Rating: 
Summary: Delightful!
Review: "Pictures of Perfection" is a delightful fairy tale of a mystery complete with happily-ever-after ending. It becomes apparent early on that the author is playing some sort of enormous joke on his readers, but I doubt you'll guess what the punch line is! At least I didn't. If you enjoy a literate, intelligent traditional (but quirky) British whodunit, this should be just your cup of tea. It's filled with Reginald Hill's trademark humor (even more than usual), and Dalziel, Pascoe and Wield are all in top form.
Rating:
Summary: Great:***wickedly Funny Twisted plot,and Happy SGT Wield!
Review: *****
This is a Dalziel/Pascoe mystery, with the usual careful plotting and great dialogue. However, this book is above and beyond even Reginald Hill's great usual: there's a bizarre shock in store for the reader. (Who will enjoy it later, very much) It has wickedly funny plotting, some of the most unusual characters, and to my delight an unexpected chance at happiness for poor sweet Sergeant Wield. Wield has suffered through plenty of Dalziel's bossiness and the dismay of "coming out" to his fellow detectives. In this story he meets a man he initially finds very annoying, but as the story develops, we can see the promise of love on the horizon.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
I thought this mystery was wonderful as a kind of "fun" romp with the characters. Hill is showing us he cares very much about them all.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Fun, Fun
Review: Filled with humor, irony, and exquisite dialog! One of the best of Hill's series.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece of wit and illusion.
Review: For those of you who prefer the cozy British mystery, like myself, you will be promptly dismayed, perhaps even repulsed, by the first gruesome chapter. Persevere. Like the magician who saws the lovely lady in half its not about gore but smoke, mirrors and not one, but several, well drawn characters finding their heart's repose. Giving you a synopsis of the plot simply isn't possible, because what you think it is, it simply isn't. But this can be said: The book is full of satirical humour, fascinating characters and an actual mystery. Add to this that the author does wonderful things with the English language and the book is a winner all the way around.
Rating:
Summary: another great mystery with twists a-plenty!
Review: I am a bona fide Reginald Hill fan and have read about a fourth of all he's so far written. Pictures of Perfection is, without a doubt, one of the best ones I've read and it shows the full range and breadth of Mr. Hill's talents. While ostensibly a mystery, there is ample mirth, satire, parody, and guffaws throughout the book. Mr. Hill also has the ability, rare in the field of mystery writers for some reason, to turn a phrase just right and then place it in the mouth of the best character to say that one phrase; as a result, I found myself laughing outright in unexpected moments! Character development is finely tuned here and, for once, the book allows a fuller sense of Sergeant Wield and for me fills in the piece of how Wield met his partner who is included in later books. In fact, I feel Hill writes as if picturing all this on stage or on the screen. Yes, that's how well timed and placed characters, dialogue, and plot are. (Mr Hill: If you are reading, please release your books to the larger screen! I can't wait to see who's cast as Andy Dalziel!) Whether this be your first Hill novel or not, you will not be disappointed by this page-turner!
Rating:
Summary: another great mystery with twists a-plenty!
Review: I am a bona fide Reginald Hill fan and have read about a fourth of all he's so far written. Pictures of Perfection is, without a doubt, one of the best ones I've read and it shows the full range and breadth of Mr. Hill's talents. While ostensibly a mystery, there is ample mirth, satire, parody, and guffaws throughout the book. Mr. Hill also has the ability, rare in the field of mystery writers for some reason, to turn a phrase just right and then place it in the mouth of the best character to say that one phrase; as a result, I found myself laughing outright in unexpected moments! Character development is finely tuned here and, for once, the book allows a fuller sense of Sergeant Wield and for me fills in the piece of how Wield met his partner who is included in later books. In fact, I feel Hill writes as if picturing all this on stage or on the screen. Yes, that's how well timed and placed characters, dialogue, and plot are. (Mr Hill: If you are reading, please release your books to the larger screen! I can't wait to see who's cast as Andy Dalziel!) Whether this be your first Hill novel or not, you will not be disappointed by this page-turner!
Rating: 
Summary: A nifty departure from the "Dalziel and Pascoe" norm
Review: In "Pictures of Perfection" Reginald Hill gives us both the terrific Daziel/Pascoe mystery we've come to expect and something totally unexpected as well. The village of Enscombe has changed only superficially since the days of Jane Austen whose words just happen to introduce each chapter. One of the residents, Caddy Scudamore, is a talented artist given to painting over much of her crowded canvases. This is done, we are told, not so much to obliterate as to "relegate it to a kind of misty otherworld where it still continued to exert its existence." Hill, too, offers us one thing - a contemporary mystery - beneath which lie all the sense and sensibilities of Austen. Social dynamics and entailments. Misunderstandings and love matches (at least one of which in its `90s incarnation might take even Jane by surprise!) But most of all, insight and humor and a joyous way with words that can make a reader laugh out loud. Austen could do it and so can Reginald Hill. He leads us into the story through a scenario that we find all too easy to accept and ushers us out again with a reminder that appearances can be deceiving. Jane would have agreed.
Rating:
Summary: Usual excellence from Reginald Hill
Review: The story commences with a terrifying and well-written account of a gunman shooting randomly at people in the village of Enscombe - so much more terrifying because we all know so well how events like this have scarred human history. Then the story goes back in time to two days before the shootings and traces the seemingly innocuous events (including fraud, forgery, love requited and unrequited) leading up to the shootings. As usual, this author can stun and delight, and in this book there are well-drawn characterisations of village denizens. Also, those Hill fans of long-standing might take some pleasure in Wieldy having centre-stage in this one. Most highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Unique Exemplar of the Mystery Genre
Review: The usual elements of the mystery genre are all present in this unique opus that you may well remember for a long time. You may even find yourself doing some rereading just to see how it was done. I may have said too much already -- some other reviewers may have said too much -- so I simply encourage you to read and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A Unique Exemplar of the Mystery Genre
Review: The usual elements of the mystery genre are all present in this unique opus that you may well remember for a long time. You may even find yourself doing some rereading just to see how it was done. I may have said too much already -- some other reviewers may have said too much -- so I simply encourage you to read and enjoy.
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