Dalgleish and this just cements that.
There's so much fallout being held over to the next book (what's going to happen with Rachel's bookshop? is this the last we'll see of Judith? how will Cat move forward? what will Richard do now?) that I'm hoping it's already partly written. Given the ending, however, I suspect that we'll join everyone several months (or longer) in the future with this book still resonating but well behind everyone. Can't wait!
So the main story? Disturbing to say the least: Simon enters the world of child pornography, and while we don't "see" anything, his reactions to what he's watching and hearing let us know exactly how bad it is. And coming just after his really negative reaction to Rachel's moving in (which he's ok with, except for her moving furniture or adding her own touches... let alone her suggestion that they move)? Poor Simon. I've often thought of him as a new version of Adam Dalgleish and this just cements that.
There's so much fallout being held over to the next book (what's going to happen with Rachel's bookshop? is this the last we'll see of Judith? how will Cat move forward? what will Richard do now?) that I'm hoping it's already partly written. Given the ending, however, I suspect that we'll join everyone several months (or longer) in the future with this book still resonating but well behind everyone. Can't wait!
December 4, 2021
I do enjoy this series so much - after reading the first few in a rush, it's good now to have to wait until a new one is published....the main strand of the novel concerns Simon Serrailler's involvement in the darkest form of crime he has yet encountered; he is asked to infiltrate and hopefully aid the destruction of a paedophile ring. Simon's agreement to help with this case puts his new relationship with Rachel in jeopardy. His sister Cat, a GP bringing up her three children single handed, is for me the most sympathetic character. Her trials at work seem to me an honest reflection of the problems NHS staff are facing these days.
This story gives the reader much to consider about subterfuge, duplicity,evil and self-delusion, and the ways in which human beings can take advantage of others and harm them in such terrible ways. As well as paedophilia, there is the scenario of a rape where those involved already know each other socially. There is also a 'minor theme' (in its prominence in the storyline, rather than in its topic) of what constitutes a 'good' death, and how we react to someone we love dying.
Susan Hill writes with considerable wisdom and sensitivity, in what might be dismissed as a detective novel. For me, this series has become much more than just a genre.
This story gives the reader much to consider about subterfuge, duplicity,evil and self-delusion, and the ways in which human beings can take advantage of others and harm them in such terrible ways. As well as paedophilia, there is the scenario of a rape where those involved already know each other socially. There is also a 'minor theme' (in its prominence in the storyline, rather than in its topic) of what constitutes a 'good' death, and how we react to someone we love dying.
Susan Hill writes with considerable wisdom and sensitivity, in what might be dismissed as a detective novel. For me, this series has become much more than just a genre.
May 19, 2015
I've read all the Serrailler novels and this was the most disappointing. I couldn't believe that an officer without experience of infiltrating criminals and criminal gangs would be placed in such a precarious position. Hill had Serrailler gain the trust of a child abuser so quick that I thought I had missed some scenes entirely. What should have been the main storyline was, for me, completely overshadowed by two story arcs that took away a lot from what could have been a very powerful novel dealing with a very serious issue. It's as if Hill didn't want to research the main story because it repulsed her. If so, why bother with such a hard-hitting storyline in the first place?
As for Serrailler's girlfriend having grand plans for a local bookshop ... what happened to the owner? Did she just hand it over, or what?!
As for Serrailler's girlfriend having grand plans for a local bookshop ... what happened to the owner? Did she just hand it over, or what?!
March 29, 2023
Simon Serrailler goes on a treacherous undercover assignment to break a pedophile ring. His family faces their own crises. Several storylines run through this book, enough to motivate a reader to get to the end. The Serrailler family suffers various crises and not all are resolved by the book's end. For fans of this series, this is a must-read. I didn't love the narrator of this audiobook. He didn't have the type of voice and tone I expected from Serrailler. I suppose this is likely to happen if you have a set idea of a character.
2023
Reading my way through this series again and am thoroughly enjoying the books.
2023
Reading my way through this series again and am thoroughly enjoying the books.
August 23, 2016
I love Susan Hill's writing style but I'm so fed up with the sadness and violence in all the books of the series. Four stars for her writing and two stars for the content.
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