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The Risk of Darkness

Simon Serrailler 3

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The Risk of Darkness

By: Susan Hill
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
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Summary

 Following on from the child abduction in her previous novel The Pure in Heart, Susan Hill explores the crazy grief of a widowed husband, a derangement that turns to obsession and threats, violence and terror.

You should listen to Susan Hill's brilliant Simon Serrailler trilogy in the correct order which is as follows:

  • Book 1: The Various Haunts of Men
  • Book 2: The Pure in Heart
  • Book 3: The Risk of Darkness
©2006 Susan Hill (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Mystery Police Procedural Fiction Exciting Heartfelt Scary Suspense
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In terms of story line this is really a continuation of the previous book, The Pure in Heart, and it turns the pages just as well as the last thanks to the writer's skill and the superb reading of Simon Pacey.

As for subject matter, Susan Hill explores the deterioration of British society of recent years, painting a very grim portrait of life in this materialist and godless culture. She has a sharp eye for observation and sadly it all rings too true. This single novel could easily replace a truckload of academic study for future historians.

But so much for posing the problem, Hill fails to convince when it comes to the answer.

Perhaps, rather conveniently the story introduces a young Church of England clergywoman (incorrectly called a priest), who acts as a focus for asking if God has answers for we disintegrating British or if he doesn't matter anymore. Like too many real CoE churchmen, she has no grasp of biblical doctrine and is little more than a shallow new age pedlar of 'faith'. When she should have plenty of answers she gives none, and the reader is left unconvinced by this cardboard cut-out idea of what church people have to offer the disenchanted. Susan Hill would have done well to research her subject better for this character. She may even have been able to answer the difficult questions she asks in the book.

The police station characters continue to fascinate and Simon Serailler's family still reflect the middle class in all its messy glory, trying to find a place in this brave new world which is coarse, brutal and punishing, both mentally and physically. There is little reward in quality of life.

Roll on the next installment.

The Pure in Heart part II

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I am really enjoying this series of books! Love the characters AND Steven Pacey's reading!

Another very enjoyable 'listen'!

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Brilliantly narrated by Steven Pacey. Absolutely loved this instalment of the Simon Serrailler series. Already looking forward to listening to the next.

Amazing

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Like the characters and the plot lines some elements need more work but overall v good

Rather good

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I usually enjoy this series but maybe it has run it’s course. I found this lacked suspense with too many threads but none particularly interesting.

A little disappointing

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