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theunreadshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
(Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the free ARC.) Not Dark Yet is definitely a dark police procedural that tests the boundaries of what a detective can do when an investigation comes close to harming someone he cares for. Alan Banks, in his 27th appearance, finds himself in the midst of leading simultaneous investigations into murder, rape, and a missing person - with one common thread linking them all together.
I've only read one other novel in this series (#11), so for much of the time I felt a bit confused. The plot drops one right in the middle of an ongoing narrative, with a little explanation of what has gone on in books past. There are a LOT of secondary characters to keep track of. So if you don't have a lot of experience with the Banks series (like me), I don't necessarily recommend this as a good place to start.
This book also has a LOT of triggering content: graphic descriptions of murder and violence, sex trafficking, suicide, and rape, to name a few. Banks is hunting down evil men with evil intentions towards everyone around them, especially women. He and his team must untangle the lies that people tell to protect themselves and those they love, and it's messy. It definitely pushed the bounds of what I am comfortable with.
But Banks also is such a relatable human: he is an avid audiophile, playing a wide range of music whenever he can; he has a complicated love life with women; and he is torn between his duty as a police officer and his desire to protect a woman who has already experienced immense suffering in her life. He is deeply flawed and a deeply empathetic character.
I've only read one other novel in this series (#11), so for much of the time I felt a bit confused. The plot drops one right in the middle of an ongoing narrative, with a little explanation of what has gone on in books past. There are a LOT of secondary characters to keep track of. So if you don't have a lot of experience with the Banks series (like me), I don't necessarily recommend this as a good place to start.
This book also has a LOT of triggering content: graphic descriptions of murder and violence, sex trafficking, suicide, and rape, to name a few. Banks is hunting down evil men with evil intentions towards everyone around them, especially women. He and his team must untangle the lies that people tell to protect themselves and those they love, and it's messy. It definitely pushed the bounds of what I am comfortable with.
But Banks also is such a relatable human: he is an avid audiophile, playing a wide range of music whenever he can; he has a complicated love life with women; and he is torn between his duty as a police officer and his desire to protect a woman who has already experienced immense suffering in her life. He is deeply flawed and a deeply empathetic character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Suicide
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