Rankin hails crime writer

Reginald Hill, the author of the Dalziel and Pascoe crime novels, has died aged 75.

His agent said: “Reginald died peacefully at home after a year’s battle with cancer and is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pat, and two brothers, David and Desmond.”

Ian Rankin, the author of the Detective Rebus books, paid tribute to Hill.

Writing on Twitter, he said Hill was “a lovely man, fine writer, great wit. Great intelligence, humour and plotting; Falstaffian main character; literary sensibility – all found in Reginald Hill’s Dalziel books”.