Pictures of Perfection

by Reginald Hill

Book Overview

High in the Mid-Yorkshire dales stands the pretty village of Enscombe, proud survivor of all that history has thrown at it. But now market forces mass at the gates and the old way of life seems to be... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385312709
• ISBN13: 9780385312707
• Release Date: September 1994
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 307 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Do exactly as I say and nobody gets hurt

This is my favorite mystery novel. Period. Seriously, just take my word for it. DO NOT read any reviews. DO NOT read the book jacket. DO NOT so much as glance at a blurb. It wouldn't be any fun if you knew anything (let alone everything) about what happens, right? Right. So Step 1: Start reading the novel. Now, you might find yourself thinking, But this isn't my kind of mystery at all. Which brings us to Step 2: KEEP READING. (Step 3 is completely optional: You can thank me later.)

Pictures of Perfection

If you've never read any of Reginald Hill's Dalziel and Pasco series and you're not obstinately set on beginning with the first one, or if you just like belly laughs, try Pictures of Perfection. Our story opens in Enscombe, a picture-perfect Yorkshire village that time has forgot, until now. The vicarage is for sale, the hall is overrun by tourists, and the students are mobilizing for Iwo Jima. No, not really, and no matter how dire these matters seem to the Enscombians there isn't a lot for a practicing policeman to do about them. Then a policeman goes missing. Enter Detective Superintendent Andrew Dalziel, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Pasco, and Detective Sergeant Wield, aka Wieldy (the best nickname in crime fiction) to save the day. More or less. The longest shaggy dog story ever. Read also Hill's The Wood Beyond, another Dalziel and Pasco novel in a much more serious vein which achieves the level of art. And all right, since you insist -- the first in the series is A Clubbable Woman.

Great:***wickedly Funny Twisted plot,and Happy SGT Wield!

*****This is a Dalziel/Pascoe mystery, with the usual careful plotting and great dialogue. However, this book is above and beyond even Reginald Hill's great usual: there's a bizarre shock in store for the reader. (Who will enjoy it later, very much) It has wickedly funny plotting, some of the most unusual characters, and to my delight an unexpected chance at happiness for poor sweet Sergeant Wield. Wield has suffered through plenty of Dalziel's bossiness and the dismay of "coming out" to his fellow detectives. In this story he meets a man he initially finds very annoying, but as the story develops, we can see the promise of love on the horizon. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *I thought this mystery was wonderful as a kind of "fun" romp with the characters. Hill is showing us he cares very much about them all.

Brilliant Fun!

In "Pictures of Perfection" Reginald Hill gives us both the terrific Daziel/Pascoe mystery we've come to expect and something totally unexpected as well. The village of Enscombe has changed only superficially since the days of Jane Austen whose words just happen to introduce each chapter. One of the residents, Caddy Scudamore, is a talented artist given to painting over much of her crowded canvases. This is done, we are told, not so much to obliterate as to "relegate it to a kind of misty otherworld where it still continued to exert its existence." Hill, too, offers us one thing - a contemporary mystery - beneath which lie all the sense and sensibilities of Austen. Social dynamics and entailments. Misunderstandings and love matches (at least one of which in its `90s incarnation might take even Jane by surprise!) But most of all, insight and humor and a joyous way with words that can make a reader laugh out loud. Austen could do it and so can Reginald Hill. He leads us into the story through a scenario that we find all too easy to accept and ushers us out again with a reminder that appearances can be deceiving. Jane would have agreed.

A masterpiece of wit and illusion.

For those of you who prefer the cozy British mystery, like myself, you will be promptly dismayed, perhaps even repulsed, by the first gruesome chapter. Persevere. Like the magician who saws the lovely lady in half its not about gore but smoke, mirrors and not one, but several, well drawn characters finding their heart's repose. Giving you a synopsis of the plot simply isn't possible, because what you think it is, it simply isn't. But this can be said: The book is full of satirical humour, fascinating characters and an actual mystery. Add to this that the author does wonderful things with the English language and the book is a winner all the way around.