A Clubbable Woman

The First Case for Dalziel and Pascoe

A Clubbable Woman by Reginald Hill introduces readers to one of crime fiction’s most iconic duos—Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel and Detective Sergeant Peter Pascoe. Gritty, clever, and laced with dry wit, this first novel in the acclaimed series sets the tone for a long-running partnership marked by conflict and brilliance.

When Sam Connon returns home from a bruising rugby match, he expects silence from his distant wife. What he doesn’t expect is to find her dead—shot through the head, her silence now eternal. As a local rugby club stalwart, Sam’s connection to the community runs deep, making the investigation uncomfortably close to home for Andy Dalziel, a fellow club member with strong opinions and a heavy hand.

Rugby, Secrets, and a Killer Among Friends

As Dalziel pushes forward with his trademark bluster, DS Pascoe is less convinced by the obvious suspects and more drawn to the deeper fractures in the Connon marriage—and the club itself. Loyalties are tested, and the tension between the two detectives only adds to the pressure as they uncover a web of secrets, rivalries, and motives.

A Clubbable Woman is a sharp, character-driven mystery that marks the beginning of a legendary crime series filled with insight, suspense, and humanity.