The Woodcutter
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Review
'An outstanding novel of force and beauty [which shows] Hill's elegant writing, erudition and imagination' The Times
'He quickly proves he's lost none of his sardonic wit, punch and complexity … You'll be hard pushed to find another crime writer with his verve … Hill uses every trick in his arsenal to elucidate. The result is an epic, unbeatable mystery' Financial Times
'A big, fat mystery which has the enduring power of a myth … Hill proves once again that the driving force of a successful crime novel is character, not incident … The heights of the Dalziel & Pascoe series aside, Hill has never written a better book' Evening Standard
'Reginald Hill's books are as good as crime fiction gets and this one is as good as he gets … A tragic, funny standalone mystery … History is rewritten with brilliant originality and verve. The combination of wit and humanity is characteristic of this most inventive of crime novelists – warmly recommended' Literary Review
'Hill's plotting is brilliant, the jokes first-rate, the prose supple: it's his humble awe at the English language that enables him to be a minor master of it' Daily Telegraph
'To give more of plot would be to destroy the great pleasure this complex and accomplished novel offers … Added to his colourful prose and involving narrative are acute psychological insights, beautifully realized characters and landscapes, an examination of the nature of justice, political rage, humour and enough word games to keep any bookish crossword-puzzler happy for hours … The Woodcutter combines romance, fairy tale and tragedy in one of the most gripping crime novels of the past few years' TLS
Review
'An outstanding novel of force and beauty [which shows] Hill's elegant writing, erudition and imagination' The Times 'He quickly proves he's lost none of his sardonic wit, punch and complexity ! You'll be hard pushed to find another crime writer with his verve ! Hill uses every trick in his arsenal to elucidate. The result is an epic, unbeatable mystery' Financial Times 'A big, fat mystery which has the enduring power of a myth ! Hill proves once again that the driving force of a successful crime novel is character, not incident ! The heights of the Dalziel & Pascoe series aside, Hill has never written a better book' Evening Standard 'Reginald Hill's books are as good as crime fiction gets and this one is as good as he gets ! A tragic, funny standalone mystery ! History is rewritten with brilliant originality and verve. The combination of wit and humanity is characteristic of this most inventive of crime novelists -- warmly recommended' Literary Review 'Hill's plotting is brilliant, the jokes first-rate, the prose supple: it's his humble awe at the English language that enables him to be a minor master of it' Daily Telegraph 'To give more of plot would be to destroy the great pleasure this complex and accomplished novel offers ! Added to his colourful prose and involving narrative are acute psychological insights, beautifully realized characters and landscapes, an examination of the nature of justice, political rage, humour and enough word games to keep any bookish crossword-puzzler happy for hours ! The Woodcutter combines romance, fairy tale and tragedy in one of the most gripping crime novels of the past few years' TLS
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Be aware that this is not a Fatman and Boy Wonder novel but a stand-alone which in its way is very different from anything this ever versatile writer has tried before. Is it any good? Oh dear me yes! Will it disappoint any of his devoted followers? I doubt it, even though it's set largely in his native Cumbria rather than Yorkshire and involves few policemen. I enjoyed it immensely. It has so many strands - is it a moral tale, a take on our selfish society; is it a tongue-in-cheek fairy story [ Wolf {sic}; cottage in the woods; little blonde haired girl]; a thinly-disguised acerbic comment on the sometimes amoral landed classes, whether here or in Russia and so on. I liked so much about it, not least his descriptions of the wilder parts of the Lake District. Some of the writing is awesome - the moonlit winter countryside around Wolf's farm and the touch of that other famous Cumbrian, William Wordsworth, when on the bleakly beautiful Wastwater. And as for Pillar Rock, what can I say?! Believe me, if you've never been there, no ordinary mortal would consider it without a rope and as for certain activities at the top - well, uncomfortable and scary are words that come to mind! I liked the character of Wolf [loved the phone call from the Courts!!!] but Imogen perhaps from the start doesn't come across as particularly likeable. Even with her, Hill can't keep humour away "only two things would keep her awake - sex and toothache" but the best character I have to say is probably the dog. I defy you to disagree!
Thoroughly recommended; best book I've read for some time.
Thoroughly recommended; best book I've read for some time.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
One of Hill's early non-Dalziel and Pascoe novels was called "The Long Kill". It's the only one I ever read that dropped a star. The sex was embarrassingly clinical, the fight scenes implausibly long, and the denouement disappointingly predictable. So why mention it now?
Well I think Hill himself might have been less than satisfied with it. Because some of the themes in "The Long Kill" are reprised in "The Woodcutter". And this time he's got it absolutely right. I can't imagine reading a better book this year, and it gave me more pleasure than anything I've read for the past few years - including the best D & P novels. It has drive, tension, wit, compassion (who else could evoke sympathy for a man in the Woodcutter's profession
(and we're not talking forestry here!)?)
So if, like me, you read "The Long Kill" on the strength of his more mature works, ignorant of the inevitable fact that even Hill nods, get "The Woodcutter". Buy it in hardback. And be careful who you lend it to.
Well I think Hill himself might have been less than satisfied with it. Because some of the themes in "The Long Kill" are reprised in "The Woodcutter". And this time he's got it absolutely right. I can't imagine reading a better book this year, and it gave me more pleasure than anything I've read for the past few years - including the best D & P novels. It has drive, tension, wit, compassion (who else could evoke sympathy for a man in the Woodcutter's profession
(and we're not talking forestry here!)?)
So if, like me, you read "The Long Kill" on the strength of his more mature works, ignorant of the inevitable fact that even Hill nods, get "The Woodcutter". Buy it in hardback. And be careful who you lend it to.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I must admit to not having read any of the author's other work - but part of the fun of Vine is being able to access new authors (to me) without any expectations.
This is a very well written, tightly plotted thriller. The main character is mightily flawed, but is still someone you would like to meet (if a bit nervously). The other characters are well drawn, from the good guys to the bad - and there are some amusing touches as well.
The story concerns a self-made millionaire who falls foul of a number of his acquaintances... and ends up in prison for a crime he did not commit. The author brings in some very recent themes (the book is set in 2010 or thereabouts) and we come across paedophilia and the recent economic crash and recession.
Some delightful description of Cumbria and the relationship between Man and Dog (or probably, Wolf and Wolf) help to fill out the main fast-paced tale. Much of it is told in flash-backs as the alleged criminal is taken back through his life by his psychiatrist. These parts of the story are crucial to the tale, and it is intriguing to watch as the psychiatrist picks out the truth from the fiction...
As they say "All's well, that well ends?" or something along those lines...
This is a very well written, tightly plotted thriller. The main character is mightily flawed, but is still someone you would like to meet (if a bit nervously). The other characters are well drawn, from the good guys to the bad - and there are some amusing touches as well.
The story concerns a self-made millionaire who falls foul of a number of his acquaintances... and ends up in prison for a crime he did not commit. The author brings in some very recent themes (the book is set in 2010 or thereabouts) and we come across paedophilia and the recent economic crash and recession.
Some delightful description of Cumbria and the relationship between Man and Dog (or probably, Wolf and Wolf) help to fill out the main fast-paced tale. Much of it is told in flash-backs as the alleged criminal is taken back through his life by his psychiatrist. These parts of the story are crucial to the tale, and it is intriguing to watch as the psychiatrist picks out the truth from the fiction...
As they say "All's well, that well ends?" or something along those lines...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
"Necessity and Chance approach not me, and what I will is Fate."
Reginald Hill, known largely for his Dalzeal and Pascoe novels, has produced a stand-alone which is an edgy and rather romanticised thriller with a plot that has some twists that... Read more
Published 3 hours ago by Eileen Shaw
walbar
Once you start reading this novel it has page turning qualities.One of the better books that I have read recently
Published 3 days ago by Mr. William W. Shearer
Get busy with that axe, Wolf!
This starts off promisingly. We are licking our chops at the prospect of some juicy revenge when Hadda gets back on his feet. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gargoyle
Very good read
I really enjoyed this book it was good reading from begining to end. The main character 'Wolf' really grew on you and you found yourself willing him to get his revenge on those who... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Maggie HArrison
Reginald Hill
A very good read and well up to Reginald Hill's standard that readers have come to expect, I would reccomend this to other Reginald Hill enthusiasts
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Jeremy G. Dutton
A great beginning, but loses momentum
A strange book. It starts off so well and I found it difficult to put down. Then, about half-way, I found the story began to flag and lose momentum, not helped by a rather... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Donald Hughes
Couldn't put it down
This is the first novel I have read in a long time. So many times I start a book and give up because the first few pages just don't grab me. Read more
Published 1 month ago by A. J. Davidson
A very absorbing read with excellent storyline
From the very first page I was gripped and as the story unfolds found that I could not put the book down. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Harvey1962
Brilliant Book - Audiobook wonderfully read
One of the best books I have "read" in a long time! I got the audiobook version and was completely drawn in by both the book and the reader (who has done an outstanding job in my... Read more
Published 2 months ago by travelling reader
a GREAT read
This book came recommended by a friend and I just could not put it down! The style of writing is sharp and gets the reader's attention from the start. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. J. Gilbody
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