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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Barely any
A shooting death and letters from a suicidal woman; handled with restraint but weight
Language
Some
Some strong language in police procedural context
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief references to marital relationship and its breakdown
Substance Use
Barely any
Mild social drinking in police and theatrical contexts
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Sustained psychological weight from suicide theme and investigation of domestic violence
What this book is about
The tenth Dalziel and Pascoe mystery is a tour de force in which Pascoe begins receiving letters from an anonymous suicidal woman he cannot identify while simultaneously investigating the apparent accidental shooting death of a woman by her husband. Meanwhile, the duo becomes involved in a local amateur production of the medieval Chester Mystery Plays. Hill weaves these strands together with extraordinary skill, and the medieval dramatic material—exploring sin, judgment, and redemption—resonates thematically with the modern investigations. Winner of the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Suicide theme in anonymous letters
Themes of domestic violence
Some mature language
Reader Verification
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