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laila4343's review against another edition
3.0
An absorbing British mystery, published in 1971, centering on the discovery of a body at a college. However, it is VERY dated in attitudes towards women’s bodies. Way too many jarring references to breasts!
romysvx's review against another edition
4.0
Morderstwo w prywatnym college'u, snobistyczne towarzystwo elitarnej brytyjskiej młodzieży, bachanalia i pogańskie rytuały. Nie mogłam nie pokusić się o sięgnięcie po kryminał z takimi elementami. Tym bardziej, że autor już mi znany, a moje pierwsze spotkanie z serią o detektywach Dalzielu i Pascoe wspominam naprawdę nieźle. I tym razem się nie zawiodłam - zarówno “An Advancement of Learning” jak i czytane wcześniej przeze mnie “A Killing Kindness” to bardzo przyjemne brytyjskie kryminały. Hill pisze kryminały klasyczne - zdecydowanie bliżej mu do Agathy Christie i P.D. James niż do nie stroniących od brutalnych i makabrycznych opisów Mo Hayder czy Chrisa Cartera i wybitnie angielskie - ze Scotland Yardem, pagórkowatymi okolicami i urokliwymi wiejskimi krajobrazami oraz tak charakterystycznym dla brytyjskiego społeczeństwa uwidaczniającym się na każdym kroku podziałem klasowym. Bardzo podoba mi się u Hilla wplatanie w fabułę folkloru i elementów nadnaturalnych. I co najważniejsze - autor nie obraża inteligencji czytelnika i wykreowana przez niego historia - poza tym, że ciekawa i wciągająca to i pozbawiona dziur logicznych. A i bohaterowie są jak najbardziej realistyczni i zachowują się wiarygodnie. Ciekawym i trafnym zabiegiem było wybranie na głównych bohaterów dwóch diametralnie od siebie różnych detektywów. Z powodu ich kontrastujących ze sobą charakterów i osobowości niejedna wymiana zdań doprowadza do ciętych i pełnych ironii ripost.
Mnie - wielką miłośniczkę sprawnie napisanych klimatycznych brytyjskich kryminałów - Hill tymi dwiema książkami w pełni kupił i seria o Dalzielu i Pascoe zostaje ze mną na dłużej! A i po inne - osobne - powieści autora z chęcią sięgnę.
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Mnie - wielką miłośniczkę sprawnie napisanych klimatycznych brytyjskich kryminałów - Hill tymi dwiema książkami w pełni kupił i seria o Dalzielu i Pascoe zostaje ze mną na dłużej! A i po inne - osobne - powieści autora z chęcią sięgnę.
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jefftstevens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
fictionfan's review against another edition
5.0
Politics and orgies – the academic life...
The staff and students of Holm Coultram College gather together to watch a statue of a giant bronze nude be lifted from its present site on the college lawn to make way for a new building. Feelings are running high in some quarters, since the statue is a singularly inappropriate memorial to the late lamented head of the college, Alison Girling, killed some years ago in a freak avalanche while on holiday in Austria. But things are about to take a dark turn. As the plinth is raised into the air and the earth falls away from beneath it, bones appear, first a shin-bone, then some ribs, and finally a skull complete with a shock of vivid red hair still attached...
This is the second outing for Andy Dalziel and Pete Pascoe, published in 1971. While there's still some way to go before either of the characters become the fully rounded ones of the middle and late series, both have developed quite a bit from their first appearance in A Clubbable Woman. This time it's Dalziel who's out of his comfort zone, relying on Pascoe for insights into how the world of academia operates. Both characters are shown as more intelligent perhaps than in the first book, certainly more shrewd. Dalziel is showing his trademark technique of riding roughshod over anyone who makes the incorrect assumption that just because he's a blunt Yorkshireman (though Scottish by birth, let's not forget) then he must be thick. Pascoe is considerably more thoughtful in this one, less rough around the edges, beginning to show that softer more intellectual side which develops as the series progresses. Yes, it's still the early '70s, so there is still a little too much emphasis on women being judged primarily by the size of their breasts, but on the whole I felt the females were considerably more nuanced in this one – not all voracious man-hunters, or at least, not solely!
The blurb of my copy of the book, an early printing, suggests that Pascoe is the focus of the series, which I found interesting since I would always say that Dalziel is the dominant character, though it's always a duo rather than a one-man-band. It's true that most of the books are mainly written from Pascoe's viewpoint, but Dalziel is such a huge character that he's always right there casting his shadow over whatever Pete might be looking at. In these early books, Dalziel and Pascoe are the only two central characters – the expanded team of the later books, with Sergeant Wield, PC Novella et al, haven't yet been introduced. But in this one, we meet two characters who will reappear: Ellie Soper and Franny Roote. Ellie is an old girlfriend of Pete's and it looks like the embers of their relationship might still be glowing. Ellie is already strong and feisty, but in terms of development, she has even further to travel than either Dalziel or Pascoe before becoming the excellent lead female character of later books.
Franny is one of Hill's more intriguing characters, whom he will return to occasionally throughout the series. The head of the Student Union in this book, Franny is already showing the moral ambiguity that will become more pronounced each time he appears. Knowing more about him from the later books added a lot of interest to my re-read of this one – it becomes clear that Hill too found him intriguing in the writing of him, and felt that there was plenty more to explore. In fact, though all the characters continue to develop and change, Franny is perhaps the one who remains most consistent over the years. His story develops as time goes by, but the fundamental ambivalence surrounding his character is here already in this first appearance.
The plotting is complex and interesting, involving everything from departmental and student politics to orgies on the beach, though the final resoultion veers dangerously close to the old credibility line. But as always it's the writing and characterisation that lifts this series so far above the average. Both Dalziel and Pascoe are great characters individually and the contrasts between them allow for some great humour, particularly in their dialogue. Hill is a master of allowing his characters to reveal themselves to the reader as they gradually learn to respect each other more.
A fine second book that's left me even keener to get on with re-reading the rest. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
The staff and students of Holm Coultram College gather together to watch a statue of a giant bronze nude be lifted from its present site on the college lawn to make way for a new building. Feelings are running high in some quarters, since the statue is a singularly inappropriate memorial to the late lamented head of the college, Alison Girling, killed some years ago in a freak avalanche while on holiday in Austria. But things are about to take a dark turn. As the plinth is raised into the air and the earth falls away from beneath it, bones appear, first a shin-bone, then some ribs, and finally a skull complete with a shock of vivid red hair still attached...
This is the second outing for Andy Dalziel and Pete Pascoe, published in 1971. While there's still some way to go before either of the characters become the fully rounded ones of the middle and late series, both have developed quite a bit from their first appearance in A Clubbable Woman. This time it's Dalziel who's out of his comfort zone, relying on Pascoe for insights into how the world of academia operates. Both characters are shown as more intelligent perhaps than in the first book, certainly more shrewd. Dalziel is showing his trademark technique of riding roughshod over anyone who makes the incorrect assumption that just because he's a blunt Yorkshireman (though Scottish by birth, let's not forget) then he must be thick. Pascoe is considerably more thoughtful in this one, less rough around the edges, beginning to show that softer more intellectual side which develops as the series progresses. Yes, it's still the early '70s, so there is still a little too much emphasis on women being judged primarily by the size of their breasts, but on the whole I felt the females were considerably more nuanced in this one – not all voracious man-hunters, or at least, not solely!
The blurb of my copy of the book, an early printing, suggests that Pascoe is the focus of the series, which I found interesting since I would always say that Dalziel is the dominant character, though it's always a duo rather than a one-man-band. It's true that most of the books are mainly written from Pascoe's viewpoint, but Dalziel is such a huge character that he's always right there casting his shadow over whatever Pete might be looking at. In these early books, Dalziel and Pascoe are the only two central characters – the expanded team of the later books, with Sergeant Wield, PC Novella et al, haven't yet been introduced. But in this one, we meet two characters who will reappear: Ellie Soper and Franny Roote. Ellie is an old girlfriend of Pete's and it looks like the embers of their relationship might still be glowing. Ellie is already strong and feisty, but in terms of development, she has even further to travel than either Dalziel or Pascoe before becoming the excellent lead female character of later books.
Franny is one of Hill's more intriguing characters, whom he will return to occasionally throughout the series. The head of the Student Union in this book, Franny is already showing the moral ambiguity that will become more pronounced each time he appears. Knowing more about him from the later books added a lot of interest to my re-read of this one – it becomes clear that Hill too found him intriguing in the writing of him, and felt that there was plenty more to explore. In fact, though all the characters continue to develop and change, Franny is perhaps the one who remains most consistent over the years. His story develops as time goes by, but the fundamental ambivalence surrounding his character is here already in this first appearance.
The plotting is complex and interesting, involving everything from departmental and student politics to orgies on the beach, though the final resoultion veers dangerously close to the old credibility line. But as always it's the writing and characterisation that lifts this series so far above the average. Both Dalziel and Pascoe are great characters individually and the contrasts between them allow for some great humour, particularly in their dialogue. Hill is a master of allowing his characters to reveal themselves to the reader as they gradually learn to respect each other more.
“You've got specialized knowledge. Or think you have. Without being in a specialized job. You've got this... whatever it is...”
“Degree, sir,” said Pascoe helpfully.
“I know it's a bloody degree. But in something, isn't it?”
“Social sciences.”
“That's it. Exactly. Which equips you to work well in...”
“Society, sir?”
“Instead of which you have to work in...”
“Society, sir?”
There was a long pause during which Dalziel looked at the sergeant more in sorrow than in anger.
“That's what I mean,” he said finally. “You're too bloody clever by half.”
A fine second book that's left me even keener to get on with re-reading the rest. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
ncrabb's review against another edition
3.0
Ah, the peace and unity that abounds on our college campuses, especially among the faculty and staff. Even the word collegiate reflects such things. But how realistic is that? Welcome to the campus of Holm Coultram college. As the book opens, one hapless professor is accused of playing doctor with one of his students, and naturally the young woman is the one largely getting punished for it. Oh, the good professor can’t teach for a while, but he doesn’t lose his job or salary. There is, among the faculty and staff, some resentment about that.
Concurrently, the college has determined that a statue of its founder, Alison Girling, must come down. But in the process of removing it, workers find human remains, and a couple of Yorkshire cops hit campus to investigate.
These cops, Dalziel and Pascoe, are a unique pair. Dalziel is blue collar hard-core. He never had the opportunity to avail himself of a college education, and he sees little or no advantage to one in his advancing years. Pascoe, on the other hand, is a bit more cerebral. He has done the university scene, and he understands the people to a greater degree than does his boss. But it is crusty old Dalziel with his rather unhealthy fascination with female breasts and body parts in general who gets the sleuthing done by and large.
As the officers dig deeper to find out whose body is under the statue, they uncover a jungle of secrets that make the peaceful recently co-ed campus seem downright contentious and filled with something akin to palace intrigue. As the book progresses Anita, the student accused of playing doctor with the professor at the beginning of the book, is counted among the dead; and before the book ends, more bodies will turn up.
This is worth reading if only to experience the author’s attitudes toward students in a small liberal arts school in the early ‘70s. You’ll read about late-night naked dancing activities, a fascination with Ouija boards and spiritualism in general, and the ubiquitous presence of Cannabis. When this is done, neither students nor staff come out looking good at all.
These two cops intrigue me, and that’s why I will read the third book in the series. The fact that men of so opposite a perspective on life can work successfully together is fascinating, and the fact that the author crafts these men such that their ability to work together is believable will keep me coming back.
Concurrently, the college has determined that a statue of its founder, Alison Girling, must come down. But in the process of removing it, workers find human remains, and a couple of Yorkshire cops hit campus to investigate.
These cops, Dalziel and Pascoe, are a unique pair. Dalziel is blue collar hard-core. He never had the opportunity to avail himself of a college education, and he sees little or no advantage to one in his advancing years. Pascoe, on the other hand, is a bit more cerebral. He has done the university scene, and he understands the people to a greater degree than does his boss. But it is crusty old Dalziel with his rather unhealthy fascination with female breasts and body parts in general who gets the sleuthing done by and large.
As the officers dig deeper to find out whose body is under the statue, they uncover a jungle of secrets that make the peaceful recently co-ed campus seem downright contentious and filled with something akin to palace intrigue. As the book progresses Anita, the student accused of playing doctor with the professor at the beginning of the book, is counted among the dead; and before the book ends, more bodies will turn up.
This is worth reading if only to experience the author’s attitudes toward students in a small liberal arts school in the early ‘70s. You’ll read about late-night naked dancing activities, a fascination with Ouija boards and spiritualism in general, and the ubiquitous presence of Cannabis. When this is done, neither students nor staff come out looking good at all.
These two cops intrigue me, and that’s why I will read the third book in the series. The fact that men of so opposite a perspective on life can work successfully together is fascinating, and the fact that the author crafts these men such that their ability to work together is believable will keep me coming back.
nocto's review against another edition
this is the second dalziel and pascoe book. one thing i'm enjoying about this series (having read a whole three of them now ;-) ) is that each seems to have it's own setting. it's quite an old fashioned device to make a book so closed from the outside world but hill manages to write modern books within the constraints. the first in the series was 'the rugby club book' and this one was 'the college book'. this book hooks you in with the intriguing conundrum of 'how did her bones come to be buried beneath her memorial?' and the story flows well but the ending is a bit of a disappointment, as it was with the first book.
(this is book 2 in the dalziel and pascoe series)
falconerreader's review against another edition
3.0
I'm trying to go back and re-read my favorite detective series from the start. This is actually book 2, but that's okay, I can't imagine Peter without Ellie. Forty years ago, Hill was a good writer, but nowhere near his current greatness. It drags at points, minor characters seem one dimensional, but the most telling point is Dalziel. In later books he seems like a minor god, some prehistoric deity. In this book he seems human, a fat guy with a failed marriage who likes to tease his right-hand man about his education. Ironically, this makes him a less believable character. He is "the old fat wiseass in the detective novel" instead of Dalziel, larger than life, but very full of it. (life, that is...)
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting mystery, still developing the relationship between Dalziel and Pascoe. Very similar in feel and characterization to the TV show that the series spawned.
meereefox's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0