Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Dell (1990), 336 pages
Description
Everyone knew about the kind of films they showed at the Calliope Club once the Residents' Association and the local Women's Group had given them some free publicity. But when Peter Pascoe's dentist suggests that one film in particular is more than just good clean dirty fun, the inspector begins to make a few discreet inquiries. Before they bear fruit, the dentist has been accused of having sex with an underage patient, the cinema has been wrecked and its elderly owner murdered.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Darrol
Very good as every installment that I have read so far.
LibraryThing member Vivl
Up to the usual high standard of the Dalziel & Pascoe series but just shy of the cherry-on-top perfection of my all-time favourites. Reginald Hill's average writing is far better than most other writers' best, however.
LibraryThing member edwardsgt
Pascoe gets a tip that the local private film club may be showing snuff films but Dalziel doesn't seem that interested until the owner of the club is found dead. Several twists and turns before it is revealed Dalziel, as usual, had been following his own agenda and kept it close to his chest.
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
A Pinch of Snuff by Reginald Hill is the fifth book in the Dalziel and Pascoe series of crime novels and was originally published in 1978. It very much brings back echoes of the late 1970s, both in setting, fashion and social behavior. The contrast between the two detectives is very much part of
This particular case involves the pornographic film industry and involves murder as well as the rape of an underage young girl. When Pascoe’s dentist tells him about a film he saw at a private cinema club, he is sure that the film went too far and the woman in the picture was actually beaten or perhaps even killed. Pascoe starts to investigate and suddenly things start to escalate.
A Pinch of Snuff wasn’t an easy read. It’s subject matter of porn, violence to women, and child exploitation were difficult to read about especially as seen through the windshield of the 1970s. I can certainly see the appeal of these detectives as the author adds plenty of sardonic social commentary that kept me interested. One of my reading goals is to read as many of the 100 books that appear on H. R. F. Keating’s 100 Best Crime and Mystery Books so I am happy to be able to tick this one off.
Show More
the appeal of the series. Dalziel is crude, tactless and appears to lack any manners, he seems to delight in acting the buffoon but in actuality, he is clever and very much aware of what is going on around him. Pascoe is more of a surface intellectual, empathetic and educated and tends to lead with his feelings and while these two make an excellent combination, the relationship is far from easy.This particular case involves the pornographic film industry and involves murder as well as the rape of an underage young girl. When Pascoe’s dentist tells him about a film he saw at a private cinema club, he is sure that the film went too far and the woman in the picture was actually beaten or perhaps even killed. Pascoe starts to investigate and suddenly things start to escalate.
A Pinch of Snuff wasn’t an easy read. It’s subject matter of porn, violence to women, and child exploitation were difficult to read about especially as seen through the windshield of the 1970s. I can certainly see the appeal of these detectives as the author adds plenty of sardonic social commentary that kept me interested. One of my reading goals is to read as many of the 100 books that appear on H. R. F. Keating’s 100 Best Crime and Mystery Books so I am happy to be able to tick this one off.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1978
Physical description
336 p.; 4.79 inches
ISBN
0440169127 / 9780440169123