Shocked and saddened to learn of the death of one of my favourite crime writers and a great inspiration: Reginald Hill

[Pauline Rowson]

I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the death of Reginald Hill, a great crime writer and without doubt one of my favourites and the inspiration for my own crime writing career. Although best known for his Dalziel and Pascoe novels I also love his thrillers and his humorous series set in Luton, featuring the black private detective Joe Sixsmith.

I first discovered Reginald Hill in 1978. I was ill and my husband, home on leave from the armed forces, bought A Clubbable Woman to cheer me up.  I was hooked.  I have nearly all of Reginald Hill's crime and thriller novels, some signed, and I re read them, again and again, taking pleasure from them every time. I am also honoured to have corresponded with Reginald who encouraged me in my crime writing career. He will be greatly missed but his work will live on and will continue to be enjoyed by many. In his memory I will pick one of his novels from my bookshelves tonight to read once again.

Reginald Charles Hill, born 3 April 1936; died 12 January 2012, won the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger award, for Bones and Silence in 1990 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement five years later.

My thoughts are with his friends and family.