Reginald Hill, Show, never Tell!

[Angela Zeman]

Just finished Reginald Hill's DEATH'S JEST BOOK, published in the UK in 2002, in the US 2003. My second reading of this huge (in every aspect) novel. Fascinating, about a serial killer captured and in the process, killed, making a tidy ending for the case...except this book wasn't about that. This book dealt with the aftermath of that case. In Dalziel's (Hill's protagonist's) view, his second in command (Pascoe) is only picking at the scab of a closed case making for unecessary aggravation to everyone around him.

Point being, this book is a magnificent opus of continual TELLING! Most of the book explains details about the closed case. Much more of the book consists of breathtaking letters (written in present time) from Francis Roote to Pascoe, referring often to the past case. Roote is an ex-con nobody suspects of being the 'true' serial killer except Pascoe. Roote's letters dig and gouge at Pascoe's peace of mind exhibiting (or not?) a sociopath's best skill: manipulation of others' feelings.

The book is gripping, the characters marvelously layered. A pure laugh at the 'rule' of never tell, only show. Meaning, don't try this at home. Unless you possess the confidence and art of Reginald Hill.

I invite comments!

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