Thursday 23 June 2011

The Various Haunts of Men By Susan Hill

A lonely woman of fifty-three vanishes in fog; a fat twenty-two-year-old never returns from an early morning walk . . .


Experienced policemen know that most missing persons either turn up or go missing on purpose. But fresh young D.S. Freya Graffham won’t drop it — until she discovers what links the people who disappear on “The Hill,” young and old, men and women, even a little dog. Susan Hill writes with compassion, humour and a unique understanding of the details of daily life.






The Various Haunts of Men (Simon Serrailler Mystery)       

  The Various Haunts of Men is the first in a series by Susan Hill and plays out like a classic crime-show. While it was nothing like the books I usually read(young adult), it’s a lot like the TV Shows I watch and love. This book was very Criminal Minds. It was creepy and the mystery is mind-boggling.
However, it does not start out that way. The plot develops slowly while Susan Hill spent a lot of time on character development and in detailing out the town of Lafferton , a peaceful English cathedral city. The protagonist is a young policewoman Freya Graffham and the book also chronicles her relationship with DCI Simon Serrailler, providing us with some romance. The town itself is described beautifully and a sub-plot of shady new-age practitioners is thrown in.
The Various Haunts of Men opens and is interspersed with sections of "The Tape," which sound like confessions and thoughts of a deranged person. This part is cryptic and while it provides no real clues to the mystery it adds suspense.
I finished this book in one-sitting. I was on a constant guessing game. I just could not put it down. It was addicting and thrilling and had lost of twists and turns.
Recommended to lovers of crime-drama like Twin Peaks, Criminal Minds, Dexter etc.
Also fans of Sidney Sheldon books.


P.S-
Is anyone else waiting for Dexter Season 6 to premiere?!?
I feel like I can barely wait what with all the spoilers making the rounds and the exculsive trailer being premiered at Comic-Con.
I am going to miss Julia Stiles but we do have Colin Hanks who  is guest-starring this season.
That should have been ME!!!!


7 comments:

  1. I read this book about 6/7 months ago and I loved it ^-^ The only fault with it is that someone died who I didn't want to at all ;(

    Love your blog xx

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  2. Hi Thanks for the invite to follow your blog and thank you for checking out my blog. I am looking forward to the new season of Dexter

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  3. I read one of Susan's books just before I started blogging last year. I think it was called The Small Hand. I enjoyed it and I think I might enjoy this one too. I'll have to look out for it.

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  4. You should! It was really good! :)

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  5. I've actually never heard of this book before, but the premise sounds intriguing, and the fact that you described it as a "classic crime show" only adds to its appeal. And yay mysteries. I think suspense is definitely underused in literature these days and I'm excited at the thought of a fully out mystery. Definitely will be checking this out. Thank you for the review!

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  6. Cool. I've never heard of this book before. It sounds awesome! Character development is seriously my number 1 thing in a book so fabulous! P.S. I am also SERIOUSLY looking forward to Dexter. Totally LOVE IT!!!

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