Arms and the Women

Dalziel and Pascoe, Book 18

By: Reginald Hill

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

When Ellie Pascoe finds herself under threat, the men in her life assume it’s because she’s married to a cop.

But while they trawl after shoals of red herrings, Ellie is blasted off course with a motley crew of women on a voyage of discovery whose perils make Scylla and Charybdis look like a pair of Barbie dolls.

Irish arms, Colombian drugs, and men who will stop at nothing create a tidal wave which threatens to sweep her away. She heads out of town in search of haven but instead finds herself at the very edge of the storm, in a remote clifftop house undermined by the sea.

Fat Andy eventually smells a Security Service rat and comes steaming to the rescue, but for once it’s too little, too late. Ellie’s on her own (apart from her Middle England friend, Daphne; an octogenarian aid worker and her vapid secretary; a gorgeous South American money launderer; an ancient crone; and a female cop who gets up her nose) and must reach deep down into her reserves to find the strength to survive.

©1999 Reginald Hill (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

Superb!

This was so entertaining I couldn't stop listening. Brilliant, funny, engaging - I can't find enough adjectives to encompass this book about men, women, spies, revolutionaries,writers, policemen, writing itself. As good as Kate Atkinson. Plaudits

a bit carried away

What did you love best about Arms and the Women?

Reginald Hill's inimitable style, the characters, the settings

What other book might you compare Arms and the Women to and why?

all the Dalziel and Pascoe novels

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Keeble – was your favorite?

Ellie

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no

Any additional comments?

I am always so hungry for Reginald Hill I read avidly whatever is available. This is not his best plot, in fact compared to the gritty realities of the other D and P tales, Arms and Women comes off over the top. Just a little too wild and improbable. However its still Hill, its still Yorkshire and my favorite detectives are at it again. I'm in heaven

His Best

and that is saying a lot! Wonderful imagination, funny, touching and true to love and friendship. Truly best of the best.

Very Slow

Would you try another book from Reginald Hill and/or Jonathan Keeble?

Yes I would try another

What could Reginald Hill have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Put more of Daziel in the book

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The characters were interesting, but the plot was very slow.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It had a couple of humorous moments in it

Any additional comments?

I generally like R. Hills books but this was not one of them.

Another Corker!

If you could sum up Arms and the Women in three words, what would they be?

Action, humour, clever.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Always Andy Dalziel

What does Jonathan Keeble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

A fine dramatic performance. I find his depictions of women totally believeable, which is not always the case with a man "doing" a female part. He is my favourite narrator of the Dalziel and Pascoe series. More by him please!!

Should have returned it!

Would you try another book written by Reginald Hill or narrated by Jonathan Keeble?

Most definitely!

Would you ever listen to anything by Reginald Hill again?

Absolutely

Did Jonathan Keeble do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

Yes

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom. Can't get into the story as a whole which is sad as I have loved all the Dalziel and Pascoe books.

Original and enjoyable

Regional Hill is a writer of quality - great story line and well constructed characters. Add to this a quality narration and you have very good listen

Disjointed Gobbledegook

What disappointed you about Arms and the Women?

I found the story totally disjointed. I couldn't follow it.

What was most disappointing about Reginald Hill’s story?

The most disappointing thing is that I've enjoyed other books in this series and was looking forward to another good read.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narrator was the only thing that kept me listening

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Arms and the Women?

I'd have kept to one story!

Any additional comments?

This book didn't flow at all and at times I felt the author had a thesaurus at hand and was trying to use as many unusual words as possible.

I have no idea!

I am not usually a reader of the Dalziel and Pasco novels so I don't know the characters at all, I have listened to the first few chapters and have absolutely no idea what is going on - it is amazingly disjointed and tedious - I have just been to the Amazon feedback, and I am obviously not alone in thinking this book is odd. I am amazed by the high overall rating. There is no way I am willing to give up my time to such a dreary, unfathomable and weird book.

I have read a few of R Hill's OTHER books and have really enjoyed his writing - this one just leaves me flabberghasted.

One to put down to experience I think!

Lost the will to live

Utter tosh, so boring , pleased this isn’t the first Reginald Hill book I’ve read or it would certainly be the last

Loved the story and fantastic narrator

Good story, but absolutely made by the narrator. He kept up with very different voices for different characters. Bought this in the sale, and will definitely be getting more of this series.

A Muddle

This is the worst of Reginald Hill’s works. What was he trying to achieve with this muddled, boring book. I felt sorry for Jonathan Keeble, the narrator having to deliver such tosh.
Why did he not stick to what works, he has written three wonderful detective characters, who were almost eclipsed by the dreadful characters , and the plot of this story .
I wish that I could have returned it.

A brilliant read

Twists and turns. Focus on Ellie Pascoe. Story within a story. Beautifully narrated. Highly recommended.