A good subtitle or alternate title for this book would be: "Perils of Pauline," because it is very much a melodrama. I am a huge fan of Reginald Hill's Dazliel-Pascoe mystery series, as well as his Joe Sixsmith books. However, his earlier stand-alones, such as this one, are not quite in the same sublime league.
This one follows the metamorphosis of a middle-aged woman who passed her life in a sort of cocoon of apathy and non-engagement into a feisty, clever, assertive power-female upon the accidental death of her domineering husband. Along the way, she discovers several home truths about him, about herself, about her best friend, and her own heritage. It's a roller-coaster of a journey, but after so many twists and turns, it finally squeaks to a shuddering halt. In fact, the whole thing is so shaky that if it were an actual amusement park ride, I would probably want my money back!

Really a good read.
I like Hill's stand alone novels much better than his series. I did enjoy the Dalziel & Pascoe series, but the others, not at all.
These 'lonely' books are much better than any of the rest. Stand-out plots and lots of intrigue. Anyone with a healthy dose of paranoia about government and policing may have some sleepless nights.

I started this book with high hopes but the story didn’t grab my attention as expected it to so was very disappointed.

This is one of Hill's standalone. Feelings are mixed. When the story focuses on Trudy and her trying to figure out what is going on and how to start living again after the death of her husband the story is fine. The spy thriller part didn't do much or me. I am a fan of Reginald HIll's books, but this one is mildly recommended.

Good, fast paced. Well read.

Intricately plotted suspense thriller about a woman who knows nothing about her husband's secret life until after his death. Many twists and quite a bit of humor. A stand alone, not part of any series. Great fun.

page-turner

Very different from his Dalziel and Pascoe novels. Hill is one of the most literate detective writers extant and I enjoy his later work a lot. This was an enjoyable read although the ending startled me in an unsatisfying way.

Not a Dalziel and Pascoe, this stand alone novel features a woman unaware of her husband's double life, when police tell her of his death she begins to examine his life and his deceits.

Actually written by Reginald Hill. A little unbelievable in (many) parts but the twists keep on coming. Read it in a day so can't be too bad but more of Hill's minor works.

Did not enjoy this book as much as "The Woodcutter"

The book is not a bad pass-time. It has the amount of suspense to keep you going to the end, but the big show-down I expected never came and the plots cannot be examined too closely either.