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Dalziel & Pascoe #15
The Wood Beyond
Police inspector Peter Pascoe is looking for a place to bury his grandmum’s ashes, when he stumbles upon a startling family secret—an ancestor unjustly executed in wartime. So preoccupied is Pascoe that he hardly notices the uproar in his own department. Eight female animal rights protesters have unearthed human bones on the grounds of a drug company’s research headquarters.
Yorkshire police superintendent Andrew Dalziel, a man of prodigious appetite, falls quickly for one of the activists: a generously endowed woman who calls herself Cap Marvell. While Dalziel begins to dally, the investigation into the unidentified corpse collides with the mystery of Pascoe’s disgraced great-grandfather and a high-stakes pharmaceutical research project. Suddenly the Yorkshire woods are giving up their darkest secrets: of animal instincts, human passions, and a conspiracy that has killed once, and will do so again...
Yorkshire police superintendent Andrew Dalziel, a man of prodigious appetite, falls quickly for one of the activists: a generously endowed woman who calls herself Cap Marvell. While Dalziel begins to dally, the investigation into the unidentified corpse collides with the mystery of Pascoe’s disgraced great-grandfather and a high-stakes pharmaceutical research project. Suddenly the Yorkshire woods are giving up their darkest secrets: of animal instincts, human passions, and a conspiracy that has killed once, and will do so again...
439 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
39 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Reginald Hill
154 books504 followersReginald Charles Hill was a contemporary English crime writer, and the winner in 1995 of the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement.
After National Service (1955-57) and studying English at St Catherine's College, Oxford University (1957-60) he worked as a teacher for many years, rising to Senior Lecturer at Doncaster College of Education. In 1980 he retired from salaried work in order to devote himself full-time to writing.
Hill is best known for his more than 20 novels featuring the Yorkshire detectives Andrew Dalziel, Peter Pascoe and Edgar Wield. He has also written more than 30 other novels, including five featuring Joe Sixsmith, a black machine operator turned private detective in a fictional Luton. Novels originally published under the pseudonyms of Patrick Ruell, Dick Morland, and Charles Underhill have now appeared under his own name. Hill is also a writer of short stories, and ghost tales.
After National Service (1955-57) and studying English at St Catherine's College, Oxford University (1957-60) he worked as a teacher for many years, rising to Senior Lecturer at Doncaster College of Education. In 1980 he retired from salaried work in order to devote himself full-time to writing.
Hill is best known for his more than 20 novels featuring the Yorkshire detectives Andrew Dalziel, Peter Pascoe and Edgar Wield. He has also written more than 30 other novels, including five featuring Joe Sixsmith, a black machine operator turned private detective in a fictional Luton. Novels originally published under the pseudonyms of Patrick Ruell, Dick Morland, and Charles Underhill have now appeared under his own name. Hill is also a writer of short stories, and ghost tales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
December 27, 2018
Reginald Hill was one of Britain's finest ever writers and the Dalziel & Pascoe series is a delight. It's 20 years since I first read "The Wood Beyond", and it was great to read it again. Effortless storytelling, wonderful characters and beautiful writing. Recommended.
April 12, 2022
Wallowing in the mud…
When a group of animal rights activists break into the laboratory of a drugs company where animals are used in experiments, they get more than they bargained for when one of them stumbles into a hole in the muddy grounds of the lab, and falls on top of a pile of human bones. Meantime, Peter Pascoe is mourning the death of his grandmother. She has left Peter her father’s journals and Peter is shocked to discover that his great-grandfather was shot for cowardice during WW1. He finds himself sinking into an obsession with finding out more about his family’s history and what led up to this scandal.
Nestled between two of my favourite Dalziel and Pascoes, Pictures of Perfection and On Beulah Height, comes this one, which is my least favourite of them all by a considerable way – I’d almost go so far as to say I don’t like it. As I’ve mentioned before, Hill often incorporated issues of the moment into his plots and the issue at this moment was the campaign to have those executed for cowardice or desertion in WW1 pardoned. But whereas he usually uses the issue as a base for his stories, here he lets it overwhelm the entire book, and chooses to present an entirely one-sided view of the debate, making the book feel overly polemical. There are endless extracts from the older Pascoe’s journal, with rather unoriginal descriptions of life in the trenches, and especially of Passchendaele. This kind of writing is not Hill’s forte and I fear they feel derivative to me of much better accounts found elsewhere.
That’s only part of the problem, though. The other part is the growing emphasis on Peter’s tendency to become obsessed about things and to spiral into depression. I often feel I have to add a rider to say that I sympathise very much with people in real life who suffer from depression, PTSD or other mental health problems, but, since for me crime fiction is supposed to be an entertainment and an escape from real life, angst-ridden detectives are not what I look for. If I want to be depressed, I read lit-fic! As the series rolls towards its end, Peter spends more time introspectively mulling over his own unhappiness than he does investigating cases. Hill gives him one trauma after another to deal with, and he becomes a kind of pitiable and self-pitying figure, while Wieldy and a series of younger detectives become the more amusing foils for Dalziel. This is the book where that aspect most takes centre stage, and as a result it doesn’t work for me. In later ones, while Peter’s decline as a character continues, it usually doesn’t take up quite so much space and therefore doesn’t overpower the plot to the same degree.
As you can tell, this is all a very subjective objection to the book – many people consider it to be one of the best in the series, mostly for the very reasons that I don’t. I certainly don’t consider it to be a “bad” book – simply not to my taste.
There are things in it that work for me, though. The animal rights activists’ storyline is interesting and well done, and the animal experimentation angle is happily kept off-page enough for my squeamish sensitivities to be able to deal with it without much difficulty. The plot, though convoluted, is quite strong. We get to see how Wieldy’s new-found happiness from the last book is playing out as he settles into his new life in Enscombe. And Dalziel finds himself a new romantic partner in Cap Marvell, who will become a recurring occasional character in future books.
I listened to the Audible version, in which Jonathan Keeble takes over the narration. It took me a while to get used to the different voices he gives for the recurring characters, but once I had, I found his narration excellent and look forward to the next few which he also narrates, before it changes again.
Overall, then, not one for me, but plenty to enjoy for readers who don’t share my dislike of angsty self-pitying detectives. 2½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When a group of animal rights activists break into the laboratory of a drugs company where animals are used in experiments, they get more than they bargained for when one of them stumbles into a hole in the muddy grounds of the lab, and falls on top of a pile of human bones. Meantime, Peter Pascoe is mourning the death of his grandmother. She has left Peter her father’s journals and Peter is shocked to discover that his great-grandfather was shot for cowardice during WW1. He finds himself sinking into an obsession with finding out more about his family’s history and what led up to this scandal.
Nestled between two of my favourite Dalziel and Pascoes, Pictures of Perfection and On Beulah Height, comes this one, which is my least favourite of them all by a considerable way – I’d almost go so far as to say I don’t like it. As I’ve mentioned before, Hill often incorporated issues of the moment into his plots and the issue at this moment was the campaign to have those executed for cowardice or desertion in WW1 pardoned. But whereas he usually uses the issue as a base for his stories, here he lets it overwhelm the entire book, and chooses to present an entirely one-sided view of the debate, making the book feel overly polemical. There are endless extracts from the older Pascoe’s journal, with rather unoriginal descriptions of life in the trenches, and especially of Passchendaele. This kind of writing is not Hill’s forte and I fear they feel derivative to me of much better accounts found elsewhere.
That’s only part of the problem, though. The other part is the growing emphasis on Peter’s tendency to become obsessed about things and to spiral into depression. I often feel I have to add a rider to say that I sympathise very much with people in real life who suffer from depression, PTSD or other mental health problems, but, since for me crime fiction is supposed to be an entertainment and an escape from real life, angst-ridden detectives are not what I look for. If I want to be depressed, I read lit-fic! As the series rolls towards its end, Peter spends more time introspectively mulling over his own unhappiness than he does investigating cases. Hill gives him one trauma after another to deal with, and he becomes a kind of pitiable and self-pitying figure, while Wieldy and a series of younger detectives become the more amusing foils for Dalziel. This is the book where that aspect most takes centre stage, and as a result it doesn’t work for me. In later ones, while Peter’s decline as a character continues, it usually doesn’t take up quite so much space and therefore doesn’t overpower the plot to the same degree.
As you can tell, this is all a very subjective objection to the book – many people consider it to be one of the best in the series, mostly for the very reasons that I don’t. I certainly don’t consider it to be a “bad” book – simply not to my taste.
There are things in it that work for me, though. The animal rights activists’ storyline is interesting and well done, and the animal experimentation angle is happily kept off-page enough for my squeamish sensitivities to be able to deal with it without much difficulty. The plot, though convoluted, is quite strong. We get to see how Wieldy’s new-found happiness from the last book is playing out as he settles into his new life in Enscombe. And Dalziel finds himself a new romantic partner in Cap Marvell, who will become a recurring occasional character in future books.
I listened to the Audible version, in which Jonathan Keeble takes over the narration. It took me a while to get used to the different voices he gives for the recurring characters, but once I had, I found his narration excellent and look forward to the next few which he also narrates, before it changes again.
Overall, then, not one for me, but plenty to enjoy for readers who don’t share my dislike of angsty self-pitying detectives. 2½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
June 6, 2017
More than I ever thought I'd learn about first-hand accounts of trench warfare in WWI. Peter the Elder's journal has the ring of truth to it; the misery and futility are borne out in other sources, some of which Hill must have used in his research - to great effect. Peter the Younger gets himself immersed in tracing his ancestor's story during the Great War, seemingly blurring the line between that history and his own present day. Never one to let a tale just fade away, Hill has Present-Peter come up for air when he thinks he knows what it's all about, then get smacked in the face with a totally unexpected revelation; I'm hoping it will be explored more deeply in the future. Very near future!
April 8, 2017
When Detective Sgt Peter Pascoe is charged with taking his grandmother's ashes to their final resting place. Her request is odd and convoluted and leads him to a long buried secret: his great-grandfather was court martialed and shot toward the end of WWI. He becomes so involved in this personal investigation that he barely notices that his team is involved in the discovery of what might be a long buried body that was unearthed during an animal rights demonstration at a local pharmaceutical lab. Hill alternates the history and the present day story back and forth until the end, when it all comes together in a fascinating way.
May 17, 2019
I enjoyed the Dalziel & Pascoe TV series but hadn’t realised it was based on a book series. I am impressed how closely the TV series characters followed the books. Lovely odd couple, Dalziel, “His Royal Fatness” (rude, heavy-handed, ill-mannered), and Pascoe (thoughtful, caring, polite), both bring keen intelligence to a case involving animal liberationists. Pascoe also delves into his family’s moving WWI history. Captivating and fun!
September 11, 2013
A ways into this novel the comment is made about one of the characters that he sounds like Mr Jingle. Mr Jingle, known for mangling English syntax, is a character in The Pickwick Papers. This signals one of Reginauld Hill's distinctions: an erudition alternately impressive and depressing. Once alerted to its presence one becomes suspicious in one's ignorance. Is, for example, the opening paragraph an inverted parallel to and radiant parody of the opening of Bleak House?
"Monday morning, start of the new week, air bright as ice in a crystal glass, brandy-gold sun pouring from delft-blue sky, the old bracken glowing on the rolling moors, the trees still pied with their unblasted leaves, the pastures still green with their unmuddied grass, as October runs into November and thinks it's September still."
In other words, as are most of Hill's later novels, this detective is better read and regarded as high literature rather than as merely an excellent who-done-it. After a Hill one can only take refuge in the heights of some other exemplary classic of English literature. Any ordinary detective pales.
"Monday morning, start of the new week, air bright as ice in a crystal glass, brandy-gold sun pouring from delft-blue sky, the old bracken glowing on the rolling moors, the trees still pied with their unblasted leaves, the pastures still green with their unmuddied grass, as October runs into November and thinks it's September still."
In other words, as are most of Hill's later novels, this detective is better read and regarded as high literature rather than as merely an excellent who-done-it. After a Hill one can only take refuge in the heights of some other exemplary classic of English literature. Any ordinary detective pales.
June 8, 2015
Animal rights protesters break into the Wanwood laboratories and are caught. This leads to Dalzeil looking back at a similar attack in Redcar were a guard was killed. The protesters had accidentally uncovered a skeleton buried outside the perimeter fence. The security firm are investigated as two of their workers are found dead. and are linked to the Redcar death which was a fix as the security firm and Dr Batty wanted to steal secrets. As an aside Pascoe finds some WW1 papers and photo's of his great grandfather who was executed for cowardice in 1917. He learns of a connection with the army museum curator and with the animal laboratories. It is speculated that the bones are his relative stephen pascoe who was killed by the Grindals.Pascoe does little police work. Very tenuous conclusions with little evidence. Dalzeil has affair with Anima group leader Cap Marvell.Quite a long book but not altogether convincing plot.
December 30, 2022
My introduction to Reginald Hill and his Dalziel & Pascoe series, around 7 years ago now. I have reread it at least once, even. I did not realize that the title was an homage to William Morris until recently, for some reason…
March 10, 2025
Another great Dalziel & Pascoe story.
This one involves the finding of a skeleton in what used to be woods by animal rights activists intent on invading the pharmaceutical laboratory built beyond.
Meanwhile Pascoe is at his Grans funeral & he finds she’s left him rather a puzzle…
This one involves the finding of a skeleton in what used to be woods by animal rights activists intent on invading the pharmaceutical laboratory built beyond.
Meanwhile Pascoe is at his Grans funeral & he finds she’s left him rather a puzzle…
May 2, 2018
Too much coincidences to remain believable. The fact this novel is written in "mid-Yorkshire" accent makes it a torture to read.
November 3, 2019
Reginal Hill is one of my favourite authors. But I did not enjoy this book as much as the others. Just found animal activism and a long tedious story about world war 1 , hard to get through.
May 12, 2024
This is a hard book for me to review. It indirectly looks at the immense value of journal keeping, and I’m hard-core down with that. But it was a struggle to read in some instances.
A group of animal rights extremists have breached the security of a pharmaceutical company and accidentally stumble onto a set of old bones that go back to World War I. the coroner determines someone shot the dead guy, and now there’s a full-on case.
Peter Pascoe is at his grandmother’s funeral as the case opens. He and his sister deal with the last of the loose ends. One of those involves how to dispose of Granny’s ashes. While digging about among her things, Peter discovers an old journal that belonged to his great-grandfather, a British soldier in what Brits often refer to as “the Great War.”
His fascination with the journal and the final outcome of Great-
Grandpa draws him deeper into his brooding obsessed self, and soon, he and Andy Dalziel are at odds over his performance on the job.
Dalziel has his issues, too. He is instantly attracted to one of the animal rights protestors, Amanda Marvell who goes by the nickname Kap. It’s hard to know whether it’s Kap who appeals to Dalziel or her extremely well-endowed chest, but she returns the attraction. One day, he’s ardently pressing himself into Kap Marvell; a few days later, he’s arresting her. You can read this to see how things devolve.
Hill seems to write his books based on things happening in his society at the time of the writing. I assume there must have been discussions in the UK about whether the country should forgive those who deserted their brothers in arms in World War I. I don’t know whether those discussions dealt with rehabilitating the reputations of those the army court marshalled and executed, but that seems a theme here.
This was a little long, as has become this review, and because of the dreadful performance of the narrator, I had to slow this down to 2.12X. Naturally, that made it feel even longer.
A group of animal rights extremists have breached the security of a pharmaceutical company and accidentally stumble onto a set of old bones that go back to World War I. the coroner determines someone shot the dead guy, and now there’s a full-on case.
Peter Pascoe is at his grandmother’s funeral as the case opens. He and his sister deal with the last of the loose ends. One of those involves how to dispose of Granny’s ashes. While digging about among her things, Peter discovers an old journal that belonged to his great-grandfather, a British soldier in what Brits often refer to as “the Great War.”
His fascination with the journal and the final outcome of Great-
Grandpa draws him deeper into his brooding obsessed self, and soon, he and Andy Dalziel are at odds over his performance on the job.
Dalziel has his issues, too. He is instantly attracted to one of the animal rights protestors, Amanda Marvell who goes by the nickname Kap. It’s hard to know whether it’s Kap who appeals to Dalziel or her extremely well-endowed chest, but she returns the attraction. One day, he’s ardently pressing himself into Kap Marvell; a few days later, he’s arresting her. You can read this to see how things devolve.
Hill seems to write his books based on things happening in his society at the time of the writing. I assume there must have been discussions in the UK about whether the country should forgive those who deserted their brothers in arms in World War I. I don’t know whether those discussions dealt with rehabilitating the reputations of those the army court marshalled and executed, but that seems a theme here.
This was a little long, as has become this review, and because of the dreadful performance of the narrator, I had to slow this down to 2.12X. Naturally, that made it feel even longer.
March 29, 2025
Peter Pascoe is distracted these days; as executor of his grandmother Ada's estate, he has been directed to scatter her ashes at the West Yorkshire Fusilier's barracks, but the barracks no longer exist. There is only the museum. And while that may not be to the letter of her last wishes, that is what she got — and she almost didn't get that. The curator of the museum catches him trying to drop handfuls of her ashes in various locations!
Besides which, why would she want to be there? She hated the military. But ingoing to the museum, Pascoe discovers a family secret, which leads him on a private investigation of his own, to find out how one of his ancestor's was unjustly executed during World War I.
So its no surprise that he remains distracted as he and Detective Superintendent Andrew Dalziel, while working on a case of animal rights protesters attacking a drug company's research facilities, discover human bones on the grounds.
And Holy moly, Daziel has fallen for one of the activists, Cap Marvell. And if that is not enough, there's history that connects the research facility and the family that founded it with Pascoe's family. There are twists and turns galore as the cops try to figure out crimes and suspects while Pascoe traces his personal investigation. This is indeed a multilayered and complicated story, where the action never ends, and a conclusion with additional surprises.
I always enjoy Dalziel and Pascoe books but this one even exceeded my expectations. A very good read.
Besides which, why would she want to be there? She hated the military. But ingoing to the museum, Pascoe discovers a family secret, which leads him on a private investigation of his own, to find out how one of his ancestor's was unjustly executed during World War I.
So its no surprise that he remains distracted as he and Detective Superintendent Andrew Dalziel, while working on a case of animal rights protesters attacking a drug company's research facilities, discover human bones on the grounds.
And Holy moly, Daziel has fallen for one of the activists, Cap Marvell. And if that is not enough, there's history that connects the research facility and the family that founded it with Pascoe's family. There are twists and turns galore as the cops try to figure out crimes and suspects while Pascoe traces his personal investigation. This is indeed a multilayered and complicated story, where the action never ends, and a conclusion with additional surprises.
I always enjoy Dalziel and Pascoe books but this one even exceeded my expectations. A very good read.
August 7, 2022
6 stars - I need to read this one twice. Historical records as the unreliable witnesses. Peter Pascoe's great grandfather's service in WWI is woven into a current time break-in at a pharmaceutical research facility targeted by animal rights activists. Bones are found in a muddy hole near the facility's entrance - cold case? Kinship in Kirkton, Yorkshire (near Leeds) - Great great grandfather Samuel Pascoe (d. 1898) + Ada (Mill owner, Grindel's wet-nurse) -> Great grandfather Corporal Peter Pascoe (d. 1917) + Alice Clark -> Grandmother Ada (d. last week) + her cousin Colin Pascoe (d. 1942) -> Father Peter Pascoe + X -> Susan, Myra, Peter the cop. Great great granduncle George Pascoe + X -> Great granduncle Stephen Pascoe (d. 1917) + Mary Quiggins -> Grandfather Colin Pascoe (d. 1942) and Grandaunt/cousin raving lunatic crone in Kirkton. Cop Peter tries to figure out why his grandmother Ada hated the Yorkshire Fusilliers and does a genealogy study. Wieldy suspects the private security firm for ALBA pharm. is bent. And WWI General Douglas Haig's descendents ironically own a livestock transporter company which ships sheep to Flanders. The future was predicted by past success. And it still holds true.
September 20, 2025
The Wood Beyond is another strong entry in Reginald Hill’s exquisite Dalziel and Pascoe series. I’m always amazed how Hill combines such disparate plot elements (in this case a nearly century old wrong, animal experiments, a romance for Dalziel, comic scenes, cerebral elements and an action filled ending) and make them all come together seamlessly by novel’s end.
As always, Hill’s characterization is complex and compelling; one roots for the success of Sgt. Wield’s budding relationship, views Dalziel as a cruel lout and also a full throated romantic, and marvels at the give and take in Pascoe’s complex interplay with wife Ellie.
This series is not for everyone; it took a few books to hit its stride, it may be too literary, cerebral or overly complex for some, but for them that likes this kind of thing, Dalziel and Pascoe books are heaven.
As always, Hill’s characterization is complex and compelling; one roots for the success of Sgt. Wield’s budding relationship, views Dalziel as a cruel lout and also a full throated romantic, and marvels at the give and take in Pascoe’s complex interplay with wife Ellie.
This series is not for everyone; it took a few books to hit its stride, it may be too literary, cerebral or overly complex for some, but for them that likes this kind of thing, Dalziel and Pascoe books are heaven.
January 11, 2026
What a book. As with all in this series there is a main plot, with at least one sub plot grumbling beneath. I feel with this there is a misdirection on what the main plot is about. There are many references to and links with the past that cannot be ignored.
The book begins with the usual wisecracks, the dark, sometimes politically incorrect, musings of Andy Dalziel (I can’t help but smile at his view on the World). With the shadows of World War I cutting through to give some grounding reading. It then turns more serious as the team work together, and you see their strengths being used to the full, covering each others backs, despite what may be said behind them, and working towards the solution. Naturally it all comes to a conclusion. Despite the ramifications for our modern team, one cannot help but ponder on the historical references more.
The book begins with the usual wisecracks, the dark, sometimes politically incorrect, musings of Andy Dalziel (I can’t help but smile at his view on the World). With the shadows of World War I cutting through to give some grounding reading. It then turns more serious as the team work together, and you see their strengths being used to the full, covering each others backs, despite what may be said behind them, and working towards the solution. Naturally it all comes to a conclusion. Despite the ramifications for our modern team, one cannot help but ponder on the historical references more.
March 20, 2018
I think somehow my interests were fed to Reginald Hill back in the day, because this was another one that seemed aim to reel me in. The mixture of historical events unfolding from personal perspective, with a current mystery/murder had me hooked pretty much from the start. I was very anxious when I discovered what it was all about, as that particular blight on the British war history is one that strikes me as counter to modern understandings of British values - and obviously harsh and unfeeling (at best).
Although I suspected the eventual twist for Pascoe, I was so wrapped up with how it all unfolded that I didn't care.
With the last book and this one, this series has really hit it's stride.
Although I suspected the eventual twist for Pascoe, I was so wrapped up with how it all unfolded that I didn't care.
With the last book and this one, this series has really hit it's stride.
August 14, 2019
Andy Dalziel is one of my favourite fictional characters of all time: I love his rude, heavy-handed, no nonsense northernness, but I think it is his pairing with Peter Pascoe that makes him most likeable. Despite being almost the exact opposite of each other, they complement each other perfectly.
This novel is another blinding example of Reginald Hill's inimitable style of writing. He cleverly weaves Pascoe's investigation into his recently discovered ancestral mystery with a modern day case. The detail in the descriptions of life as a soldier on the Western Front was startling and powerful. My only issue with the novel was that there were so many Pascoes! I sometimes got a little confused and had to re-read for clarity!
This novel is another blinding example of Reginald Hill's inimitable style of writing. He cleverly weaves Pascoe's investigation into his recently discovered ancestral mystery with a modern day case. The detail in the descriptions of life as a soldier on the Western Front was startling and powerful. My only issue with the novel was that there were so many Pascoes! I sometimes got a little confused and had to re-read for clarity!
July 27, 2020
I recently re-read this book, after originally reading the entire series entries as they were published. I believe this was one of the strongest stories.
There is so much background to these characters that I am not certain if this would work as a standalone. The series depends on the interactions between Dalziel, the non-politically correct superintendent, and Pascoe, the progressive and college-educated rising star. But it also weaves in Ellie, Pascoe's activist and outspoken wife, and Wield, a gay colleague.
The story is complex, revolving around the discovery of a decades old body outside of a scientific research facility. Pascoe's family history dating back to World War I is threaded in, along with a relationship with a possible crime suspect for Dalziel.
But the strength for me was in the different relationships among characters.
There is so much background to these characters that I am not certain if this would work as a standalone. The series depends on the interactions between Dalziel, the non-politically correct superintendent, and Pascoe, the progressive and college-educated rising star. But it also weaves in Ellie, Pascoe's activist and outspoken wife, and Wield, a gay colleague.
The story is complex, revolving around the discovery of a decades old body outside of a scientific research facility. Pascoe's family history dating back to World War I is threaded in, along with a relationship with a possible crime suspect for Dalziel.
But the strength for me was in the different relationships among characters.
March 23, 2017
Following his grandmother’s death, Chief Inspector Pascoe is looking for a place to scatter her ashes according to her instructions; a difficult task as the place she wanted them to go doesn’t exist anymore. Furthermore, she has left behind her father’s journals, describing his life during World War I, which lead Pascoe to an unexpected piece of family history. Meantime, Superintendent Dalziel is attracted to a woman who may or may not be involved in several animal liberation actions, one of which resulted in the death of a young security guard, and Sergeant Wield is coming to terms with the idea that he might finally be happy…. I read "The Wood Beyond" immediately after finishing the previous novel in the series, "Pictures of Perfection," mostly because I wanted to know what happened with Sergeant Wield, but also because I’m enjoying Mr. Hill’s writing more and more, as I get further into these books. Great stuff; recommended!
March 15, 2019
The complexity of this Dalziel and Pascoe mystery is both admirable and annoying as is the depth and often over-elaborate language. There are several threads of interconnected plots of which Pascoe’s investigation of his great-grandfather’s execution as a coward in WW I is the most interesting. Second Dalziel’s infatuation with Cap combines with his native suspicion about her innocence in the attack of another member of the animal rights group that she commands. Certainly, head and shoulders above the average who-dun-it, Hill’series can wow and exasperate. This one does both.
January 13, 2021
Each of Reginald Hill's Dalziel and Pascoe novels, especially as the series continued, has some interestingly different literary devices. This is one of the more "normal" ones, but its plot is full of surprises. When Peter Pascoe learns more about his great-grandfather, shot for cowardice in WWI, one might think the whole book would be a "cold case," but instead he and Dalziel also have to solve present-day crime, and Dalziel's new love interest is involved. Excellent entry in an excellent series.
January 12, 2024
Reginald Hill is a well-regarded British mystery writer. Besides his stand-alone novels he is also well known for the series named after the two police investigators Dalziel (pronounced DEE-ELL) and Pascoe. The former is the senior police superintendent known for his earthy, brusque and usually rude style, while the latter is a chief inspector who is well educated, well mannered and urbane. They form an unusual and effective partnership. This is the second book I've read in the D&P series, the first being On Beulah Height which was outstanding and to which I gave a 5-star rating. The Wood Beyond was not quite up to that level but was still an interesting read. Reginald Hill is known for his superior and intricate plots and TWB was no exception. It contains two interwoven stories, one involving the attacks by an animal rights group against laboratories using animals in their research. The second thread is a historical mystery involving the court martial and execution of Pascoe's grandfather during the Great War. The solution of these two interrelated mysteries is handled with skill and involve a cast of interesting characters. The amusing interactions between Dalziel and his subordinates as well as his new-found love interest (who is also a person of interest in the police case) make for an interesting read. Pascoe's astute wife Ellie continues to play an active role in solving the cases. I also found of interest the realistic depictions of life in the trenches of WWI and the ordeals of the troops involved. TWB is a solid, well crafted mystery that I rated 3.5 rounded up to 4-star.
November 10, 2025
From my point of view, this is not the best instalment in the series. The story is split between a current investigation triggered when a set of bones is discovered in the grounds of a pharmaceutical lab during an animal rights raid. Things get more complicated when first Dalziel falls for one of the protestors and then one of them is killed in a hit and run accident that doesn't appear to be as it seems.
Alongside that Peter, is struggling with facts emerging following the reading of a diary sent to him by his recently deceased aunt. It appears that his great grandfather may have shot as a coward at the Western Front.
The story jumps from story to story in a rambling way and I struggled to find a cohesive narrative to join the two arcs together.
Alongside that Peter, is struggling with facts emerging following the reading of a diary sent to him by his recently deceased aunt. It appears that his great grandfather may have shot as a coward at the Western Front.
The story jumps from story to story in a rambling way and I struggled to find a cohesive narrative to join the two arcs together.
July 20, 2017
This mystery has Peter Pascoe finding out about his family's involvement in WWI. There is much on the waste of lives and the quick execution of many British soldiers for cowardice. Andy Dalziel continues with his blunt Yorkshire commentary/ insults and Wield finds happiness with his partner-- and apparently a rescued monkey. There is a bit too much of Pascoe's great-grandfather's ghostly thoughts for my taste, otherwise lots of literary references.
November 26, 2017
As much a critique of British policy in World War I as a novel of animal rights activists (which become a metaphor for the slaughter of innocents 1914-1918), this is a superb story of our trio of heroes Wield who has finally found the love of his love life, Dalziel who may have fallen under the spell of his perfect mate, and Pascoe who resolves a family mystery. For fans of the series this is a must read, but the best ok would be a terrific stand alone novel.
December 22, 2020
See Eric_W. and Timothy's reviews. Written in 1996 -- thus dated.
I don't really care what happened during WW I, and this is (too) much (bloody) ado about that for my taste. Mr. Dalziel eats and drinks too much for today, and the written accents are almost indecipherable. The interactions of "The Fat Man"(Andy Dalzel) and Detective Sergeant Edgar Wield are, as they say, two sides of the same coin. The story was good, with a little surprise ending in the last seven pages . . .
I don't really care what happened during WW I, and this is (too) much (bloody) ado about that for my taste. Mr. Dalziel eats and drinks too much for today, and the written accents are almost indecipherable. The interactions of "The Fat Man"(Andy Dalzel) and Detective Sergeant Edgar Wield are, as they say, two sides of the same coin. The story was good, with a little surprise ending in the last seven pages . . .
September 1, 2021
Excellent addition to our burgeoning Reginald Hill mystery series, lured in by the British "Dalziel and Pascoe" TV series. Hill was a very wry author, finding humor and clever turns of phrase in dark moments. "The Wood Beyond" is pretty grim, though. Inspector Pascoe finds a link to his great-grandfather, killed in WW1 - and not by enemy action. The soldier's journal recounts the horror of the battlefield, and a coverup decades in the making.
March 31, 2020
Classic Dalziel and Pascoe, with both the major characters in full form, and Wield only marginally behind.
Hill juggles two complex plots (one set in the past) with his usual ease, neatly tying both of them together in the end. Almost no red herrings here...everything works together until you wonder how Hill ever worked it all out in the first place.
Hill juggles two complex plots (one set in the past) with his usual ease, neatly tying both of them together in the end. Almost no red herrings here...everything works together until you wonder how Hill ever worked it all out in the first place.
March 8, 2025
4.5 rounded up…
The First World War may be a bit of a hackneyed topic and the stance that senior officers were careless fools while the rank and file were decent chaps is an easy one to take, but I still found the quest to discover Pascoe’s family history in WWI tragedies it to be a very effective parallel plot to the main action. Or was it the main story after all?
Animal rights activists (who also interested Ruth Rendell around this time, as I recall!) are the gimmick for the present day mystery. Sorry, I should use a nice word like milieu, but I can’t remember precisely the right one ;-)
Anyhow, it was very clever in its complexities and surprises, particularly when you thought it might be relatively straightforward. Being Reginald Hill, it was nicely written, too, though it suffered more than I anticipated from the sexist narratorial voice — perhaps this problem was growing as the series reached its later stages…
The First World War may be a bit of a hackneyed topic and the stance that senior officers were careless fools while the rank and file were decent chaps is an easy one to take, but I still found the quest to discover Pascoe’s family history in WWI tragedies it to be a very effective parallel plot to the main action. Or was it the main story after all?
Animal rights activists (who also interested Ruth Rendell around this time, as I recall!) are the gimmick for the present day mystery. Sorry, I should use a nice word like milieu, but I can’t remember precisely the right one ;-)
Anyhow, it was very clever in its complexities and surprises, particularly when you thought it might be relatively straightforward. Being Reginald Hill, it was nicely written, too, though it suffered more than I anticipated from the sexist narratorial voice — perhaps this problem was growing as the series reached its later stages…
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