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profejennifer's review
3.0
3.5 stars, would probably have rounded up, but the ending felt uncharacteristically rushed.
I think the best part of this installment of the Simon Serrailler series was the development of Sam's character. I liked that Hill didn't leave him as a one-dimensional troubled teenager, without making his growth seem too hasty or magical. I also liked how Simon handled the case on Taransay, as it showed him caught in the space between human being and cop and how he worked through that tension for himself.
But whereas normally one of the aspects of Hill's writing that I most appreciate is her willingness to leave things unresolved and messy, the ending of this book did one of those "One month later, all of these difficulties the characters have been struggling with are neatly wrapped up and everyone is feeling settled, even though I didn't show you the part where they went from point A to point B." The crime story of this novel was resolved in a similarly hurried fashion. Hill is better than that, as she's proven in so many of her other novels, and I hope the next book in the series reflects that.
I think the best part of this installment of the Simon Serrailler series was the development of Sam's character. I liked that Hill didn't leave him as a one-dimensional troubled teenager, without making his growth seem too hasty or magical. I also liked how Simon handled the case on Taransay, as it showed him caught in the space between human being and cop and how he worked through that tension for himself.
But whereas normally one of the aspects of Hill's writing that I most appreciate is her willingness to leave things unresolved and messy, the ending of this book did one of those "One month later, all of these difficulties the characters have been struggling with are neatly wrapped up and everyone is feeling settled, even though I didn't show you the part where they went from point A to point B." The crime story of this novel was resolved in a similarly hurried fashion. Hill is better than that, as she's proven in so many of her other novels, and I hope the next book in the series reflects that.
ricochet_books's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
gabybeckley's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
1.0
I enjoyed the writing in parts, though I felt it was slow to start, and enjoyed some plot points. It would have been a decent read if not for the handling of (spoiler and potential TW coming up) trans issues. I'm not expecting everyone to be an expert, but in this book main characters we are meant to smypathise with were at best misguided and misgendering a character, and at worst let someone off for murdering a trans character. There was really no sentiment expressed that it's truly vile to murder someone for being trans, yes even if you're surprised by that fact or you had wanted to be with them before you found out. I'm not expected every book to preach for the sake of trans right, but often in this kind of book you do get a judgement from the point of view of main characters, and instead the message here was more 'totally understandable, no need for justice or punishment here'. Main characters also outed trans character after their death. And there was no education against the constant misgendering. 1 star bc it would have been good/okay without that whole plot mess.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Transphobia, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Ableism
rhonaea's review against another edition
3.0
Nice thriller leading on from #8, and to some extent tidying up loose ends. I like the continual thread of the Serrailer family, although how they don’t choke Richard I don’t know. The Delphine scenario lacked credibility. New strands were a missing person cold case, serial arsonist (so if he was a ‘known arsonist how come no one solved it with one search of the databases?) and the drowned trans. I’m sure this’ll be a popular read for followers of the series.
schopflin's review against another edition
3.0
What you would expect, excellent plotting and gloom every step of the way.
neff's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I didn't enjoy this as much as the other books I've read in the series - disappointed by the plot and the meandering storyline and found the characters annoying and a bit stuck up!
j_lbrbsblogs's review against another edition
4.0
3.5-4*
And now we have The Comforts of Home 9th in the series. In it Simon has taken himself of to a Scottish island, somewhere he had been to before, to recover from his last case. He is nursing not just physical but mental injuries. However, not long after he arrives a body is found and Simon is drawn into the inquiry. In some ways it’s just what he needs but it’s a tricky investigation as the islanders are close knit and wary. Even though Simon has visit before he is still really an outsider.
Once his involvement in that investigation is over he decides to return to Lafferton. Back to work and Simon is onto a cold case.
Now we are back! Hooked into what will, as always, be an engrossing read from Susan Hill. Back not only with Simon the policeman, the boss, the DCI but with Simon the brother, the son, the uncle, the man. Because it is this which is as important as the investigations that keeps the avid reader of the Serrailler Series coming back.
It is to these characters – friends, family and colleagues – that we have returned and I for one am delighted.
A well written, well plotted and compelling story. A multilayered story where a damaged human is striving for answers for himself as much as for the two investigations he gets involved with.
And now we have The Comforts of Home 9th in the series. In it Simon has taken himself of to a Scottish island, somewhere he had been to before, to recover from his last case. He is nursing not just physical but mental injuries. However, not long after he arrives a body is found and Simon is drawn into the inquiry. In some ways it’s just what he needs but it’s a tricky investigation as the islanders are close knit and wary. Even though Simon has visit before he is still really an outsider.
Once his involvement in that investigation is over he decides to return to Lafferton. Back to work and Simon is onto a cold case.
Now we are back! Hooked into what will, as always, be an engrossing read from Susan Hill. Back not only with Simon the policeman, the boss, the DCI but with Simon the brother, the son, the uncle, the man. Because it is this which is as important as the investigations that keeps the avid reader of the Serrailler Series coming back.
It is to these characters – friends, family and colleagues – that we have returned and I for one am delighted.
A well written, well plotted and compelling story. A multilayered story where a damaged human is striving for answers for himself as much as for the two investigations he gets involved with.
rhonaea's review against another edition
3.0
Nice thriller leading on from #8, and to some extent tidying up loose ends. I like the continual thread of the Serrailer family, although how they don’t choke Richard I don’t know. The Delphine scenario lacked credibility. New strands were a missing person cold case, serial arsonist (so if he was a ‘known arsonist how come no one solved it with one search of the databases?) and the drowned trans. I’m sure this’ll be a popular read for followers of the series.