Asking for the Moon (Dalziel and Pascoe)

by Reginald Hill

Book Overview

'Hill is an instinctive and complete novelist who is blessed with a spontaneous storytelling gift' Frances Fyfield, Mail on Sunday If you've already met Dalziel and Pascoe, you're in for a treat. If... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440225833
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Dell
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 0.8" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Not your usual short stories!

I did not realize that this book was a collection of short stories when I first picked it up. But this is not your usual collection of short stories. These four stories are wonderful snapshots of the Dalziel and Pascoe partnership through their years working together. Dalziel is still at his sharpest here, even in the fanciful story "One Small Step" where Pascoe brings him out of retirement to solve the first murder on the moon. Yes, that's right, I said moon. As I said these stories are totally unique, and each one is a wonderful mystery in its own right. Now I will get back to reding the series, but I am glad that I took this little side trip to delve into Dalziel and Pascoe's world.

Thoroughly Entertaining

This was the perfect prescription for the murder-mystery doldrums. I have come to expect witty repartee, engaging plotlines, laugh-out-loud comedy, and fascinating characters from Reginald Hill, and this book did not disappoint. I didn't realize it was four stories in one book, and I found nothing lacking in this format. A glimpse into the early days and future days of our favorite boys - Pascoe and Dalziel - was indeed a treat. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone, and especially to fans of Reginald Hill. Nobody will be disappointed!

A sterling collection

this is a great collection of short stories from one of britain's leading writers. It is more laden with humour than many of the novels, but that is mainly due to the capacity for some hilarious in-jokes which Hill includes. "The Last National Service Man" is a more a comedy than a crime story. There are elements of crime, but imagining Dalziel (pronounced "Dee-ell") jogging up and down on the spot in army regalia is just side-splitting! It's a taut, well written story, and does have some great suspense in it at times. The solution is also quite clever, but a bit of a cop out, i feel. "Pascoes ghost" is another good story, it is well plotted, with more than it's fair share of well drawn characters with interesting and varied motives. Here, the mystery is first class, enough, really, to support an almost full-length novel. The solution is satisfying, in typical Hill style. The climax is also very exciting. "Dalziel's Ghost" is not so much a crime story, as just a story. It's very much a ponderance upon the characters of Dalziel and Pascoe (but to a lesser extent). There is little real mystery to it at all, but it is still intensely interesting, cleverly plotted, and has another great and somewhat amusing twist at the end!"One Small Step" is perhaps the best in this collection, offering us a Hill's-eye look at what he thinks life may be like on the future, and the events which have caused the first murder on the moon. (As a crime-fiction concept, it is so original as to deserve a standing ovation.) Again, there are loads of in-jokes, but this time we are treated to a first class mystery story. This is another one which could well support a really cracking full-length novel. The solution is satisfyingly convoluted and multi-faceted, until you really realise what's going on (God forbid taht anyone should underestimate Dalziel! Pascoe should have known better!) Excellent. All in all, if you like good short stories, give this a go. If you are a Dalziel and Pascoe fan, give this a go. (especially as it catalogues their first meeting.) If you like a good yarn, of any kind, give this a go. If you like good writing with great characters, give this a go.

Dalziel and Pascoe Go to the Moon

The other short stories are fine but the moon visit is laugh-out-loud terrific. Andy D. never fails the reader.

The funniest contemporary English mystery writer.

Reginald Hill can take earthy material and turn it into laughs and chills. Sample quote: 'I said to myself, spotty little scrote like that, I bet he'd have to use force to get his own mother to kiss him goodnight!'