When I heard that Vintage is producing a set of new covers for Susan Hill’s excellent series about DCI Simon Serailler, I was thrilled. It’s 20 years since this series started and I have read every single one since the first hardback – a copy of which is still in my bookshelves. This series deserves celebration and the new covers are available from tomorrow, 8 March. I am eagerly awaiting the publication date for the latest book in the series.


So I thought it would be interesting to go back to the first book in the series and to examine what had attracted me to these books in the first place.

It begins with an anonymous voice. A voice we will hear from throughout this novel. It is a chilling voice; cold but calculating. A voice that knows it is in charge. Clearly a male voice and one that tells us that whatever he is up to, it is no good at all. There is evil here and it hasn’t finished doing its work.

The first thing I noticed about The Various Haunts of Men is how little of Simon Serailler there is in the first half of this book. There’s enough to give you a physical description and to establish how well he runs his police team, but he is not front and centre of this book. Serailler is a reserved character and this first book both establishes and respects that, leaving other characters to drop bits of information about him.

Instead Susan Hill concentrates on DS Freya Graffham, new to the small town of Lafferton, which itself sits within the larger conurbation of Bevam. Freya has recently come to Lafferton CID after a stint in the Met and is leaving it behind with relief, as she is similarly leaving behind a broken marriage.

Susan Hill’s writing is evocative and she draws very clear pictures in your mind of the Cathedral town of Lafferton and the flat above the offices in Cathedral Close where Simon lives. We learn about the Hill, a popular place for walkers and cyclists with its set of standing stones and the nearby village of Starley, with its cluster of crystal shops, vegan cafes and homeopathic and mystical healers.

Through the Cathedral Choir which Freya joins, we meet Meriel Serailler a woman with charm and presence and Simon’s mother who takes a shine to Freya and seeks to persuade her into some of the many charitable works that occupy her time.

Cat Deerbon is a local GP, married to Chris, also a doctor. She is a triplet, sister to Simon and another brother who is working in Australia. She is the kind of GP you’d always want to visit; kind, caring and compassionate. She is a committed Christian, a faith Simon does not share. Freya also meets Richard Serailler, Simon’s father and an angry, sarcastic man who clearly resents Simon’s decision not to enter the medical profession.

Each of these characters is so well drawn that you feel you know them and you learn much about the Serailler family through them.

There are many voices in this police procedural. The lively Nathan Coates whose face transforms when he smiles is Freya’s DC of choice and the pair work well together. There are various ongoing operations including a big drugs op which is taking up most of the squad’s time.

Angela, a lonely woman of 53 vanishes in fog and in her cupboard police find an expensive pair of cuff-links with a note: ‘To You, with all possible love from your devoted, Me’. Debbie, an overweight young woman with acne fails to return from an early morning walk. She’s been seeing homeopathic healer Dava, who she feels has really been helping her. Iris, an elderly woman, visits a séance searching for a message from her dead husband. Jim, an elderly man, has lost his little dog. Too many people are going missing and Freya Graffham knows something is seriously wrong.

What makes this book, and all the series memorable, is the way in which the crimes come after we have learnt a great deal about the characters involved. Susan Hill describes their hopes, fears, how they feel, the way they choose what they wear, how they frame their decisions, so that when something bad happens to them, it’s like an event involving someone you know. These are ordinary people going about their daily business when their lives are so cruelly cut short – and Susan Hill makes you feel that through her extraordinary characterisation.

She sets the bedrock for this exceptional series and as it goes on we will see the development of all these characters who in time, you know as well as you know anyone’s family.

Verdict: Susan Hill writes with warmth, humour and deals with the everyday small details of life that immerse you in the daily events of people’s lives. It is remarkable writing and I have never come across anything quite like it. It’s not fast paced, but it is wholly authentic and quite, quite wonderful. If you’ve not sampled this series, this is the place to start – and I’d urge you not to waste any more time! I’m going on to re-read the rest of the series while I wait the next book.

A story about various characters all living in the same village with a kidnapper on the lose.
There was a lot to this book and quite a lot going on, so much so that during the first half of the book it almost felt like a collection of short stories which kept being dipped in and out of. Of course I knew, well thought they would, all connect up at some point, of which they did. I liked pretty much all the characters and Hill did her excellent usual trick of really getting peoples inner thoughts off the page and into your mind. This story was so much more than just a thriller. 3.5 out of 5

4.5 Stars from me

I concede that I am somewhat late (about 9 years...) to the party but considering this book was first published in 2004 I am stunned at how well it has stood up to the test of time!

I loved meeting Simon Serrailler, Freya, Nathan, Cat and co in this deeply engrossing read.

Freya Graffham was a fabulous character to get to know and I loved how she threw herself into her new life with such gusto and was at the same time an excellent police officer. Her rapport with strangers lent itself well to her ability to settle into a new team and a new village.

I can see that Simon Serrailler is going to be an interesting character to read about and see how he develops - I hope there is more to uncover about his family relationships and especially that with his grumpy cold fish of a father. Bizarrely, his mum seems warm and delightful - how odd they are together.

This felt like a satisfyingly long read and I had a few moments where I was genuinely shocked by the storyline - a rarity for someone who reads so many crime thrillers so hats off to the author for that!

A quick google search tells me that there are 12 Simon Serrailler books, so I have lots more to look forward to :)

I'm really surprised that I missed this book when it was first published - but having said that I'm also pleased that I did because I've now got a new Detective, Simon Serrailler, who I can read about in more novels! The book was a good one to read and who the villain was kept me guessing until I was a long way into the book. There was one massive twist I didn't see coming! Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

DS Freya Graffham moves from the met to the cathedral town of Lafferton. This book introduces us to Chief Inspector Simon Serailler - single, eligible, artistic - and members of his family (mother, father and his GP sister). Although not particularly fast paced, it is atmospheric and interweaves the mystery of various mssing persons and brings in a number of complementary therapists/healers. it does shock in places and is also sad too. I read this book as a precursor to A Change of Circumstance as I had previously not read any of this series before. i did enjoy linking the clues together but found it did plod a little in places initially. Thank you netGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Various Haunts of Men is a gripping thriller that introduces Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler. It is the first of several books featuring him and several members of his family, including his GP sister Cat.

A new and enthusiastic policewoman, Freya Graffham joins his force and soon sees parallels between several missing people. A large cast of local people are introduced, including several red herrings but the perpetrator is soon identified thanks to Freya’s investigative skills.

I enjoyed this book but found the slow pace quite frustrating. I’m assuming this novel was also focused on introducing the many characters and future books will be more focused on the narrative.

Having already enjoyed a number of books with Simon Serrailer in I new what to expect and wasn’t disappointed. Probably not my favourite and also I might be ready for a change of scene but a good book all the same.

This novel failed to grab my attention but some of the characters are interesting but Simon Serrailler who is supposed to be the title character was almost sidelined so I’m not sure if I’d read any more.

In Lafferton, a woman vanishes in the fog. The police have a lead – a pair of expensive cuff-links found in her flat with a mysterious note attached. Then other disappearances occur in quick succession in exactly the same place. Young DS Freya Graffham who has relocated from London, and her boss, Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler unravel the mystery. The Various Haunts of Men is an unusual police procedural in that Serrailler has a low key presence in the story and, instead, the limelight is on Freya. Simon is an enigma and a triplet who disappointed his physician dad by becoming a detective. Freya is newly divorced, bright, happy and energetic. The mystery itself is good and instils a growing sense of dread.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House Vintage via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I enjoyed this book. It had some very interesting characters and some intriguing elements to the story.
I have to admit that I guessed the murderer around the middle of the story but that dud not detract from it. It was well written and I enjoyed it.

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
In over fifty years of book reading this is one of the most unusual perhaps even unique. A serial killer Police procedural with no gruesome murders in fact virtually no violence at all. Forty percent into the book and DCI Simon Serrailler of which this is the first in the series, appeared in less than a paragraph and plays a minor part throughout, the brilliant DS Freya Graffham is the star of the show, and later the story brought tears to this grumpy Yorkshire mans eyes. Yet engaging and surprisingly totally gripping from first to last page. A beautifully written character driven story with totally believable characters who make you feel a part of the book. Absorbing captivating clever and chilling in parts.
Completely recommended.

I accidentally started this series with the latest instalment so I wanted to go back and read where it all began.
The reader is introduced to Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler and his team of detectives including Freya Graffham. They set about investigating mysterious disappearances of local people all with a connection to the Hill.
I’m guessing this series improves along the way as I thoroughly enjoyed “ A Change Of Circumstance “(the latest book).
I enjoyed the first book but it was a bit of a slow burner. There was several twists and turns along the way and overall I enjoyed it. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series and see how the characters develop.

A serial killer on the loose
No one is safe
This book as plenty of twists and turns
Didn't expect the ending
What more do you need
Good read
Did not realise it is a series

I was not sure whether I had read this or not . I have read several of this series though and enjoyed them all. This book is no exception. The book concerns different sorts of alternative therapies and some clients who have used them. Told from different viewpoints, as a reader you get an impression of someone sinister killing people from early on in the book but it takes a while for the case to come together. At times the book felt over long but now that I have finished it all feels quite relevant .
Serailler the DI of the unit , does not seem to be particularly active in this case but is involved as is his family circle. You also sense that this book was written a while ago as it feels dated at times not in a bad way though.
The crimes are not predictable and the perpetrator makes few mistakes solving them is based on hunches and close observation of small clues.
An interesting read, thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

How can I DNF a book that never even started? And another question, why read this turgid effect-less verbiage when you can read multiple fabulous, concise, artful ghost stories by the other, better, Susan Hill, in the same time? Camilla can keep it.

This is the first book in this series, but I unfortunately started with book 11, so had a few surprises when a character seemed to have changed husband quite quickly!!
We are introduced to DS Freya Graffham and DC Nathan Coates, who together make an intelligent and engaging team, as they are both tasked with investigating a possible serial killer.
Angela Randall, a dedicated care home worker vanishes after a night shift. Her employer is alarmed, this is totally out of character for this intensely private person. The only clues that are found at her house are various items of male jewellery.
Jim Williams has been recently widowed, and is in charge of Skippy, a dog, he hates. He takes it out for a walk one night and lets it off his lead. Skippy promptly goes missing.

Debbie Parker, another young woman, also disappears. It appears that all these characters were last seen in the vicinity of The Hill, a green mound that is a popular place for walkers and runners alike. So, two women, one man and his dog…………………all go missing!!
There is a strange mix of medical treatments, alternative treatments, and unrequited love going on in this story. There is a narration that runs through this book, probably the killer, but I wasn’t sure who the intended audience was.
Freya Graffham was the most interesting character in this novel, and a true Policewoman, in the good old fashioned meaning of the word. She was sympathetic, concerned and made an interesting foil to her companion, Nathan. Together they made a formidable team, and whilst Simon Serrailler floats in and out of this story, the other two make this book sing!! The ending was heart breaking and robbed us of a very engaging character. Most disappointing, I thought it was unnecessary.
I was very happy to become reacquainted with Cat Deerbon, and to meet other members of Simon’s family. I would love to have such a Doctor looking after me!
I have given this a five star read, I really enjoyed it. I am also going to purchase others in this fascinating series.
My thanks go to Netgalley and Random House Publishers for my digital copy, in exchange for my honest review, given freely. I will leave reviews to other outlets.

Atmospheric, Compelling….
A disappearance in the fog soon lead to more and culminate in Chief Inspector Serrailler and Freya Graffham being tasked with the investigation. A slow burn mystery interspersed with lighter moments, an interesting and credible cast and an intriguing plot. The very first in this series and a well written, atmospheric and compelling read.

A woman vanishes in the fog up on the Hill in Lafferton. The police have one lead – a pair of expensive cuff-links found in her flat, with a mysterious note attached to them. Then a young girl, an old man and even a dog disappear in quick succession in exactly the same place. Young policewoman Freya Graffham and Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler are given the task of unravelling the mystery.
A well written series starter, I’ve been collecting this series for a while & am now delving in. I wasn’t disappointed, the characters have depth & are well portrayed, I can't say that I loved them but I did like them & found them interesting & would have thought Simon would have had a larger part. The book started slowly & the pace gradually increased, it did hold my interest all the way & I do look forward to continuing the series even though the end wasn’t as I expected
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This is the first book I read by this author and want to thank the publisher that invited me to read this book.
It's a slow burning story, we are introduced to the characters and then things start happening.
It's a solid mystery, full of twists, and it kept me guessing and reading.
Even if the series is "Simon Serrailler" the main character is Freya Graffham, Simon appears and we get to know him.
I loved the style of writing, the character development and the humor
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A quarter of the way through this book I was ready for giving up. Every chapter we seemed to meet a new character, and several seemed very similar to characters we met a few chapters ago. I am also not a big fan of small sections written by the 'perpetrator' to whet our appetite as to why he has committed crimes; they just seem a bit self-indulgent.
Freya Graffham was an endearing policewoman, and we were treated to glimpses of her life as she is determined to find out why these women appear to have disappeared on the Hill (although she didn't seem particularly concerned with the missing man). It did seem odd that the series purports to be about Simon Serrailler, yet he is a shadowy figure that we don't really get to know, other than that Freya would like to know him much better.
However, the second half improved dramatically as the pace quickened and we began to link all these characters together. It wasn't a big surprise to find out who the murderer was, although I'm still not really clear why or who he was talking to in his diatribes. The ending was fairly predictable, but well written.
So a bit of a mixed bag. Not sure I saw enough of Serrailler and his perfect sibling to want to read any more about him though.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and Vintage Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.