Skeleton Hill
by Peter Lovesey
#10 in the Series
Published September 2009
Longing for a traditional British mystery? Skeleton Hill is just that with two dead bodies, a smattering of clues, plenty of suspects, and a red herring or two thrown in for good measure.
It begins on Bath's Lansdown Hill with the Roundheads and Cavaliers clashing at an reenactment of a Civil War battle fought in 1643. Two of the "corpses" retreat behind the lines to reclaim an earlier secreted six-pack when they dig up a human femur instead. Figuring it's an ancient bone and probably from the original battle they rebury it and go their separate ways. Unfortunately they didn't bury it deep enough and once it resurfaces it ends up on Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond's desk. The femur isn't that old and two weeks later there is a fresh corpse on Lansdown Hill, coincidence? Diamond is determined to find out and to run both investigations his way. His boss has other ideas.
The case is built carefully step by step in this Police Procedural allowing the reader a chance to beat the team to a result. Too bad there's no hope of sharing the celebratory beer. A very satisfying contemporary mystery with a glimpse into Bath's ancient past. Plus everyone loves Peter Diamond. He messes up just enough to make him irresistible.
If you like Peter Lovesey try - Colin Dexter (Chief Inspector Morse), Elizabeth George (Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers), Reginald Hill (Superintendent Dalziel and Sergeant Pascoe), Ian Rankin (Inspector Rebus), Ruth Rendell (Chief Inspector Wexford and Inspector Borden), Peter Robinson (Chief Inspector Alan Banks)
A list of the Peter Lovesey books in the Peter Diamond series- The Last Detective (1991), Diamond Solitaire (1992), The Summons (1995), Bloodhounds (1996), Upon a Dark Night (1998), The Vault (2000), Diamond Dust (2002), The House Sitter (2003), The Secret Hangman (2007), Skeleton Hill (2009)
Oh, this sounds like a terrific read! Thanks for sharing with us :).
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