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| Plot Summary of Dialogues of the Dead |
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"A series of apparently random murders are connected by "dialogues" written by the suspect. Dalziel and Pascoe, assisted by "Hat" Bowler and Sgt. Wield attempt to indentify the killer and stop the killings.One of Hill's best."
Vicki Hastings, Resident Scholar
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Delacorte, Jan 2002, 23.95, 424 pp.
ISBN: 0385336004
Mid Yorkshire County Library and the local newspaper Mid Yorkshire Gazette jointly host a literary contest. Two librarians Dick Dee and Rye Pomona sift through the myriad of entries in order to reduce the number for the final judging. Dick finds a strange entry “First Dialogue” that mirrors a murder just reported in the paper, but the submission provides more detail. Not long afterward, Rye reads the “Second Dialogue”, which also reflects with greater details the killing reported in the paper. Rye brings both entries to the attention of law enforcement official Hat Bowler, who raises them to his superior, but they mean little at this time.
The “Third Dialogue finally hits home to the police that there is a link between a serial killer and the literary contest contributions by a person dubbed as the “Wordman” by the librarians. Police officials Andrew Dalziel and Peter Pascoe have their work cut out for them in trying to understand the literary clues of a paronomania murderer.
DIALOGUES OF THE DEAD proves that Reginald Hill deserves the numerous awards he has earned for his strong police procedurals. His latest British psychological suspense tale contains an exciting story line that never slows down until the final twist reveals the identity of the “Wordman”, who is actually in plain sight, but impossible to finger. The key police characters remain fresh as if this is their first investigation instead of the newest tale in what is one of the best series of the last decade.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Dialogues of the Dead |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of story
- Dry-cynical
- very humorous
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
- Challenging
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
- 90%
Special suspect?
- chronically deranged person
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
- british mystery (I say!)
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Eccentric/Mental:
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an above average amount
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 3-4
- 5-7
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--swords/knives
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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