The Comforts of Home

By: Susan Hill

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Recovering on a remote Scottish island, his peace doesn’t last long. He is pulled in to a murder inquiry by the overstretched local police. A newcomer, popular with the islanders, has died in perplexing circumstances. The community's reactions are complicated and fragile.

It’s good to be back on the job. And when Simon returns to Lafferton, an arsonist is on the rampage and a woman whose daughter disappeared some years before is haunting the police station seeking closure. She will not let it rest, and Simon is called in to do a cold-case review.

At home, Simon is starting to get used to having a new brother-in-law - in the form of his Chief Constable Kieron Bright. His sister Cat has embarked on a new way of practising medicine, and his nephew Sam is trying to work out what to do with his life. And then their tricky father, Richard, turns up again like a bad penny.

In this gripping new Serrailler thriller, Simon's personal and professional lives intertwine in more complex and demanding ways than ever before.

©2018 Susan Hill (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

Another excellent novel from Susan Hill

Another cliffhanger from Susan Hill. I love the Simon Serailler series and her ability to handle several storylines at the same time has always fascinated me. I have followed the whole series and cannot find a title in this series I don't like.

Not the best in the series

I love this series and was eagerly anticipating this release. I was disappointed in it, however. I agree with another reviewer. The story lines didn't really go together, especially the murder on the island. There was nothing exciting or surprising, and the ending was a bit flat. Steven Pacey was wonderful, as always. I won't give up though. I love the rest of the series too much for that.

Great to be back

Spending time with DCI Simon Serrailler and his twin sister, Cat, is always a pleasure. and Susan Hill's writing is superb. The plot, however, was thin with little tension or surprise (well, there was one surprise). nevertheless, I wouldn't miss anything she writes.

This is a winner

Simon Serrallier solving a crime on a remote rural island? Why yes! Even with his disability,
Simon is great. This series is wonderful: many well drawn, complex characters, various threads
of possibility, conflicts and hope thread through this mystery... with a twist. Hang on.. and see
if you can solve it!

Serrailler returns!

Had decided Susan Hill had retired this series so am delighted to find this. Plus the familiar voice of S Pacey. Not the best of the bunch as regards story-line (it feels like 2 or 3 interesting but unresolved stories woven together) but revisiting with Simon and Cat etc is just delightful. Much appreciated all round.

Love the characters

I love the way she writes - Hill captures relationships and touches on life prejudices and issues and makes the reader think.

A bunch of random

Too many underdeveloped plot threads. I didn’t enjoy it much and probably won’t continue this series.
Steven Pacey great as usual!

Case Closed

If you have not read any previous books in this series I strongly recommend that you do NOT START with this one. I believe this is the end of the series .
The Simon Serrailler series has been a favorite of mine - I've read all the previous books at least twice. I enjoyed the unique characters, settings and excellent writing. I especiialy liked the inclusion of the story of the entire Serrailler family. The book prior to this ends with Simon Serallier in the hospital, gravely wounded. This book is the story of what happens after that.
There is some crime solving in this book. However the main emphasis is on the family members and the changes in their lives.
I don't expect to see any more Serailler mysteries. However I am happy that Susan Hill provided a proper ending to the series..

I'm disappointed...

...after such a long wait. The story meanders. Simon reacts unprofessionally to a confession of murder, much time is spent on the secondary character's opinions about socialized medicine, Hill finally flips a switch in the last 45 minutes when there is sudden focus on STORY. It felt like a wasted credit and a waste of time. I hope the next one in the series regains ground that this one lost.