Reginald Hill: The Woodcutter (USA 2011)

From the Publisher:
In a stand-alone psychological thriller from acclaimed mystery master Reginald Hill, a mysterious ex-con returns to his remote childhood home on a deadly hunt for revenge. Combining the chilling atmospheres of Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs, the narrative ingenuity of P.D. James's The Private Patient, and the compelling characterizations of Hill's own Dalziel and Pascoe series, Hill delivers a frightful, fast-paced study of suspense at its most sinister in The Woodcutter.

Wolf Hadda's life has been a fairy tale. From his humble origins as a Cumbrian woodcutter's son, he has risen to become a hugely successful entrepreneur, happily married to the woman of his dreams.

A knock on the door one morning ends it all. Universally reviled, thrown into prison while protesting his innocence, abandoned by friends and family, Wolf retreats into silence. Seven years later, prison psychiatrist Alva Ozigbo makes a breakthrough. Wolf begins to talk, and under her guidance he is paroled, returning to his family home in rural Cumbria.

But there was a mysterious period in Wolf's youth when he disappeared from home and was known to his employers as the Woodcutter. And now the Woodcutter is back, looking for the truth -- and revenge. Can Alva intervene before his pursuit of vengeance takes him to a place from which he can never come back?

The Woodcutter is a treat that both lovers of the Dalziel and Pascoe series and newcomers to the always masterful work of Reginald Hill will devour.

Reginald Hill: The Woodcutter. A Novel. Harper, ISBN: 9780062060747 (July, 2011), 519 p., $25.99.

Reginald Hill: The Woodcutter (UK 2011)

From the Publisher:
A fast-moving, stunning new standalone psychological thriller - from the award-winning author of the Dalziel and Pascoe series
Wolf Hadda's life has been a fairytale. From humble origins as a Cumbrian woodcutter's son, he has risen to become a hugely successful entrepreneur, happily married to the girl of his dreams.

A knock on the door one morning ends it all. Universally reviled, thrown into prison while protesting his innocence, abandoned by friends and family, Wolf retreats into silence. Seven years later prison psychiatrist Alva Ozigbo makes the breakthrough. Wolf begins to talk and under her guidance gets parole, returning to his rundown family home in rural Cumbria.

But there is a mysterious period in Wolf's youth when he disappeared from home and was known to his employers as the Woodcutter. And now the Woodcutter is back, looking for the truth - and with the truth, revenge. Can Alva intervene before his pursuit of vengeance takes him to a place from which he can never come back?

Reginald Hill: The Woodcutter. HarperCollins, ISBN: 9780007343904 (April, 2011), 592 p., £7.99.

Reginald Hill: The Woodcutter (UK 2010)

From the Publisher:
A fast-moving, stunning new standalone psychological thriller - from the award-winning author of the Dalziel and Pascoe series
Wolf Hadda's life has been a fairytale. From humble origins as a Cumbrian woodcutter's son, he has risen to become a hugely successful entrepreneur, happily married to the girl of his dreams.

A knock on the door one morning ends it all. Universally reviled, thrown into prison while protesting his innocence, abandoned by friends and family, Wolf retreats into silence. Seven years later prison psychiatrist Alva Ozigbo makes the breakthrough. Wolf begins to talk and under her guidance gets parole, returning to his rundown family home in rural Cumbria.

But there is a mysterious period in Wolf's youth when he disappeared from home and was known to his employers as the Woodcutter. And now the Woodcutter is back, looking for the truth - and with the truth, revenge. Can Alva intervene before his pursuit of vengeance takes him to a place from which he can never come back...?

Reginald Hill: The Woodcutter. HarperCollins, ISBN: 9780007343874 (July, 2010), 519 p., £17.99.