the death of dalziel

I've always considered Reginald Hill's books about stablemates Yorkshire police officers Dalziel and Pascoe to be for the discerning reader, they are cleverly woven suspense novels, intriguing plots, witty and intellectual. And the setting in Yorkshire is of course an extra plus.

"The Death of Dalziel" is the 13th book about Dalziel and Pascoe I've read - some in English some in Swedish translation, and oddly enough I prefer them in Swedish since I believe that the translator, with exception of one book, makes a great job in carving some extra life and personality into the characters compared to the original text. Oddly enough that is. And despite the annoying fact that the Swedish translations don't include all the books and being published in not always chronological order -

and I think the last couple or so of the books have been strangely void of engagement and somehow long winding for longwindingness sake. I don't know if it's the writing or if it's I who have changed. Hence a new Dalziel & Pascoe book, sadly, doesn't feel like the-must-read it has been for me.

I am looking forward to read "The Stranger House" though, because I do adore Hill's writing and maybe it's just Dalziel and Pascoe who has gone tired and unengaged.

Do you have a favourite crime fiction writer? Who is it and why?