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gracenow's review against another edition
4.0
Well done. Quite a bit of the story was about the personal journeys of Banks and Annie Cabbott, which was good to see.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
DCI Banks has friends within the department, and some enemies. The problem in this entry in the series is that he has to help his enemies because the case involves runaway girls and London, and for some reason his particular skills mean he'll be able to find the girl in question (and solve mysteries, etc.). It's always enjoyable reading his mental fidgeting about this, listening to his music and sipping his Scotch while he muses about his life and that of others. At times, thought, Banks has a bit of the sad sack around him and that's growing to be his default. It'd be nice if we saw a slightly different Banks in future.
samarazhl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
nickie184's review against another edition
4.0
This whole series is a great contemporary British procedural love fest. Thank you, Mr. Robinson!
nonna7's review against another edition
4.0
'm going to be really really sad when Peter Robinson is no longer writing. DI Alan Banks is one of the most complex characters in the crime fiction genre in my opinion. There's always so much going on, but he always inspires me to try some new music.
This book had, as always, so much going with competing investigations that come together in unusual ways.
Banks is surprised when Chief Constable Riddle who has made it his goal to get rid of Banks asks him to find his daughter who has run off to London. She had left home months ago at the age of 16 and, at first, they weren't worried and were, to be honest, relieved. Banks is shocked and surprised by their attitude. The only reason Riddle has asked him to find her is because her younger brother stumbled upon nude photos of her on the internet.
He finds her living with a wealthy man of dubious reputation who is surrounded by thugs. He has rock roots, but his present business is shady and unknown. He's only been told to find her and let her know that her parents would like her to come home. He does that and is ready to go home the next day when she shows up at his hotel room with a torn dress. She is frightened and wants to go home.
She is home for a while, but is still out partying although she has decided to take the A Levels she should have taken when she left school and go to college. Then she is found dead in a toilet stall after having ingested cocaine laced with strychnine.
What a twisted tale this is! The bodies start to mount up including the body of a small time criminal known to the police in the area.
The book ends not only with death but also incredible revelations that bring the book to a really shocking end.
This book had, as always, so much going with competing investigations that come together in unusual ways.
Banks is surprised when Chief Constable Riddle who has made it his goal to get rid of Banks asks him to find his daughter who has run off to London. She had left home months ago at the age of 16 and, at first, they weren't worried and were, to be honest, relieved. Banks is shocked and surprised by their attitude. The only reason Riddle has asked him to find her is because her younger brother stumbled upon nude photos of her on the internet.
He finds her living with a wealthy man of dubious reputation who is surrounded by thugs. He has rock roots, but his present business is shady and unknown. He's only been told to find her and let her know that her parents would like her to come home. He does that and is ready to go home the next day when she shows up at his hotel room with a torn dress. She is frightened and wants to go home.
She is home for a while, but is still out partying although she has decided to take the A Levels she should have taken when she left school and go to college. Then she is found dead in a toilet stall after having ingested cocaine laced with strychnine.
What a twisted tale this is! The bodies start to mount up including the body of a small time criminal known to the police in the area.
The book ends not only with death but also incredible revelations that bring the book to a really shocking end.
micrummey's review
4.0
In this, DCI banks is asked by the Chief Constable to go to London and bring the runaway Emily back home to her father Chief Constable Riddle. I found it odd why he would be asked to do this and wasn't convinced of Banks's motivation to agree to it.
That said this sets off a series of events which introduce us to a gangster type in Barry Clough.
Robinson neatly plots the story as Banks investigates a number of murders with Yorkshire connections.
One thing annoying is how Robinson continually describes what various characters are wearing. Unless it moves the story forward I don't care.
In the end Robinson neatly brings all the strands in the book together including a jaw dropping reveal involving Clough I didn't see coming.
That said this sets off a series of events which introduce us to a gangster type in Barry Clough.
Robinson neatly plots the story as Banks investigates a number of murders with Yorkshire connections.
One thing annoying is how Robinson continually describes what various characters are wearing. Unless it moves the story forward I don't care.
In the end Robinson neatly brings all the strands in the book together including a jaw dropping reveal involving Clough I didn't see coming.
ksparks's review against another edition
5.0
A cracking good Inspector Banks mystery, full of twists and turns, interesting characters, and plausible suspects. Robinson is the rare author who seems to get better and better the more books he writes. This one, even more then most, is a Shakespearean style tragedy of a crime. But I love that Banks personal life is not tragic--he bunks the mold of the typical dysfunctional inspector. I've listened to every one of these as an audiobook and I enjoyed Ron Keith's narration.
samanthawattam's review
4.0
I enjoyed the book but sad that there will be no more Riddle. I didn't like him but you have always got to have a few adversaries to spice up the life of a detective still at least we still have Dirty Dick Burgess. I really enjoyed Emily's character disappointed that she was killed off still another winner from Peter Robinson.
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