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HTML:The first in the series starring a PI who's "as sweet a hero as you're likely to find in a rough multiracial neighborhood on the outskirts of London" (The New York Times Book Review). Joe Sixsmith has lost his job as a lathe operator—and is in the process of losing his hair, too—but that doesn't mean he's going to sink into a midlife crisis. Instead he decides to start a new career as a private investigator, with his grumpy, pork rind–eating cat, Whitey, at his side. To his show more surprise, there's no shortage of work, and before he knows it he's dealing with murder, drugs, and thugs—not to mention the meddlesome matchmaking attempts of his aunt Mirabelle. "Its no wonder Hill has been dubbed one of today's best British mystery writers. His knowledge of police procedure, his razor-edged wit, his right-on-target descriptions of life's little ironies, and his fine characterizations make every one of his books a unique and outstanding read. . . . Although most detectives might rely on guns, tenacity, and toughness, Joe's qualifications for the job are a kind heart, compassion, and plain good luck. Oddly enough, that's exactly what he needs to solve the case. A wacky, witty story that's warm, charming, and highly entertaining." —Booklist "Sumptuously plotted." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review. Fiction. Mystery. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Mr. Hill could not contain his ebullient, piquant sense of humor. And so his publisher decided to let him have at it in the mouth of a protagonist in a different series and thus was born Joe Sixsmith ... or so I imagine. The recently redundant, wise cracking, newly minted private eye careens along a complicated path strewn with clues and red herrings to a triumphant solution. Give it a try ... if you dare ...
Whitey and Joe Sixsmith are a wonderful crime-fighting partnership. This is the second time I've read the initial book in the series, and it was as much of a joy as the first time.
Joe Sixsmith, redundant lath operator turned PI solves several crimes in black area of Luton
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Author Information
84+ Works 18,495 Members
Reginald Hill has received Britain's most coveted mystery writers award, the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, as well as the Golden Dagger, for his Dalziel/Pascoe series. (Publisher Provided) Reginald Hill was born in Hartlepool, England on April 3, 1936. He received an English degree from St. Catherine's College, Oxford University and worked as a show more teacher until 1980, when he retired to become a full-time writer. His first novel, A Clubbable Woman, was published in 1970. During his lifetime, he wrote over 50 books that range from historical novels to science fiction including Fell of Dark, No Man's Land, The Spy's Wife, and The Woodcutter. He was best known for the Dalziel and Pascoe series and the Joe Sixsmith series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms of Patrick Ruell, Dick Morland, and Charles Underhill. He received the 1990 Golden Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel of the Year for Bones and Silence and the 1995 Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for lifetime achievement. He died from a brain tumor on January 12, 2012 at the age of 75. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Series
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1993
- People/Characters
- Joe Sixsmith; Stephen Andover ; Gwen Baker ; Soumitra Bannerjee
- Important places
- Luton, Bedfordshire, England, UK
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 197
- Popularity
- 166,287
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.48)
- Languages
- Danish, English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 14
- ASINs
- 4
