I am amazed I wrote a review of Corn Dolls by Patrick Lennon recently and the author contacted me an...
I am amazed I wrote a review of Corn Dolls by Patrick Lennon recently and the author contacted me and thank me for my feedback on the book. What a great bloke, I should have been thanking him for a fab book!! Chris
Member since:14.06.2003
Reviews:149
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Background:
This is the second of the Peter Robinson books I bought recently 4 for £10.00.I really enjoyed the first in which I was advised in the similarities in the work of Robinson and Ian Rankin. So I was keen to look at this and compare their books in style and quality.
About the author:
Peter Robinson has written 20 novels, since his first successful novel published in 1987. He has been awarded the 'Dagger in the Library' by the CWA in 2002 for his novel "The Summer that never was". Since then he was won numerous awards and his popularity is such that his latest one reached number 1 in the Sunday Times bestselling list.
About the book:
An urgent message left on Inspector Alan Banks' mobile phone from his brother Roy saying it is a matter of life and death leaves Banks worried and concerned. He has never been close to his brother but now he sounds like he's in trouble. As Alan is unable to get hold of him on the phone he drives down from Yorkshire to London to see what the call
is all about.
Meanwhile back in Yorkshire the body of a young lady Jennifer Clewes is found in her car with a bullet in her head. When the investigation begins in the dead ladies back pocket Alan Banks' address is discovered. So DI Cabbot checks what turns out to be his old address and finds the place had been broken in and Inspector Banks no-where to be seen.
The Strange Affair begins. As Alan seeks to find his troubled brother in London, while 'his team' try and find the murderer in Yorkshire. Alan must try and learn and understand all about his brother's life to find him and solve the mystery. But how and why can these two very different investigations be linked?
My thoughts on the book:
I am very pleased to report I thoroughly enjoyed my second Robinson novel. For me it was interesting and exciting but not additive. I always felt the book was heading somewhere but at quite a slow and deliberate pace.
For me the best part of the book is the way the author brilliantly keeps both stories on track and the reader completely engrossed in both situations without seemingly much effort. You always felt the two were related but throw quality writing and an excellent imagination of the author you are never quite why and you start to look for these links that in many cases do not appear.
Both stories were really well planned and written without being too different or earth shattering from anything before them. With the author cleverly using clues and red herrings to develop the story and the reader's interest in the investigation. For me it was not until the final few chapters that I knew why the crimes had been committed and why they had taken place, The final few chapters were the most exciting as the authorities sort to discover the truth. The pace increased and the pages really started to turn on their own. It was a bit of a shame the whole book did not move like that. But on the positive side the author had set the scene well enough for an exciting conclusion to the book.
I found the main characters in the book interesting. The relationship or lack of it between Alan and Ray Banks was fascinating. The way that through his disappearance he was beginning to get to know his brother and his life at long last was very well described. As a lead character Inspector Banks is to me a typical crime detective, slightly unorthodox, goes with his 'gut feeling' not by the book, moody, likeable, misunderstood and dedicated to finding the truth. I guess those are qualities that most can relate or understand and why he is a popular character for readers.
However, the book is certainly not just about him. And I did like the way throughout the book you get to know and understand Banks team back in Yorkshire. From the Junior Officers to his Detective Inspector, you learn through quality writing about their personalities, issues and relationships with each other.
The author's style of writing is pleasing on the eye with good descriptions and excellent setting of any scene. He writes in a simple uncomplicated by effective manner, which leaves some of his ideas open to interpretation by the reader. He gently guides you, without making the path too simple or obvious.
The book for me was about the right length. With good use of paragraphs and new chapters to signpost the reader and separate the two stories. I was so looking forward to reading this book as with a title like that it could mean and imply almost anything.
Conclusion: A very good crime thriller that is gently paced until the final few chapters. I enjoyed the book and the clever way the author managed to break the two stories up. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good detective yarn. For me this was quite as good as 'piece of my heart' but no the less an enjoyable read. On this showing I rate Robinsons work above Rankin by the depth and quality of his writing.
Pages: 357 ISBN: 0060544333 Published by: MacMillan 2005 Price: £4.99 new from Amazon Web Site: http://www.inspectorbanks.com
Thanks for reading my reviews.
@CPT Daniels June 2008
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Excellent character development and a multi-dimensioned storyline that comes together well. Disadvantages: At times the many different threads caused a bit of confusion
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very helpful by (86%):
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