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A review by ncrabb
An Advancement of Learning by Reginald Hill
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.