The Benefit of Hindsight

How am I only meeting Simon in installment 10?!
The benefit of hindsight was gripping from the offset with excellently written characters that jump straight off the page into your imagination, be they main players or bit parts the attention to detail brings each and every one to life. I loved that the first impressions were often undermined with just the tiniest bit of detail to reveal the true nature of the characters, particularly the McDermids.
I also enjoyed the way each main character had their own sub-story going on (for Cat the strange couple and their new baby and the problems with her Dad, for Simon his art) that added depth to the character, interest to the story and made everything feel a bit more real world as each person had their own complex life going on outside the investigation.
Overall an absolutely brilliant read- if there were more than 5 stars to give I would give more- I am also off to add books 1-9 to my wish list!

I was thrilled to be approved for this book through NetGalley as I’m a huge fan of Susan Hill and I’m a devoted fan of the Simon Serrailler series.

Given my opening paragraph I’m certain it will be no surprise to you that I loved this book. I adore the relationship Simon has with his sister Cat and the farmhouse feels like a place I could call home.

This novel is satisfying as it continues the stories of the characters we already know and love (and tolerate- Richard, I’m looking at you) while introducing the crimes and victims with their own arcs. I did feel that the burglary story was left unfinished, but this is not unusual in a Simon Serrailler story and leaves me hopeful that a resolution will be reached in a later book.

Susan Hill is an exceptional and talented author and I look forward to reading more of her beautifully written and interesting books in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

A superficial look would suggest to you that Simon Serrailer has been lucky and - all things considered - his life is as good as it could be. He's back at work after a long break to recuperate from the violent incident which cost him his arm and almost his life. When he's not at work he's spending his time in the cathedral roof drawing the medieval angels which are being restored. There's talk of an exhibition of his drawings. Lafferton seems to be quite settled as far as crime is concerned until one night when two local men open their front door to a couple seeking shelter. It's the usual story of a broken-down car, and a phone which won't make a call. The man are generous and welcoming and have no suspicions that the couple are simply there to plan a robbery. It's a serious error of judgement in the course of this investigation which will throw Simon Serrailler's future into doubt.

Simon's sister, Cat, a GP, has gone over to the dark side and is now working for a private organisation, giving her time to spend with her patients as well as having more of a private life, but it doesn't stop her being worried about the lives of those in her care, no matter how strange their lives may be. Simon and Cat's father has returned to Lafferton to live in a retirement community. The address might have changed but Dr Richard Serrailler hasn't learned from past mistakes. And Simon Serrailler has his own demons to challenge him. Life isn't as simple or as good as it looks on the surface.

Simon's changed in subtle ways. Outwardly he's still the elegant, sophisticated man we've always known, still as attractive to women but now he's just a little less considerate of their feelings, rather more likely to look at the situation purely from his own point of view. He's harsher than he might have been when a subordinate steps out of line and he's still coming to terms with his prosthesis. Despite everything you still want life to work out for him.

The plot is superb. There's not a moment when you think that something is unlikely and wouldn't have happened that way: there are a lot more occasions when something goes wrong and you know that it could so easily have happened to you. It's a book to start when you have time to spare as you're not readily going to put it down until you get to the last page and then you're going to waste time wishing that it had gone on for longer. I read it in just over a day and I'm still thinking about the characters days later.

I'd like to thank the publishers for making a copy of the book available to the Bookbag. If you haven't read any of the earlier books in the series you might get more out of The Benefit of Hindsight if you have one or more under you belt. You could start at the beginning and give yourself a real treat. If you're up to date with all that's happening in Lafferton have a look at anything by Paula Daly, who'll transport you to the Lake District or Stuart MacBride for a taste of Aberdeen.

DS Simon Serrailler has returned to work with a prosthetic arm after a recuperating from a traumatic incident. He opts to impose a media blackout on a sophisticated burglary...

Very well written with concise prose. It's not a typical police procedural, rather it is highly character driven, based around the Serrailler family.

I really enjoyed this book and read it over the course of a single sitting with breaks. I found myself drawn in and turning page after page, As context, I've read early books in the series but there's a big gap, including the two books leading up to this.

I have enjoyed every Susan Hill book I have read, and this one doesn't disappoint. I haven't read all the books in this Simon Serrailler series, but that didn't prevent me from getting the most out of it. Unlike most detective/police novels, this one doesn't tie all the ends up neatly at the end, and Simon, the main detective, is not the sole main character. His sister Cat, has her own parallel story, which is equally as gripping. I shall now go back and catch up with the books in this series that I have missed.

Rejoice! Simon Serrailler is back! Susan Hill had hinted that she had brought this series to an end, but Simon is back at work and this novel is a joy. As always, the writing is beautiful, the characters are vivid and likeable and Lafferton provides a lovely backdrop. What is particularly appealing about this series is that Simon's family plays a key part in the storylines, and this applies particularly to this fine novel. Please keep the series going!

It is always a joy to settle down with a Simon Serrailler novel, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this one. Susan Hill is such a great writer that it is impossible not to get completely caught up in her characters, and intelligent plots. This book is so much better than the traditional police procedural, where the detective invariably solves an impossible crime. Instead, we are given a glimpse into people's lives, and the way in which crime affects many people, including Serrailler himself. Great characters, including the minor ones, and I'm afraid I now can't wait to read Susan Hill's next book!

Another fabulous Serrailler book by Susan Hill. An excellent read - suspenseful and insightful, Ms Hill as ever achieves a wonderful balance of narrative and character.