Exit Lines

Dalziel & Pascoe #8

by Reginald Hill

Three old men shuffle off their mortal coil on the same chilly night. There seems at first to be nothing to connect their deaths to each other, much less to the sulferous whiffs of police corruption that are riding on the Yorkshire breeze. But trust Andy Dalziel's thick fingers to trace the links between all three of the elderly gents, the dirty cops, and a pheasant shoot.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, British Literature, Procedural, Detective, Audiobook

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Reginald Charles Hill was a contemporary English crime writer, and the winner in 1995 of the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement.

After National Service (1955-57) and studying English at St Catherine's College, Oxford University (1957-60) he worked as a teacher for many years, rising to Senior Lecturer at Doncaster College of Education. In 1980 he retired from salaried work in order to devote himself full-time to writing.

Hill is best known for his more than 20 novels featuring the Yorkshire detectives Andrew Dalziel, Peter Pascoe and Edgar Wield. He has also written more than 30 other novels, including five featuring Joe Sixsmith, a black machine operator turned private detective in a fictional Luton. Novels originally published under the pseudonyms of Patrick Ruell, Dick Morland, and Charles Underhill have now appeared under his own name. Hill is also a writer of short stories, and ghost tales.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard this twice on CD while travelling from Dunedin to Christchurch and back, in 2013. When I say 'heard it twice' I mean that the first time I heard about the first 60 pages, and then didn't hear any more, and then on a second trip, heard about 90 pages, and still didn't hear any more. So rather than trying to listen to the rest - I'm not good at just sitting listening to CDs unless I'm lying in bed sick - I bought a copy of the book, started it yesterday and finished it today. It's immensely readable, often very funny, and has a wonderfully complex plot.

There's a strong theme of the difficulties of old age - people with Alzheimer's, or trying to live on their own without family - and also the horror that many young people have for the idea of growing old. The story begins with the deaths of three old men, in fact; two of them may be accidents, the third appears to be the result of an attack. Nothing is quite like it seems, and the further the story goes, the more our original views about the deaths and their aftermaths are altered. There are some wonderfully innocent people, and some surprisingly devious ones. There are some that appear suspicious and aren't, and some that appear to be all above board - and aren't. Hill holds out attention right to the end, even though we think we've got to grips with what's going on at an earlier point.

There are an endless number of lines that could be quoted (one character, Mrs Spillings, is almost Dickensian in her speeches), but Hill reserves some of his best lines for the taciturn, and ugly, policemen, Wield (a regular in the series of books).

'Back door,' said Wield. 'Glass panel broken. Key in lock. Hand through. Open. Easy.'
Sergeant Wield was in fine telegraphic style. He also seemed to have been practising not moving his lips, so that the words came out of his slant and ugly face like a ritual chant through a primitive devil-mask.
or
Wield looked at the new acquisition and raised his eyebrows, producing an effect not unlike the vernal shifting of some Arctic landscape as the sun sets an ice-bound river flowing once more through a waste of snows.

I've read some other Dalziel and Pascoe, but I think this remains my favourite.

Update 1st November 2015: Listened to this again while travelling. I remains one of Hill's best, I think.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading this series in order, and there has only been one that I thought was not up to par. What sets this one apart is the fulfillment of the title: each chapter has as an epigraph the reported last words of some famous historical person. And in each case those words are at least somewhat relevant to the chapter. Three men in their seventies die on the same night in the first three pages. Are their deaths as unrelated as they appear? Is Superintendent Dalziel really guilty of killing one of them while driving drunk? Written with Hill's usual grace and flare, with laugh-out-loud humor and a beautifully literate style.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Sentence: On a cold and storm-racked November night, while Peter and Ellie Pascoe were still celebrating with wine and wassail the first birthday which their daughter Rose had greeted with huge indifference, three old men, who felt far from indifferent, died.

The local population has been decreased by the death of three elderly gentlemen in one night; one died of exposure on a playing field, one having been attacked in his bath, and one after being struck by a car possibly driven by Andy Dalziel.

It is always such fun to read a book by Hill.

There is a great central cast of characters. In DS Andy Dalziel, Hill has created a highly offensive character and made him very likable. He is type the person you’d most want to avoid, yet there is innocence to his uncouthness and a heart beneath the girth.

DI Peter Pascoe is the perfect counterpart with his university education and proper manner. He has come to be known as the murder specialist. Supported by their team, including the naïve Constable Hector, Hill combines good police procedure and a touch of humor.

When it comes to the victims, Hill is serious and presents the challenges and vulnerability of the aging with great respect and care.

There are essentially five threads to the story; the three deaths, trying to figure out what Dalziel is doing and Ellie Pascoe’s concern for her own aging father. I appreciated the realism of having the police investigate more than one case at a time and was stunned by the way they came together in the end.

Hill is a wonderful writer and Dalziel and Pascoe a great combination I enjoy more with each book.

EXIT LINES (Pol Proc-Dalziel/Pascoe-England-Cont) – VG
Hill, Reginald – 8th in series
Signet, ©1984, US Paperback – ISBN: 0451142527

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[Alison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three old men die on the same night: one in a road accident, one murdered and one apparently of exposure. While the last words of one man suggest that Detective Superintendent Dalziel might have been driving the car involved in one death, Detective Inspector Pascoe must try to unravel the causes in all three deaths, without Dalziel’s guidance…. "Exit Lines" is the eighth novel in Hill’s Dalziel and Pascoe series, and one that I found rather more literary than some of his other works; of course, that might just be because each chapter is headed with the final words from a well-known figure from history (Hill provides a handy run-down of who said what) and, in another clever twist, each quote itself provides a clue to the content of the chapter. Neat. I think one can dive into these books at any point, although it’s always preferable to read a series in order; this one might be my favourite of the series so far.

[cloudyskye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad, with some surprising twists. Dalziel was a little too much in the background perhaps.
I liked the very fitting "famous last words" quotes at the beginning of each chapter. But I had my usual problem with the very big cast of new characters, even bigger with three victims this time. I don't think it's me, I had no trouble at all with all those Russians in "War and Peace" ...

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this series in haphazard order as I come across them. I’ve found them all to be enjoyable and easy to read with plenty of humour all wrapped in Hill’s totally unique writing style. This one I found was one of the better ones.

The title, Exit Lines, refers to well know famous last words and each chapter is headed with one though it took me a while to realise that the quotations gave a subtle insight into what the chapter had in store. I liked “Die doctor? Why, that’s the last thing I shall do”.

The series goes back a number of years now so the early books are dated and they are certainly not PC by today’s standards.

[Paul Secor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably three stars under my normal ratings, but I gave it four because I like the Dalziel/Pascoe series. This one has too much Pascoe and not enough Dalziel.

[Jase · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are fairly easy going and quite a fun read. Returning characters who develop and give the thread between them all, some bit part law enforcers, and an array of dodgy people who are all suspects and add to the drama. Along with a few quips and dark humour, great use of language, a satisfying read.

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️ 2.5 stars ⭐️

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started this book in September 2019 and had to put it down as work overcame all else. A Hill book demands certain attention and I felt OI couldn't give that attention in September. That's when it got away from me and I rejoined the book February 15th, 2020. I got busy again and restarted the whole thing February 23rd.

Part of the problem i found with starting this book is that it reminded me of a giant dump truck that backs up and dumps a truck full of characters at your feet with muddled explanation. Hill, as do most of the great British mystery writers, tend to do this. Some work well. Some, like this, I believe, fail.

The herd of characters is to play with to construct a clever end.
What balled this effort was the characters and 3 mysteries. That's 3 locations, 3 elements of each involved and 3 conclusions to reach. Hill shuffles the story deck and takes his police team running around trying to figure who did what. That adding even more characters. Hill's books need a descriptive phone book to remember who goes where when. As someone with a lousy memory, it's too easy to get lost.

Muddled I found the first half. After that point the book tightens and Hill reveals certain pertinent details before hidden and tightens his focus to make the last half a well done plot and story. But the last isn't worth much without the first.

Another disappointment was I figured too much of who did what in this book, making the conclusion and effort less satisfying.

Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 5 out ten points.

[Amanda Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although there wasn't much I objected to in this one (aside from the rather flimsy female characters, but that's pretty standard so far, something I hope will be rectified as the series progresses towards current day), I felt the plot didn't grab me. It almost felt as though I was waiting for the climax, even at the end.

I did like the way things came together for Dalziel, though I thought if it turned out he had done something bad it would make for some interesting conflict...

I also liked seeing more of my favourite stony faced officer, Sgt. Wield... but he didn't seem to have as much agency this time.

Altogether, it was not my favourite D&P book so far, but it won't stop me reading the next.

[J. Merwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series by Reginald Hill, his characters are very well drawn, dialog is real and occasionally laugh out loud...the way he uses a particular theme for his chapter titles I like very much...although in this particular book he plays a bit of a dirty trick on the reader making them have to not only flip back to the front to find out who spoke the dying words but also (the bastard!)...put them in alphabetical order rather that chapter order! Naughty.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every chapter began with a quote, the last words of famous people! Exit Lines! I googled some of them to verify and found them correct. But what was amazing, the lines also related to the events of the chapters. Reginald Hill must be brilliant! Loved this Dalziel and Pascoe book which dealt with the problems of ageing, among other things.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 3 for 1 deal! Not much Fat Man in this one but he is implicated in one of the three deaths. All very nicely tied up and presented with a level of ease that can only come from Hill's obvious fondness for D&P.

[Lizixer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An accidental re-read that reveals the book's meditation on growing old. Loneliness, loss of mental capacity and the effects of caring for the old on their families are explored in this superior police procedural.

[Linda Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did Dalziel drive the car that killed the old man?

And he now on the take? A bookie for a companion doesn't look very respectable for the senior police officer. What else is going on?

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It begins with three older men dying in separate incidents. The plot moves right along with lots of surprises. The interactions between the characters are priceless, as are the consequences (intended and otherwise) of their actions.

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of his best rambling plot and rather obvious sub plot.

[Patricia Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really brilliant! Reginald Hill's books are awesome. Pascoe and Dalziel are amazing characters and their stories are great. Mr. Hill is missed.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death in triplicate…

On a stormy November night, three elderly men die: one, murdered in his home; one, while walking home, perhaps by accident, perhaps not; and the third, hit by a car as he rode home from the pub on his bicycle. While looking into the first, definite murder Peter Pascoe finds himself gradually suspecting that the second case may also have been the result of a violent attack. But the third case is the most difficult, since there is a suspicion that Pascoe’s boss, Andy Dalziel, may have been drunkenly driving the car that hit the man on the bike…

Hill must have been writing this around the time of the big debate in the UK over “care in the community” – whether the elderly, disabled and otherwise vulnerable should be de-institutionalised from hospitals and care homes, and be helped to live independently in their own homes. In truth, many were left to fend for themselves with only the support of family, if they had any. Hill uses his three old men to show various aspects of this debate, but with a light touch – he never gets too heavily into polemics, although his left-wing bias becomes more obvious throughout the Thatcher era. He shows us the loneliness of some elderly people, and also the stress placed on families trying to juggle jobs and children with caring for elderly relatives. But while the three men at the centre of the story are victims to one degree or another, Hill doesn’t paint the picture as all bleak – he shows us the ordinary kindnesses of people looking out for each other, whether family or strangers, and he shows the official care system as quite caring on the whole, unusually, since it often gets a very bad rap in fiction, probably far worse than it deserves.

All this is interesting, but I must admit this isn’t one of my favourites in the series. The three storylines are too much, leading to loads of characters in each case, and I often found myself struggling to remember which plotline each person belonged to. The storyline around Andy’s possible drunk driving is a bit messy too, I feel, though it’s interesting to see the other police officers struggling to avoid the appearance of a police cover-up, while staying loyal to one of their own. On top of all this, Pascoe’s wife Elly is worried about her father, who seems to be showing the first signs of dementia. I felt Hill was trying to cover too many aspects of what it is to be elderly and as a result rather lost focus on the plots.

However, even a weaker Hill is better than most other crime fiction, and there’s plenty to enjoy here. Pascoe is at centre stage, leading the investigations while Andy is on enforced leave. PC Hector provides the humour – good-hearted, but so slow on the uptake as to be almost half-witted. (Andy calls him one of “Maggie’s Morons” – I can’t remember for sure the relevance of this, but I’m guessing Thatcher increased police recruitment dramatically, and this maybe led to a perceived reduction in standards? It’s amazing how quickly cultural references date and are forgotten.) PC Seymour makes his first appearance too – unlike Hector he has all the signs of being a very good officer and of making his way up through the ranks in time, although in this one he’s distracted by his attraction to one of the witnesses, a young Irish waitress with a love of ballroom dancing. And as a nicely humorous touch, each chapter is headed by the real or apocryphal “famous last words” of a historical person, such as “I am just going outside and may be some time.” (Capt. Lawrence Oates) or “Bugger Bognor!” (George V).

I listened to it this time, narrated by Colin Buchanan who played Peter Pascoe in the TV series. I have mixed feelings about his narration – I didn’t find it seriously hampered my enjoyment of the book, but I wasn’t keen on his interpretation of Dalziel, though his Wield and Pascoe are very good. He speaks far too fast for my taste and I was constantly finding myself jumping back a bit to pick up something I missed. And while I’m no expert on regional accents, I couldn’t help feeling that a lot of his Yorkshiremen sounded more like Geordies. I liked it enough, though, to go ahead and get the next one on audio – maybe he’ll win me over next time.

So a good read, even if it’s not quite up to the standards of the best in this excellent series. It would work as a standalone, but would probably be better appreciated by a reader who already knew the characters from the earlier books.

www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three elderly men are found dying in Pascoe's district. One dies angry at 'that fat bastard' after he's hit by Dalziel's car, with drunken Dalziel himself supposedly the passenger when the old man's dim bicycle headlight showed up in the sleet in front of the car. One calls for his grandson, Charley, as he lies dying in his bathtub where his worried daughter finds him after he doesn't answer the phone for hours. And the third calls the giant dog 'Polly' when the dog walker's owner finds him in a grassy field after spending the sleety night with a broken leg. There are other old folks involved in these men's lives who don't present such interesting exit lines, and Pascoe begins to worry that his wife's father is going down a similar road of dementia. There are numerous visits to interview the people who run The Tower, that house the elderly who need care. And the reader gets a very intimate view into the lives of people who must care for relatives not disabled enough to reside at The Tower. Of course Dalziel is on some huge investigation of his own and Wield and Seymour help Pascoe track down the fenced goods and horse racing payoffs. - In the alternative timeline I live in there were 3 mass shootings yesterday with only the Buffalo, NY shooting resulting in an Exit Line (180 page screed by the shooter on how white men are being 'replaced'); over 84 million people in the US have had Covid-19 (supposedly 100 million will have been sickened by the fall); the Ukrainians are working on a prisoner swap with Russia after Ukranian soldiers at Maripol steel works surrender; the wildfire in New Mexico has burned 465 square miles so far; and CA is figuring out how to restrict state water usage by 30%. - It was nice to have a complex crime story to read written by an author who reveals the hidden motivations in answers with tone, nuance, gesture, and attitude.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three elderly men die on one night: one seems to have gone out during the stormy night, walked across a playing field, slipped and fell; another was found by his daughter lying in his bath tub suffering from stab wounds; and the last, rode his bicycle during that stormy night, right into the path of a car in which police superintendent Andy Dalziel was riding.

So with Dalziel under a bit of a cloud — helped along by an officious doctor at the hospital who believes he was actually the river — Detective Inspector Peter Pasco and Sgt. Wield are called into action to determine were they accidents or murder?

Anyone who has read the Dalziel and Pascoe previous books know that Dalziel is generally rude and obnoxious and Pasco is the one who bears a large amount of it. But in this story, Pasco misses not being able to talk over the cases with his supervisor.

And as usual, Dalziel knows something that no one else knows and holds his cards close to his chest as the various investigations go on. It makes for an interesting twist in the well-written tale. And makes it very good reading. I've read more than 10 of Reginald Hill's works and every time I think I'm going to get bored with the Dalziel character. He's just too much, too something. But the reality is that Hill has created a main character that never crosses that imaginary line where he becomes an unlikeable character. Pasco has become more layered as the books move along, but make no mistake, the key mover is and likely always will be Dalziel. Love him, hate him or struggle to understand why you keep coming back to these books. But return for more adventures with these two unforgettable characters and the wonderful creativity and writing skill of a master writer.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Don't thank me till you know what you've got."
Reginald Bill's Dalziel and Pascoe detective series is always a pleasure: each different in style from the one before but always peopled with magnificent characters outside as well as inside the police force. This time, Dalziel seems to be acting rather strangely, even for him, remaining almost remote from his colleagues and seemingly preceding the company of the more wealthy members of the community. And there is the uncomfortable suggestion that his just might have been the driver of the car which killed an elderly man despite protestations to the contrary. He had been very drunk.

With each chapter introduced by a 'famous last words' quotation, the plot revolves around the deaths of three elderly men and the police enquires more focused on Pascoe and Weidy, with the sometime assistance of Constable Hector. Good story, excellent protagonists and we'll performed by actor Colin Buchanan, the Pascoe of the TV series, who not only reads with interest and good inflection but also give individual voicing to all of the numerous characters.

As always, sheer delight and definitely recommended.

[Kkraemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three elderly men die, and superficially, all three deaths were "natural" or, at least, predictable. All three had "exit lines," which may or may not hold keys to their lives and/or their deaths. Only one, the victim of a close encounter with a car on a rainy night, was truly problematic, though, not because of the car or the rain or the walking along the road, but because it might have been true that the driver was a high level law enforcement officer. Subsequent testimony might have been the result of undue pressure to hide the officer's culpability.

Not all was as it seemed, though. Of course.

Three mysteries. Three sets of friends/relatives/witnesses/neighbors. Three main law enforcement personnel. Two additional officers. Many, many conversations and small revelations. Hilarious descriptions, reflections, insights, competitions amongst personalities.

My exit line: brilliant. A delight.

[Jeff Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike Reginald Hill's other Dalziel and Pascoe books to date, "Exit Lines" has a common theme of aging and death. Three old age pensioners die in hospital on the same night, Robert Deeks, Tap Parrinder and Philip Westerman while Pascoe's wife Ellie's father has began to show signs of dementia. With Superintendent Dalziel suspected of drink driving in the Philip Westerman case and forced to take an holiday while an investigation is held. It is up to Detective Inspector Pascoe to deal with the remaining cases all while his wife his visiting her sick father. Reginald Hill writes a set of complex stories for most of time without the intimidating presence Dalziel however he does provide a few laughs at the expense of young PC Hector. A good book but it won't leave you smiling.

[Barbara Lamorticella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book hard to read both because of what seemed to me an unnecessarily pretentious vocabulary (or were many of the words simply more commonly used in England?)- and because when Hill tried to be poetic, I found his efforts almost grotesquely bad. I found the plot too complicated, and the unspooling of the various mysteries boring. This is the first and the only Hill mystery I will read. I realize he has many fans. Perhaps they enjoy the work of puzzling through his language and plots. Or they are familiar with and like his characters, the various police and investigators. I did not, and needed to force myself to keep plodding on to finish the book. Had I had other things to read at the time, I don't think I would have finished it.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pascoe investigates two suspicious deaths of elderly people, with very little help from Dalziel. Helping Pascoe are Sergeant Wield and Seymour, a young detective. Dalziel was in a car leaving a restaurant that hit and killed an elderly man who was riding his bike on a dark rainy night. Dalziel was drunk and there is a question of whether he was driving or was Arnold Charlesworth, a good friend of Dalziel who owns betting shops.

Quite a bit of humor is part of this book, which has various side stories that keep your attention. One of those stories ends up to be part of a major crime. Many interesting characters add to the enjoyment of the book.

[Nolan]

I’ll continue with this series in the hope that this book was a hiccup. I almost didn’t finish this; it bored me to something approaching a catatonic state.

Three old men die on the same night, and all three are murdered. Initially, the deaths look like accidents. But a little digging on the part of Peter Pasco reveals otherwise. More interesting still is the fact that his obese insufferable partner, Andy Dalziel, may be involved in one of the deaths.

This sounds way more interesting than it is. The NLS narrator isn't someone I can listen to with ease; the synthetic voice in Voice Dream Reader, a phone app, was actually better and made this something slightly above impossible.

[Lucy Takeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is full of assorted villainous plots, a variety of casual thieves, and down right evil characters. There’s also two newbie officers that provide quite a bit of amusement and actual assistance, rather in spite of themselves. Dalziel is also running about with some rather lofty characters that are quite wealthy.
Three old men die in rapid succession. Some of the deaths seem accidental; some don’t. Unfortunately, one death is a man on a bicycle that gets hit by a car that may have had a drunk Dalziel as the driver. Add in Peter’s wife being involved with her father demonstrating signs of dementia, and you have a tumultuous tale.

[Fiona Hewlett-parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love the way Reginald Hill writes. The words he uses, and the way sentences come together…really, really good. Add to that the complicated, satisfying stories and a great cast of characters and you have a great of a book.

Dalziel is acting strangely in this book and worrying his team, who have their hands full with the deaths, on the same night, of three old men. Pascoe takes the lead in this story, which tamed the whole thing down a bit, but it is well worth the read.