Shadows in the Street by Susan Hill

Shadows in the Street is Susan Hill’s fifth novel in the Simon Serrailler series which follows the trials and tribulations of the Detective and his family in Lafferton.

Lafferton is a Cathedral town and in recent times has seen an increase in the number of prostitutes found walking the streets. They have started to encroach on the centre of town, an unwritten taboo broken by the introduction of pimps and the trafficking of younger working girls.

Serrailler is on an extended holiday on the remote island of Taransay (most famous for the television series Castaway in 2000). Miles from nowhere and without a mobile phone signal the detective is enjoying a quiet vacation following his draining stint with The Special Incident Flying Task force (SIFT).

The island is a sedate haven far removed from the manic turmoil of SIFT. Gentle walks across the island, a small community and warm log fires help rejuvenate his energy levels. That is until he receives an urgent call from Lafferton calling him back following the murders of two prostitutes.

Shadows in the Street is an intensive character driven novel, well written and although  a crime fiction novel I felt the investigation played a secondary role to character and story building. This is by no means a negative but if you are looking for an  detective led storyline then this may not be up your street.

Hill introduces us to numerous characters via short, sharp and intensely descriptive vignettes; they never appear rushed and add a wonderful depth to the book. Hill’s style is mesmerising and assured pulling the reader in to the grim dark world of prostitution effortlessly.

Abi’s character, a young mother of two and prostitute, desperate to leave the game and move on to better things, surprised me. I didn’t think I’d warm to her at all but she has a heart of gold when it comes to her children. Down on her luck it’s clear she would do anything for them, no matter what; they come first. Prostitution is a means to and end.

The storyline is complex and moves about at a fair pace, you have to have your whits about you or the book will leave you stranded! I read the book in two fairly even and lengthy sittings, each time berating the clock as it forced a premature cessation of discovery.

The ending is strong and I have to admit I didn’t see it coming. Hill wraps things up neatly leaving just a little hint of things to come.

All in all Shadows in the Street is another successful and powerful addition to the Simon Serrailler series; I look forward to the next edition!

Published by Random House the book is available to buy through Amazon and Waterstones.