Exit Lines

Exit Lines by Reginald Hill is part of the Dalziel and Pascoe series and as three old men die on a dark and stormy November night, we are left wondering how and why they met their fate. While one seems to have died during the course of a burglary, another died from a combination of a fall and exposure, and the third was a traffic accident, but at least one witness swears that a drunken Dalziel was the driver leaving the local reporters wondering if this is a police cover-up. Each elderly man left a dying statement that, instead of helping, actually made things even more confusing.

Although I am not this author's biggest fan, the plot here was interesting and complex. I found the author’s use of humour helped to keep the story on track. show more The issues of aging, death, and senility were used in a way that showed humanity and intelligence. Although Dalziel was mostly a background presence, Pascoe and others on the police team were able to bring the book to a satisfactory conclusion. show less

Although some of the earlier Dalziel and Pascoe books can contain some cringey sexism, this installment was bearable. The main story is that three elderly men have died under suspicious circumstances and it seems like too much of a coincidence. Having three crimes to investigate allows for some freshness in the pacing, shifting from one story to another, and there are some highly relevant ponderings from various characters about aging and mortality.

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 show more 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. show less