Woodcutter Paperback – March 1, 2011

I thought I'd read every Reginald Hill book, but a list of books in The Woodcutter showed me that I've missed a few. Hill is really in a league of his own and I loved this book as I have loved all his others. I am a big fan of the Dalziel and Pascoe series and have read them all multiple times. Others have summarized the plot, so I'm just here to shower praise where praise is due. If you enjoy a complex, beautifully written mystery, high suspense, and where all the ends end up tied, you will enjoy this. If you're taste trends more towards lots of high octaine action, you should still read this because it's a great mystery. I find Hill to be pretty incomparable to other authors, and the closest i would find is Minette Walters - also a fine mystery writer - but, Hill came first. Now it's time to download the books I somehow missed.

Reginald Hill is best known for his serial police procedurals featuring Dalziel and Pascoe. I am a fan of his stand-alone novels, beginning with The Stranger House and avidly sought ever since that first immersive reading.The Woodcutter is a story of tragedy and revenge that mirrors the classic Count of Monte Cristo. Wolf is a self-made man who has been robbed of everything he worked for, including his family and has spent a decade in prison for financial crimes and for child pornography charges. We first meet him with his prison psychologist who is attempting to extract confession and redemption. Wolf obliges her and it is to Hill's credit that even though the reader knows that Wolf cannot possibly be guilty of the crimes he is accused of, we still wonder. Wolf is an embittered man and he seeks revenge on those who robbed him of his fortune, his life, his wife and his reputation. Foremost in that list is his wife: was she complicit in his downfall? And how will Wolf deal with his still ambivalent feelings for Imogen, she is after all his first and most powerful love and he became the success he was in order to win and keep her. Will Wolf become the villain he is suspected of being in the course of seeking his revenge?The answers to these questions makes for a stunning and complex read that pays homage to the classic but is a brilliant work taken on its own merits. This is a psychologically complex work and meant for adults and as such includes violence and sex but in a manner that is required by the plot. Highly recommended to readers of literature as well as mystery. An astounding last accomplishment by the late Reginald Hill who died early this year.

I've not recovered from "this book" yet and it's over a week now.It ranks in my top 3 novels. The writing was fab and I don't especially like British authors too much English verbiage but I managed cause it was worth it. So well written but it took me into well third of the book to get a jist it. Writing superb story like I've never read before. Wolf Hadda stole my heart, he is so smart and strong and revenge for me is so sweet. Would like more Wolf don't think that's possible. Satisfying. Could have read another 400 pages.

I don't often write reviews but here I am:)At first, I found it a little slow for me to get into. I'd look at the % read vs % left and couldn't fathom how much was left to read. It seemed pretty straightforward and soon to come to an obvious ending. Then the book took off and I couldn't put it down. I'm a bit sad now that I've finished it.Good twists and turns. You think you've got something figured out - but surprise... No lulls at all once it got rolling. Intricately plotted with well developed characters. A real gem.The use of language was almost poetic. Lots of unfamiliar terms to look up. I've read a lot of books written by English authors but none with all the beautiful new words I've read/learned in this one. I'm sure many are colloquial and a British reader might find them familiar. As an American, they really helped color the setting of the book. They flowed with the narrative as opposed to seeming like the author was just showing off his/her knowledge of specialized/unusual words, as is sometimes the case. I enjoy learning new words. Love that I only have to highlight a word on an ebook and up pops the definition. Sure beats grabbing and paging through a heavy dictionary.I read a ton of books. This is by far the best I've read in a very long time. Hit me deeply on an emotional level. Makes the stuff I often read look like children's books in comparison. Simply plotted and generally forgettable. Will definitely look for other books by this author.This was a free Kindle book I got through the Free Stuff Times App. Every day they list 90+ free books from Kindle. To get something as magnificent as this one is for free makes me feel positively giddy. Sure belies the notion that price begets quality.This author is now one that I'd spend premium money on in the future. Not many authors are on that list. (I do have some Scott in my genetic background and definitely have a pronounced thrifty gene;oD But seriously, there are so many free and low cost books available that are also good reads, I can't often convince myself to buy overpriced ebooks.I hope that if you read this book that you find it as compelling and satisfying as I have. This is one I will definitely come back to and read again.

I totally enjoyed this book! Must read more by Reginald Hill. Captured my attention right from the start. Highly recommend it.

Mr Hill is such a fantastic writer I don’t know where to begin. His Daziel and Pascoe series is great and his stand alone ones too.

The resemblance to The Count of Monte Christo is vague and the content is more subtle and more complex.

Fantastic Book! Highly recommend!!!

Well-written with intriguing characters and some bits of twist in the plot.

Very engaging novel with some interesting and unanticipated twists and turns.

Excellent book. Hill, as always, knows how to tell a story and keep the reader involved.

This book met all my criteria. I enjoyed it from the beginning, it is a book I can recommend (and already did) and I didnt feel it was too long.

Great and complex book. The first 50 pages or so will likely have you confused but then it starts to make sense and is a compelling read.

Among my very most favorites.