Four and a half stars for me. Loved it. Now I have to wait until the next Simon Serrailler book to come out....hope it isn't too long.
It's a page turner. ( )

Another good installment in the series, though I'm getting a little worried about the direction Hill is taking some of her characters. Great red herring in this plot, though. ( )

Always enjoy this writer. This series has been pleasing from the start, still has not hit the humdrum wall to which many mystery series succumb. ( )

The serial killer of elderly women is, to everyone's shock, found not guilty at trial. He is given a new identity for his own protection. Then 10 years later, elderly women start to be found murdered in Lafferton in exactly the same way as before.

That synopsis makes the book sound pacier than it really is. The first present-day murder does not take place until page 136. Before that Simon holidays with Sam, Molly struggles with her mental health, Judith and Richard are having marital problems, Simon and Rachel are still enjoying the angst that is their relationship etc etc.

The body count within a matter of a few days was rather alarming and, while the whole fresh identity thing was interesting, the chapters from the perspective of the killer didn't make a great deal of sense to me. There were very well-written chapters, like the one where Lynne Keyes expects a violent reception from her newly acquitted husband, but eventually finds he is not even home. On the other hand, the parts about Molly and Jocelyn didn't add anything to the plot of this novel and are only really of interest if you have read the earlier instalments.

The more I read these novels, the more I think that Simon is a pretty mediocre policeman and a terrible romantic interest. His sister is the best thing about him. ( )

A Question of Identity by Susan Hill
Simon Serrailler series Book #7
4.5 Stars

From The Book:
A particularly unpleasant murder, that of a very old woman in a housing project, rocks the town of Lafferton. The murderer has left a distinctive "sign" on the body and at the scene of crime. A couple of weeks later, a similar murder occurs, and a month or so later, so does another.

Initial investigations discover that the mysterious "sign" left on the body was the calling card of a suspect who was charged with several murders in the northwest of the country, tried but acquitted on the grounds of insufficient evidence. All indications suggest that this person has simply vanished. Or is he right under their noses? Simon Serrailler is obliged to make delve deeper and scratch out answers,

My Thoughts:
I really like that Susan Hill has kept the setting of Lafferton, and the characters constant throughout this series. It gives the reader the opportunity to build somewhat of a bond with them. One bond I didn't build was with the murderer that was not only sheltered but given a new identity. This just didn't seem plausible to me. The book also didn't move along quiet as smoothly as her previous books had too many unsolved side stories and took way too long to actually get underway. All the other books in this series have received 4.5 & 5 stars from me...but I just don't feel this one can get more than 4. ( )