Just finished reading...

Believe it or not, this is the TWENTY-THIRD title in the Dalziel & Pascoe series! It's extremely well-written, as Hill's work generally is, though this time around he uses a slightly unusual narrative technique. The first couple of chapters are emails from Charlotte (Charley) Heywood to her sister Cassie. Subsequent chapters vary between Andy Dalziel's oral journal, straight narrative, and the aforementioned emails. Also unusual, is that very little (in fact, I can't remember any) of the narrative is from Peter Pascoe's point of view.

The convalescent home where Dalziel is recovering from an encounter with a terrorist's bomb, is located in Sandytown, on the Yorkshire coast. The community leaders are trying to turn it into an expensive "alternative healing center", complete with acupuncturists and other holistic healers.

However, when Daphne Brereton, who fancies herself Lady of the Shire, is murdered in a particularly gruesome way, the future of the healers' haven is in doubt.

Although I think the solution to the mystery is needlessly complex, it was wonderful to be with old friends like Dalziel, Pascoe and Wield again.