Peter Robinson's Official Website Apologies to all for being late with this. Sometimes events just get ahead of my ability to list them! Saturday, October 15 – Lunchtime event with the Whistler Wrters Festival, 1pm. Whistler, British Columbia. Tuesday, October 18 – Grand Opening, with Andre Alexis, Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, Anne Y.K. Choi, Emma Donghue and Francesca Melandri. 8pm Performance Works, Granville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia. Thursday, October 20 – “A Good Way to Get Yourself Killed,” with Michael Koryta and Sam Wiebe. 6pm Revue Sage, Granville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia. Friday, October 21 – Onstage interview with Wayne Arthurson. 7pm. St Albert, Alberta. Sunday, October 23 – Reading/Round Table – “Vice: The Art of Crime Writing,” with Lotte Hammer Jakobson, Alexander Maksik and Ben Sanders. 1.30pm. International Festival of Authors, Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario. Saturday, October 29 – Reading/Round Table – “Lived-in Stories.” with Deborah Campbell and Kevin Patterson.

5pm. IFOA, Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario. Sunday, October 30 – Onstage Interview – with Linwood Barclay and host Andrew Pyper, interviewed by Deborah Dundas. 4.30pm. IFOA, Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario. Posted on October 14, 2016 by admin DCI Banks, the Books, and the TV Series There have been a number of questions recently regarding differences between the characters of the DCI Banks novels and the TV adaptations. I have come to think of the Banks books and the TV series as parallel universes, rather like those in the TV series Fringe. (If you haven’t seen it, check it out. It’s well worth watching.) The characters are clearly meant to be different versions of the same person; they look different, have different personalities and meet different fates in different worlds. I have no power in the TV universe, where I am a mere observer, but I like to think of myself as the custodian of the universe of the books.

In that universe, I can assure you, all the characters you have come to know and (I hope) love continue to be hale and hearty and as human and flawed as ever – in When the Music’s Over, its 2017 successor Sleeping in the Ground and, I hope, in many more books to come. Posted on September 30, 2016 by admin Peter Robinson in Conversation with Camilla Läckberg Peter recently recorded a podcast with Swedish author Camilla Läckberg, where they discuss when they first met, having Joyce Carol Oates as your tutor, and being disqualified in the Eurovision Song Contest. Listen to the Speaking of Stories podcast . Note that while the introduction is in Swedish, the rest of the interview is in English. Posted on September 2, 2016 by admin New Book, Swedish Festival, and Other News As I write, When the Music’s Over has been on the UK bestseller list for six weeks now, having spent one week at #1 and a week at #2. It has also made #83 on the USA Today chart, which isn’t as bad as it sounds because that list includes everything—all formats and all genres—from cookbooks to ebooks.

I have just got back from the Crimetime Festival in Visby, which is a beautiful medieval town on the island of Gotland, off the coast of Sweden. I was International Guest of Honour among a host of primarily Scandinavian authors. Sharon Bolton and Elizabeth Hand were the only other English language authors present, though everyone I met spoke perfect English. The festival was excellent, and we were very well treated, though I must say they worked me hard, often with three or four events and interviews a day. I had events with Håkan Nesser, Arne Dahl, Camilla Läckberg, Sharon Bolton, Denise Rydberg and Viveca Sten, and had the honour of congratulating Maj Sjöwall on stage after she received her award (see photo). I also met many other writers, some I have read and others I will read. The wonderful Kerstin Wixe interviewed me on stage, and champagne flowed at the book launch with Ninni Schulman. My thanks to everyone involved in the organisation, especially Carina Nunstedt, the chief! The evenings were always spent in entertaining company with good food and good wine.

I was also thrilled to discover from my publishers, Forum, that When the Music’s Over (or När Musiken Tystnar) received a first hardcover printing of 20,00 copies, and my translated books in all formats have sold over three million copies in Sweden. Peter with Maj Sjöwall. After a couple of days relaxing and sightseeing in Stockholm, it was back to work again, but what pleasant work it was—an evening event on 25 August at White Rose Books in Thirsk. It was a miserable night weather-wise, but plenty of people turned out, and I think a good time was had by all. Many thanks to Caroline and Sue and all who work there. I met up with an old school friend, and Derek Shelmerdine kindly gave me a copy of his magisterial, encyclopaedic book Rock n’Roll Unravelled. I can see already that it will lead to a huge expansion of my CD collection. I have a few more events before I head over the pond for the Canadian national tour.

There’s an event at Topping & Co in St Andrews at 8pm on 9 September, then an event with Mark Billingham at Bloody Scotland, in Stirling. That’s 12:15pm on the 10th at the Alberts Hall. Finally, I have a reading/signing at Castle Hill Books in Richmond, North Yorkshire, on 17 September at 5pm. And don’t forget to tune in to ITV at 9pm on Wednesday, 31 August for the first episode of series five of DCI Banks. Posted on August 27, 2016 by admin August News from Peter Robinson The book tour is over for now, and I would like to thank everyone who came out to the events, especially in the unusually hot weather. And a special thank you to the bookshop staff who organised and hosted the events. Something must have worked, because this week When the Music’s Over is #1 on the official BookScan bestseller list, as published in the Sunday Times and other newspapers. Thanks to everyone who bought it, the booksellers who sold it and the team at Hodder & Stoughton who put untold hours into the preparation and promotion of the book.

Now it’s time to look forward to the U.S. edition, to be published by William Morrow on 9th August. And this time it has the same title as the U.K. edition! (Buy from Amazon UK , Amazon.com ) Posted on August 1, 2016 by admin Order of Inspector Banks Books - OrderOfBooks.com Home | Characters | Authors Order of Inspector Banks Books Inspector Alan Banks is a fictional character featured in a series of novels as well as short stories by English-Canadian author Peter Robinson . After working in the Unsolved Crime Squad for the Metropolitan Police in London, Banks got sick and tired of the materialism of the big city, packed his bags and left for the (fictional) town of Eastvale near Yorkshire. He works there as Detective Chief Inspector. The series has been adapted into a television series by ITV called DCI Banks, with the title character played by Stephen Tompkinson. The Inspector Banks series began in 1987 with the novel Gallows View. Ever since then, Robinson has written approximately one new book per year in the series.

Below is a list of Peter Robinson’s Inspector Banks books in order of when they were originally published (and in chronological order): Publication Order of Inspector Banks Books Gallows View The Summer That Never Was (2003) All the Colours of Darkness (2008) Publication Order of Inspector Banks Short Stories Going Back (2009) Notes: Dry Bones That Dream is also known as Final Account. Dead Right was also published as Blood at the Root. The Summer That Never Was is also known as Close To Home. Caedmon’s Song is also known as The First Cut. If You Like DCI Banks Books, You’ll Love… Order of Books » Characters » Order of Inspector Banks Books Salopfarmer couple of errors here – Blood Right was not also published as Dead at the Root, it should be Dead Right was also published as Blood at the Root. Also Caedmon’s Song does not appear in the List though I suppose it is not strictly an Inspector Banks novel, though it is a precursor to Friend of the Devil. SMS A novel in the DCI Alan Banks series has been omitted! The novel in the series following “Bad Boy” is “Before the Poison.” SMS I apologize!

I am in error (not for the first time). “Before the Poison” is a stand-alone novel by Peter Robinson. eten1031 Hi Thanks for making the lists. I find so many book series here There’s one correction for this one. In Dark Places is the US name of the book Abattoir Blues according to Robinson’s website. And there are two new books When the Music’s Over – 2016 No Cure for Love – 2015 Abattoir Blues – 2014 (US title, In the Dark Places) Monthly Newsletter! Every month, one subscriber will win a $50 gift card for Amazon. We will send you one e-mail a month notifying you of any hot new books announced or coming out, as well as any new additions to the site. Navigation How often do you visit the library? I work there! More than once a week Once a week A few times a year Once a year or less Peter Robinson - Book Series In Order Hardcover Paperback Kindle Peter Robinson is a prolific mystery thriller write who lives in Canada, but writes about characters in his homeland of England.

Although the author of several short stories, novels, poems, and essays, Robinson is best known for his Inspector Alan Banks series. This creative string of novels has been adapted into several riveting television shows, and has been translated into over fifteen (15) different languages. Early Life Peter Robinson was born in Britain on March 17, 1950 in Armley, Leeds. Like many great British authors before him, robinson attended the prestigious University of Leeds. Here he received his bachelors of art in English Literature. After college, he emigrated to Canada in 1974, where he attended the prestigious University of Windsor. There he attained a master’s degree in Creative Writing and English and was fortunate enough to have writer, Joyce Carol Oates has his mentor. After graduation, Robinson headed to Toronto and received from York University his PhD in English. He served as a professor in multiple colleges in Toronto and served as a Writer-in-Residence for the University-of-Windsor from the year 1992 to 1993. Although a successful author, Robinson still occasionally teaches crime-writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies.

Peter Robinson’s Career Peter Robinson is most known for his Inspector Banks series, set in Yorkshire town of Eastvale. His very first-novel, Gallows-View premiered in the year 1987, and introduced the world to Detective-Chief-Inspector-Alan Banks. The novel was a hit, and was one of the nominees for the John-Creasey-Award in the United Kingdom. It has also been nominated as best first-novel award for the Crime-Writers-of-Canada. A Dedicated Man written in the year 1988 was the next novel in the series and is also nominated for the Crime-Writers-of-Canada award. The next two Inspector Banks novels both received critical acclaim and star rankings in Publishers-Weekly in the United States. The fourth novel in the series, The Hanging Valley, was one of the nominees for an Arthur. Peter Robinson’s fifth novel, Past-Reason-Hated, won the Arthur-Ellis Award in the Best Novel category in 1992. The sixth book, Wednesday’s Child, was nominated for the Edgar Award, and Final Account (the seventh novel) won an Author’s Award in 1994.

Innocent Graves (1996) was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the best-mysteries of 1996, and was called the “page-turner of the week” by People Magazine. The tenth novel, In-a-Dry-Season, won the Anthony-and-Barry awards for best-novel. In the year 2001, it won the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere award of France, along with Sweden’s Martin-Beck-Award. Cold-is-the-Grave, marked a turning point in Robinson’s career. The eleventh novel in the series not only won the Arthur-Ellis Award, it has been nominated for the L.A. Times Book Award. The twelfth book, Aftermath which was published in the year 2002, ranked in the top ten of the bestsellers lists in both the United Kingdom and Canada. It then moved to number one. Though Peter Robinson is known for his fantastic serial writing, Robinson was also able to published numerous short stories. His short story, “Innocence”, published in the year 1991 won the CWC-Best Short Story Award.

In April 1997, Robinson’s “The Two-Ladies of Rose-Cottage,” appeared in Malice-Domestic-6, and was edited by Anne-Perry. It also garnered the Macavity-Award. In the year 1998, Peter Robinson published his first-collection of short-stories, Not-Safe-After-Dark and Other Stories. The nineteenth (19th) Inspector-Banks-novel, All the Colous of the Darkness, appeared in Canada in October of 2008, in the United Kingdom in August of 2008, and in the United States in February of 2009. In 2006, Peter Robinson was invited to be a part of the elite organization, The Detection Club in the year 2006. Robinson now spends his days teaching and living in Toronto, Richmond, and North Yorkshire. The Inspector Banks Series The series is set in the fictional town of Eastvale in Yorkshire, England. Alan Banks is a former member of the London Metro Police. Detective Inspector Alan Banks leaves London for a more peaceful existence in the Dales.

Most of the first twelve (12) novels of the Inspector-Banks-series revolves around crime investigation conducted by Banks. In the year 1999, Robinson shocked fans with novel, In-a-Dry-Season that focused on the Inspector’s divorce from his wife Sandra, once their children leave the family home. Later novels in the Inspector-Banks-series focus on his romance with Detective Sergeant Annie Cabbot. Her first appearance is in the same novel where Inspector-Banks and hi- wife get divorced. She meets him while investigating an accusation of murder by someone in Banks’ team. She later joins his team and the two have an off and on relationship. Gallows View Readers are introduced to Inspector Alan Banks. Fresh from the London Metropolitan Police force, DCI Banks investigates a series of incidences in the small town of Eastvale including: a peeping tom, and a possible murder of an elderly woman. In addition to this, Banks has to wrestle with his attraction to young-psychologist, Jenny-Fuller. As tensions mount, the cases come closer and closer to Banks’ family. A Dedicated Man The second novel in the Inspector-Banks-series finds Banks investigating the death of a beloved local historian found buried in a wall.

He has several suspects, all of whom have their own reasons for wanting the thoughtful historian dead. Meanwhile a young girl, Sally Lumb, is in grave danger because she knows more than what she claims. Television Adaptations ITV commissioned the television rights of the novel Aftermath in July of the year 2010. Playing Inspector Banks was the British actor Stephen Tompkinson. On September 27 and October 4 of 2010, the adaptation aired as a two part series. The ratings were very high. As a result, ITV commissioned three more novels: Playing With Fire, Cold-is-the-Grave, and Friend-of-the-Devil. ITV chose to air the three novels as a group of six one hour episodes. The episodes began airing on September 16, 2011. Peter Robinson is a prolific writer, whose mystery novels have shocked and thrilled reader for decades. Though a Canadian, Robinson is schooled in the English tradition of creative writing. His vivid descriptions, lively characters, and intricate storylines, have made his works a permanent fixture of the English, Canadian, and American literary world. The character of Inspector Banks will be a contribution to the mystery genre for all time.

Inspector Banks - Book Series In Order Publication Order of Inspector Banks Short Stories Going Back Hardcover Paperback Kindle Inspector Banks Biography: The fictional central character, Inspector Alan Banks, better known as Inspector Banks is a detective chief. He is the protagonist of a series of novels based on crime. Peter Robinson, the much popular and acclaimed writer created the character, who later became very famous. The series still remains one of the finest till date. The crime series was later adapted to television under the title DCI Banks, wherein Stephen Tompkinson played the role of the protagonist, Alan Banks. Inspector Alan Banks first came into the picture when the novel was published in the year 1987. The novel carried a blurb that gave the background of the character, Alan Banks. As mentioned, he once lived in London. He worked as a member of the Metropolitan Police in the Unsolved Crime Squad. The blurb further mentioned that the Detective Banks then lived in Eastvale, the imaginary English Town situated in Yorkshire, north to Ripon, next to the A1. Alan Banks are blessed with two kids, Tracy as well as Brian. He has a loving wife by the name of Sandra.

He works as the DCI or the Director of Central Intelligence for the Eastvale Police ever since he moved there. As described, the detective has an own tiny office, complete with the metal desk and a couple of chairs. The window in the office opens up to the view of the town’s Market Square, which remains quite busy. Inspector Banks belong to the working class and just like most of them coming from that class, he hates getting things done with the clout of money or wealth. This remains to be the main driving force that persuaded him to move to Eastvale from London. His major objective was to remain away from the materialism that is present in the big cities. His moving away proved to be good for him as he succeeded in nurturing his family with due respect in a country like setting. Detective Banks have a different yet fine taste in music. His pleasing personality helps him in relating with the suspects in the cases he is involved in. He even gets along well with the victims of the crime. The main strength of Detective Banks is his creativity that he uses appropriately. His innovative style of interrogations helps him in his investigations. Although he is amiable, he can become quite tough when he wants the answers quickly.

The majority of the novels in the series had Inspector Banks investigating the crimes. However, in the year 1999, the novel titled ‘In a Dry Season’ the story focused on the divorce of Alan Banks with his wife. His married life with Sandra, his wife, had started growing apart. His children, Tracy and Brian, had already flown the nest. Post this novel, the subject of the crime series based on Detective Alan Banks changed slightly with a sub focus. DS Annie Cabbot became the love interest of Alan Banks and the subsequent novels mentioned their romance. Cabbot had first appeared in the series where Detective Banks underwent a divorce with his wife. Cabbot appeared to investigate the member of the team of the Detective, who is charged with manslaughter. Later in the novels, Cabbot becomes a regular as she becomes the member of his team. Even Since, the duo, Banks and Cabbot share on and off love relationship. In his series of novels, Peter Robinson describes Inspector Banks as the dedicated man who is also paid thinker. Detective Banks are considered to be a compelling character, which gets evolved with time in the continuing novels. The series created by Robinson has even won a number of prestigious awards and nominated for many others.

The Arthur Ellis Award, the Edgar Award, the Anthony Award are some of the awards conferred on the series in a crime fiction category. The series was so interesting that in the year 2010, the ITV adapted it to television. The first in the series was ‘Aftermath’ where Stephen Tompkinson plays the leading character of Detective Banks. The first adaptation was broadcast as two episodes, each an hour long. The first episode was premiered on September 27 and the second on October 4. The show was an instant hit. It was later continued by making three additional adaptations of different novels. The series of the adaptations was titled as DCI Banks. This series had six episodes, each an hour long. DCI Banks began airing on television from September 16 onwards in the year 2011. The first novel by Peter Robinson is also the first novel where Detective Inspector Alan Banks are introduced. Titled as ‘Gallows View’, the novel was published in the year 1987. It was even shortlisted for the award of the best first novel in Canada in addition to John Creasey Award of the United Kingdom. The entire series of Inspector Banks has proved to be very popular.

The series has extended to thirteen novels at present. The setting of most of the novels in the series is Richmond as well as the Yorkshire Dales. Richmond is actually titled as ‘Eastvale’ in the series. However, Eastvale is slightly larger than Richmond and is inflicted with more crime that Richmond. The Dale is a creation of the author. He wanted to add all his most loved places from Wensleydale, Swaledale, Whafedale into the series including Reeth, Gayle as well as Hawes. The locations used in the series are at times real and other times created. However, all the places, fictional and actual co-exist in the series. Author Peter Robinson even won the award by the Crime Writers Association. He was credited for giving the most pleasure to his readers with the series of Inspector Banks novels, which were getting gritty, dark and popular with every release. Inspector Alan Banks, the protagonist are the maverick, as they used to be in traditional times. Alan Banks is a genuine detective who is passionate towards solving cases. His objective to hunt the criminals and do justice by solving crime cases take him on tough journeys. He is not afraid of taking dark and dangerous paths for solving the crimes and doing justice.

Inspector Alan Banks remain one of the most popular characters on a mission, which ultimately benefits humanity by bringing an end to crime. Even though based in Eastvale, people can easily relate to the novels and the settings of crime scenes. DCI Banks (TV Series 2010– ) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The tenacious and stubborn DCI Banks unravels disturbing murder mysteries aided by his young assistants, DS Annie Cabbot and DI Helen Morton. Stars: Helen works hard to win back Alan's approval as they try to prevent Josh's father from seeking a revenge of his own. 8.2 When a victim of a frenzied attack is found in the woods, Banks wonders if it's related to the location - a shrine to a local girl who recently committed suicide there. 8.2 When a devoted husband and father goes missing, a ransom demand takes Banks and his team on a journey into Leeds' Chinese community.

8.0 a list of 44 titles created 20 Sep 2012 a list of 26 titles created 24 Nov 2012 a list of 46 titles created 12 Jan 2013 a list of 29 titles created 3 months ago a list of 31 titles created 2 months ago Search for " DCI Banks " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. With her caustic wit and singular charm, DCI Vera Stanhope and her trusted right-hand man DS Joe Ashworth face a series of captivating murder mysteries set against the breathtaking Northumberland landscape. Stars: Brenda Blethyn, Jon Morrison, David Leon Scott & Bailey (TV Series 2011) Crime | Drama Two female detectives, one motherly, the other emotionally immature, have varying levels of success applying their eccentric outlooks on life to their police cases and private lives.

Stars: Suranne Jones, Lesley Sharp, Tony Mooney Inspector George Gently (TV Series 2007) Crime | Drama | Mystery With the help of DS John Bacchus, Inspector George Gently spends his days bringing to justice members of the criminal underworld who are unfortunate enough to have the intrepid investigator assigned to their cases. Stars: Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, Simon Hubbard Inspector Robert Lewis and Sergeant James Hathaway solve the tough cases that the learned inhabitants of Oxford throw at them. Stars: Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Clare Holman British crime investigation series based around aristocratic, Oxford-educated Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his working-class assistant Sergeant Barbara Havers. Stars: Nathaniel Parker, Sharon Small, Lesley Vickerage DI Jimmy Perez and his team investigate crimes within the close knit island community of Shetland. Stars: Douglas Henshall, Steven Robertson, Alison O'Donnell Set in the 1960s, the show follows Endeavour Morse in his early years as a police constable. Working alongside his senior partner DI Fred Thursday, Morse engages in a number of investigations around Oxford.

Stars: Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, James Bradshaw Inspector Morse has an ear for music, a taste for beer and a nose for crime. He sets out with Sergeant Lewis to solve each intriguing case. Stars: John Thaw, Kevin Whately, James Grout Above Suspicion (TV Series 2009) Crime | Drama | Thriller DC Anna Travis joins a team on the hunt for a particularly gruesome serial killer. When the latest victim is found and doesn't fit the usual profile of the killer's victims, Travis sets out to prove herself. Stars: Kelly Reilly, Ciarán Hinds, Jason Durr A Cambridgeshire clergyman finds himself investigating a series of mysterious wrongdoings in his small village of Grantchester. Stars: James Norton, Robson Green, Morven Christie DI Jack Frost is an unconventional policeman with sympathy for the underdog and an instinct for moral justice. Sloppy, disorganized and disrespectful, he attracts trouble like a magnet. Stars: David Jason, Bruce Alexander, John Lyons Midsomer Murders (TV Series 1997) Crime | Drama | Mystery A veteran DCI and his young sergeant investigate murders around the regional community of Midsomer County.

Stars: John Nettles, Jane Wymark, Barry Jackson Edit Storyline The tenacious and stubborn DCI Banks unravels disturbing murder mysteries aided by his young assistants, DS Annie Cabbot and DI Helen Morton. 27 September 2010 (UK) See more » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia DI Helen Morton ( Caroline Catz ) does not appear in Peter Robinson 's original novels. She was introduced in Series 2 as a temporary replacement for DS Annie Cabbot ( Andrea Lowe ) who took maternity leave because Andrea Lowe was pregnant in real life. She remained even after Annie Cabbot's return in Series 3. See more » Connections (Oregon, USA) – See all my reviews I've only watched two of the episodes so far but I won't be watching more. The characters are shallow, predictable, and unbelievable. I assumed that given the quality actors involved this would be an exciting new series, instead, it's like a rerun of every police/bad guy plot rolled into one. I mean seriously, a depressed midlife crisis Chief, an ambitious hard charging woman detective trying to make her mark, a superintendent who rants and raves but can't control them?

And to top it off, no matter what the situation or how dangerous it gets, they never call for backup? Where have I seen this before...maybe in the last 100 detective shows on TV in the last ten years. 34 of 64 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Strange Affair by Peter Robinson · OverDrive: eBooks, audiobooks and videos for libraries Fiction Mystery Thriller Chief Inspector Alan Banks faces his most personal case from New York Times bestselling author Peter Robinson. A bullet to the brain abruptly halted a terrified young woman's desperate flight. In her pocket is the name of a policeman whose own life was brutally invaded, mercilessly shaken, and very nearly erased—a policeman who has since gone missing. The dead woman in the car had been running from something—but she didn't run far or fast enough. Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot would like to question the man the victim was apparently racing to meet: Annie's superior—and former lover—Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. But Banks has vanished into the anonymous chaos of the city, drawn into a mad whirl of greed, inhumanity, and death, by a frantic phone call from the brother he no longer knows.

Banks is unaware that the threads connecting a sinister kidnapping with a savage slaying are as thick as rope . . . and long enough for a haunted and broken rogue cop to hang himself. One of his most, clever, twisting thrillers, Strange Affair attests once again why readers love and can't get enough of Peter Robinson's novels of suspense. OverDrive MP3 Audiobook 363.9 MB OverDrive Listen 363.9 MB Peter Robinson (Author) One of the world's most popular and acclaimed writers, Peter Robinson is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Inspector Banks series; he has also written two short-story collections and three standalone novels, which combined have sold mor... DCI Banks Mysteries Series Audiobooks | UNABRIDGED Series | Audible.com View full details > A peaceful demonstration in the normally quiet town of Eastvale ended with 50 arrests---and the brutal stabbing death of a young constable. But Chief Inspector Alan Banks fears there is worse violence in the offing. For CID superintendent Richard "Dirty Dick" Burgess has arrived from London to take charge of the investigation, fueled by professional outrage and volatile, long-simmering hatreds. Good, but not the best in the series.

As always, I enjoyed listening to Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks in "A Necessary End." If you enjoy English mysteries without alot of graphic sex an.. Show More » d/or violence, you'll enjoy this book. Reviewed on August 20 2012 by Sandy (ROCK SPRINGS, WY, United States) 4 View full details > Many who visit the valley are overwhelmed by its majesty. Some wish they never had to leave. One didn't: a hiker whose decomposing corpse is discovered by an unsuspecting tourist. But this strange, incomprehensible murder is only the edge of the darkness that hovers over a small rural village and its tight-lipped residents, who guard shattering secrets of sordid pasts and private shames. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks knows that both the grim truth and a cold-blooded killer are hiding here.... Another great Inspector Banks myster I've read all of Robinson's Inspector Banks series. Great books with characters I really care about. Reviewed on December 06 2011 by Milan (Westminster, CO, United States) 5 View full details > A picturesque Yorkshire village is dressed in its finest for the upcoming Noel.

But one of its residents will not be celebrating this holiday. Chief Inspector Alan Banks knows that secrecy can sometimes prove fatal---and secrets were the driving force behind Caroline Hartley's life...and death. She was a beautiful enigma, brutally stabbed in her own home three days prior to Christmas. great read and reader I'm a big fan of Peter Robinson, and now of James Langton. Great to hear this rendition of the wonderful Inspector Banks series. Reviewed on February 23 2011 by Patrick (Sparkill, NY, United States) 6 View full details > Wednesday's child is full of woe.... It was a crime of staggering inhumanity: a seven-year-old girl taken from her home right in front of her desperate working-class mother. With each passing moment, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks realizes that the child's death becomes more and more likely. But there are worse fates than death in a nightmare world of human monsters and their twisted games. Chief Inspector Banks cracks another case. I have been enjoying listening to Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series in chronological order. If you are contemplating purchasing this one, witho..

Show More » ut having listened to the previous ones, I would strongly suggest that you go back and begin listening to this series from the beginning, with "Gallows View." You will see what I mean: This series introduces us not only to protagonist Alan Banks, but also to Yorkshire and its denizens. For those of us not living in Britain, these audiobooks open us up to a new world -- probably more rural, quiet, and leisurely-paced than ours. Each story builds upon the previous one, developing the characters of Alan Banks and his fellow "coppers" a little more. Aside from Banks' nicotine addiction and his incipient alcoholism, I have grown fond of him (who wants a perfect detective, anyway?), always looking forward to his next case. Peter Robinson writes beautifully: always taking time to lyrically describe the Yorkshire countryside and its weather, and to paint us verbal pictures of his characters' appearance and their gestures. (If you prefer fast-paced thrillers, getting impatient when the action slows, then you might not like the Inspector Banks series. These novels definitely qualify as mysteries, but not thrillers.) One can clearly visualize the story as it proceeds, scene-by-scene, almost as if one were watching a movie.

And Peter Robinson really does devise excellent plots for his books, each one differing from the others, each one intricately thought out. In "Wednesday's Child," Robinson departs from form a bit, with a funny Hell's-Kitchen-style scene in which all the neighbors get involved in a noisy row between a blowzy woman and her good-for-nothing boyfriend, all contributing their considered opinions. If I were to find any fault with the Inspector Banks series, I would would wish for more humor; but this episode has it. James Langton's excellent acting talent and his beautiful voice have a lot to do with my enjoyment of this series. In "Wednesday's Child," in particular, he surpasses himself with his perfect rendering of the difficult South African accent. He always distinguishes the characters from one another, even the women. I recommend this entire series to anyone who enjoys the English-style procedural mystery genre; but, again, start from the beginning, and listen to them in order. Reviewed on June 15 2013 by Snoodely (Santa Barbara, CA United States) 7 There's more than blood and bone beneath the skin...

The victim, a nondescript "numbers cruncher," died horribly just yards away from his terrified wife and daughter, murdered by men who clearly enjoyed their work. Inspector Banks goes international "Final Account" (originally published in the U.K. under the title "Dry Bones that Dream") represents a slight departure from form in the Alan Banks se.. Show More » ries, by going international. Otherwise, it continues the high-quality listening standard that the previous episodes have established. (By the way, if you are considering purchasing this audiobook without first having listened to its predecessors, then I would suggest that, instead, you start from the beginning of the series -- with "Gallows View" -- and listen to them in order.

Doing so will increase your appreciation and enjoyment of these wonderful stories.) People will get mad at me for "spoiling" if I try to tell you what I mean by "going international;" so, suffice it to say that fans of international-intrigue-with-a-touch-of-conspiracy will find familiar political/financial shenanigans to deplore in "Final Account." If, like me, you have a mental block when it comes to money matters, then you may find here the best dumbed-down definition of the term "money-laundering" that you will likely encounter anywhere. I 𝙖𝙡𝙢o𝒔𝙩 understand what it means now. If, after an hour, or so, of listening, you think that you know how this mystery is going to resolve, then (stop reading here if you hate "spoilers") you have probably guessed right; only you will still want to see how the plot plays out, anyway. That shows you how well Peter Robinson writes: Even though you have figured out the mystery early on, you will still want to keep listening ... unless, of course, you have an impatient nature and dislike slow unfoldings.

Robinson's Alan Banks books do not qualify as thrillers or action/adventure stories, but, rather, intelligent mysteries. You won't find a lot of testosterone in these audiobooks. You 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡, however, find interesting plots, beautiful writing, and meticulous character development. Protagonist Alan Banks differs from your stereotypical thriller detective in a number of ways: Unlike Lincoln Rhyme, for instance, Banks is no genius. He is intelligent, all right; but his success comes from his persistence and determination. Unlike Jack Reacher, for instance, Banks is 𝒔𝙝o𝙧𝙩: only 5' 9"! Yikes! How can a short man solve mysteries? I have decided to add Robinson/Langton to my short-list of author/narrator combinations made in heaven. (Here is the rest of the list, so far: Pratchett/Briggs and Peters/Rosenblatt.) If, like me, you enjoy good acting every bit as much as good writing, then the Robinson/Langton duo will enthrall you -- more than compensating for any "slowness" or "seriousness" that you might find in the Alan Banks mysteries.

Langton has a beautiful voice, but he can "do" all kinds of voices and all kinds of accents -- even the American accent ... almost. In particular, you will love his rendering of the funny Yorkshire rural accent. In summary, I recommend "Final Account" to anyone with the patience to appreciate good English who-done-its, well-performed ... but only after you have listened all its prequels in sequence. Reviewed on June 16 2013 by Snoodely (Santa Barbara, CA United States) 8 View full details > The worst that can possibly happen... has. A beautiful child is dead - defiled and murdered in a lonely graveyard on a fog-shrouded evening. It is the sort of horrific crime Chief Inspector Alan Banks fled the city to escape. But the slaying of a bright and lovely teenager from a wealthy, respected family is not the end of a nightmare. Lies, dark secrets, unholy accusations, and hints of sexual depravity swirl around this abomination like leaves in an autumn wind, leading to a shattering travesty of justice that will brutally divide a devastated community with suspicion and hatred. Falsely Accused!

We listeners all know, right from the get-go, that poor Owen Pierce has been falsely accused of murder ... but the townsfolk don't. Given their druth.. Show More » ers, they would lynch him for the murder of beautiful young Deborah Harrison, leaving the real killer running around free. I like it when an author uses that technique: allowing the reader to know something that none of the novel's characters -- including the protagonist -- know. Then we get to watch our hero figure out the secret. 𝘞𝑒 know that Owen Pierce didn't do it, partly because of Peter Robinson's writing skill, but also thanks to James Langton's excellent acting chops. Langton possesses the rare gift of voice. I was admiring his skill throughout this audiobook, particularly because the plot presents us with so 𝘮𝑎𝑛𝑦 different suspects. A less skilled actor could have made Owen sound as guilty as all the townsfolk think that he is. Langton clearly read "Innocent Graves" all the way through before he began recording it, so that he knew which voices to give each character -- sending exactly the right subliminal clues to us listeners.

I also liked "Innocent Graves," because it includes some intriguing courtroom scenes -- the first novel in the Alan Banks series to do so. The evidence seems stacked so profoundly high against Pierce -- and his solicitor seems so disinterested -- that we see no way for him to escape false conviction. Then his brilliant barrister (the Brits make a distinction between the lawyer that takes the case and the lawyer that argues the case) saves Pierce in court by casting reasonable doubt on all the supposed "evidence." Still, the townsfolk believe that Pierce did the murder and got away with it; so that his release puts him in grave danger of vigilante violence. Inspector Alan Banks needs to work fast to find the real killer. Some people find that Robinson's Inspector Banks novels move too slowly, with insufficient excitement. I confess to a weakness for thrillers, myself; but I make an exception for the Inspector Banks series. Robinson's beautiful writing and Langton's masterful narration trump any problem that I might have with insufficient action. So I recommend this series to any listener with the patience to appreciate these qualities ...

provided that you listen to the books in chronological order, from the beginning, starting with "Gallows View." Don't try jumping into the series in the middle -- you will miss a lot and get grumpy. Reviewed on June 20 2013 by Snoodely (Santa Barbara, CA United States) 9 View full details > When the brutally beaten body of a young man is found in an alley, Eastvale's Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks and his colleague, Detective Constable Susan Gay, have no choice but to lock up the three Pakistani youths who seemingly started it all after an argument in a pub. But they're out in no time, and Banks is in big trouble with the chief for risking a racial incident with the arrest. Excellent! Plot is quite involved, as usual, but very well done. We see the beginning of the disintegration of banks' marriage. Narration is excellent. Quite enj.. Show More » oyed the whole thing beginning to end! Reviewed on October 14 2012 by jeanne (WASHINGTON, DC, United States) 10 View full details > In a Dry Season, winner of the Anthony Award, is an outstanding example of mystery fiction.

Peter Robinson's Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks conjures up memories of classic detectives like Philip Marlowe and Sherlock Holmes. An insufferable drought ravages the Yorkshire countryside, depleting the Thornfield Reservoir, revealing the remnants of the flooded town of Hobb's End and the terrible secrets kept safe within its watery tomb. Amongst the ruins, the remains of a woman's body are discovered. Well Constructed Mystery This is a totally absorbing mystery. I became completely involved with the well drawn characters. The book switches very smoothly from present to pas.. Show More » t and back again throughout the story which takes place in an English Village during World War II. The reader is gradually privy to the facts while the modern day detectives search the past to uncover the history of the body found in the dry reservoir. In A Dry Season is a very good novel and well worth a credit or purchase. Enjoy Reviewed on May 28 2004 by Hallie (south hiram, ME, USA) View full details > The Inspector Banks novel In a Dry Season was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and won an Anthony Award. Cold Is the Grave won the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award.

It takes the aging, solitary inspector from his cozy Yorkshire cottage into the dark underworld of London. The assignment is a favor asked by Banks' boss and greatest enemy: Chief Constable Riddle. Very Solid As a big fan of P.D. James, I was quite pleased to discover Peter Robinson. I have listened to two other Peter Robinson books besides Cold is the Grav.. Show More » e and found them all quite satisfying and enjoyable. Robinson is all about character development, each one is really fleshed out psychologically and then he tells you what each character is thinking, feeling, wearing, listening to, eating and so on at any given moment. Obviously this kind of detail can drive some people crazy, especially if a lot of action is what they are looking for, but I really like that kind of detail, and Robinson does do it well. The narrator may take a little getting used to, he tends to sort of "chortle out" his female voices sometimes, but really he is quite good. Cold Is the Grave was a good story and Robinson leaves you wondering who did it till the last, but that is not even why I like his books. It's more the journey there rather than the destination that makes it a good listen.

Reviewed on October 10 2004 by Colleen (Charlottesville, VA, USA) View full details > Detective Inspector Alan Banks relationship with Chief Constable Riddle has always been strained. So Banks is more than a little surprised when Riddle summons him late one night and begs for his help. For Riddle, Banks' new case is terrifyingly close to home. Six months ago, his 16-year-old daughter ran away to London, where she has fallen into a turbulent world of drugs and pornography. With his reputation threatened, Riddle wants Banks to use his unorthodox methods to find her without fuss. Absorbing story, well narrated. A very absorbing story, well written plot. The narrator is excellent and really brought all the characters, and the story, to life. A combination of w.. Show More » ell written dialogue and first class narration makes this one of those audio books that make you want to go to bed early so you can listen. A very good combination of writer's craftsmanship and narrator's skill. I will definitely be buying more in the series. Very good value for money.

Reviewed on June 10 2008 by Merril (ISTANBULTurkey) 12 View full details > When Inspector Banks of Yorkshire investigates whether an abusive husband might be guilty of an unsolved string of murders, his suspicions are aroused by the details of the man's marriage. Is the suspect's wife a victim or could she be his accomplice? Great book! I am so pleased that I didn't pay any attention to the original review. This book is a refreshing twist on the crime thriller working a.. Show More » fter the apprehension of the suspect not up to it. Enjoy Reviewed on August 12 2004 by Giles T. Jackson (The Great Garden State (New Jersey)) View full details > Thirty-five The Hill is an ordinary house in an ordinary street, owned by an apparently ordinary young couple. But it is about to become infamous. For when Police Constables Janet Taylor and Dennis Morrisey are sent to the house following a report of a domestic disturbance, they stumble upon a truly horrific scene - a scene which leaves one of them dead and the other fighting for her life and career. Another GREAT listen!

I am totally addicted to the Peter Robinson series of Inspector Banks read so wonderfully by N Pearson, and of all the books I have listened to (w.. Show More » hich is almost all of them) this was one of the best. Two regrets.. 1. none of the books are long enough, 2. I have almost finished listening to all of them. Wonderful stuff. Intriguing stories,nice character development and all read by a reader who really needs to be on the best narrators list. Reviewed on February 10 2009 by Merril (ISTANBULTurkey) 13 View full details > Peter Robinson is the critically acclaimed New York Times and London Sunday Times best-selling author of the Inspector Alan Banks series, as well as a winner of the 2001 Anthony and 2001 Ellis Awards. Close to Home traverses the difficult landscapes of a painful past, and an uncertain future for Inspector Banks. Two 15-year-old boys are lost, and the circumstances of their disappearances seem oddly parallel save one detail. The first boy disappeared and was presumed dead 35 years ago.

Golden Age of Mystery When people write about the "Golden Age of Mystery" they're always referring to the 1930's. Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and all that. Well, as muc.. Show More » h as I enjoy those classic mysteries, I say the Golden Age of Mystery is right now. If you don't agree, just check out this first rate contemporary suspenser from Peter Robinson. The audio version adds immeasurably to the experience. Reader Ron Keith brings the characters to life with a wide range of English accents that I, as a Midwesterner, couldn't have begun to conjure up. (No, not even with close study of Masterpiece Theater.) Reviewed on July 15 2004 by Kev (United States) 14 View full details > When he receives a mysterious and disturbing telephone call from his brother, Roy, Inspector Alan Banks heads off to London to search him out. Meanwhile, DI Annie Cabbot is called to a murder scene on a quiet stretch of road just outside Eastvale. A young woman has been found dead in her car, with Banks' name and address written on a slip of paper in the back pocket of her jeans. Superb narration.

This is my fourth Inspector Banks, and they are all good, but probably enjoyed this one the most. A compelling listen, not least because of the excell.. Show More » ent narration by Neil Pearson. The accents and voices he uses are very convincing, and his intonation really brings the dialogue to life. These stories are very good, very absorbing and very good value. I finished this one earlier today and am already to download another. I will also be buying other books narrated by Neil. (Why isn't he on the best narrators list?) Reviewed on June 25 2008 by Merril (ISTANBULTurkey) View full details > A bullet to the brain abruptly halted a terrified young woman's desperate flight. In her pocket is the name of a policeman whose own life was brutally invaded, mercilessly shaken, and very nearly erased - a policeman who has since gone missing. The dead woman in the car had been running from something - but she didn't run far or fast enough. Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot would like to question the man the victim was apparently racing to meet: Annie's superior - and former lover - Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. Another good Banks's story BUT....

I I didn't not care for this narrator. He made DCI Banks sound like a poof posh & at times, even a little desperate. The female narration sounded b.. Show More » reathless & false. Perhaps I'm too use to Mr. Prebble' s grizzled and animated portrayal... Reviewed on December 17 2016 by Deborah Wied (Memphis, Tennessee United States) 16 View full details > One morning in March, on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, a woman named Karen Drew is found in her wheelchair with her throat slit. Back in Eastvale on that same morning, in a tangle of narrow alleys behind a market square, the body of Hayley Daniels is found raped and strangled. On loan to a sister precinct, Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot draws the first case, but she turns up nothing in Karen Drew's past that might have prompted someone to kill her. nothing to say I don't know what it was about this book, but I just couldn't get into it. Maybe it was the narrator. Anyway, I didn't even get past the second chapte.. Show More » r.

Reviewed on September 23 2012 by Rachel (Yorkton, SK, Canada) View full details > When Karen Drew is found sitting in her wheelchair staring out to sea with her throat cut one chilly morning, DI Annie Cabbot, on loan to Eastern Area, gets lumbered with the case. Back in Eastvale, that same Sunday morning, 19-year-old Hayley Daniels is found raped and strangled in the Maze, a tangle of narrow alleys behind Eastvale's market square, after a drunken night on the town with a group of friends, and DCI Alan Banks is called in. Banks finds suspects galore, while Annie seems to hit a brick wall - until she reaches a breakthrough.... freind not i don,t know the narrator clips his sentences almost speaking the last word louder than the rest Reviewed on March 31 2015 by Tracey (craigmore, Australia) 18 View full details > Once on the investigation of a murder case involving a costume designer and his older and wealthier lover, Detective Alan Banks finds himself plunged into a case where nothing is as it seems.

More and more his own words about the victim's latest production, Othello, are coming back to haunt him, for "jealousy, betrayal, envy, ambition, greed, lust, revenge: all the colors of darkness" are quickly becoming his world as well. Good story damaged by producer Robinson gets a bit silly here and there, but it's worth the purchase. The usual interesting story and good ensemble, though "guest" charac.. Show More » ters are a bit wobbly this go-round, and the premise occasionally made me itch. AUDIO: The reading would have been quite adequate except for some insane -- literally insane -- music stuck in at odd moments. It was a sort of cross between country-drunk and MGM's idea of hula-hula music -- just right for Yorkshire, right? Awful! Each time the producers assaulted me with this twanging slop, it utterly shattered everything the author and narrator had built up. The worst part is ... why? Why do such an awful and destructive thing when it was so totally, completely pointless?

Reviewed on May 24 2009 by Lehua of Pacifica (Hawaii) View full details > A distraught woman arrives at the Eastvale police station desperate to speak to Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. But since Banks is away on holiday, his partner, Annie Cabbot, steps in. The woman tells Annie that she's found a loaded gun hidden in the bedroom of her daughter, Erin: a punishable offense under English law. When an armed response team breaks into the house to retrieve the weapon, the seemingly straightforward procedure quickly spirals out of control. Who can beat a Peter Robinson-Simon Prebble combo? Reviewed on October 29 2012 by Dorice (Norman, OK, United States) 20 View full details > A decorated detective inspector is murdered on the tranquil grounds of the St. Peter’s Police Treatment Centre, shot through the heart with a crossbow arrow, and compromising photographs are discovered in his room. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is well aware that he must handle the highly sensitive - and dangerously explosive - investigation with the utmost discretion. Because the case may involve police corruption, an officer from Professional Standards, Inspector Joanna Passero, has arrived to work with Banks and his team.

Banks, Annie and Simon Prebble All In Top Form Could not stop listening to this and almost stayed up all night. I've been a dedicated fan of Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series from the beginni.. Show More » ng. About three books back, I sensed that perhaps Robinson (and Banks) were losing their way a bit. I am glad to see that in this book Robinson returns to tight plotting, great detective work and perserverence separately by Banks and Annie, interesting secondary characters, fascinating locations, contemporary and believable crimes, nasty as well as conflicted villains, and wonderful, chilling location vignettes. Add to this the always superb Simon Prebble as narrator and it's hard not to overdo the superlatives. Reviewed on February 20 2013 by Lynn (tarpon springs, FL, United States) View full details > The body of a disgraced college lecturer is found on an abandoned railway line. In the four years since his dismissal for sexual misconduct, he’d been living like a hermit. So where did he get the 5,000 pounds found in his pocket? Leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks begins to suspect that the victim's past may be connected to his death.

Forty years ago the dead man attended a university that was a hotbed of militant protest and divisive, bitter politics. And as the seasoned detective well knows, some grudges are never forgotten - or forgiven. Finally, another Banks novel + Simon Prebble It was narrated by Simon Prebble. I think I'd listen to Prebble read his grocery list. Reviewed on April 25 2014 by Robert (Waynesville, NC, United States) View full details > Newly promoted Detective Superintendent Banks finds himself taking on the coldest of cases: a 50-year-old assault allegedly perpetrated by beloved celebrity Danny Caxton. Now Caxton stands accused at the center of a media storm, and it's Banks' job to discover the shocking truth. As more women step forward with accounts of Caxton's manipulation, Banks must piece together decades-old evidence - as the investigation leads him down the darkest of paths.... Contemporary Social Problems and Poetry Peter Robinson expertly and sensitively wraps this novel around some very contemporary issues: long buried sexual abuse cases revolving around once p.. Show More » opular TV or music icons; modern day sex trade issues involving underage girls, and community/police relations in ethnic communities.

Robinson writes about two different cases - one a 50 year old cold case of sexual abuse and the other a current day murder of a young girl involved in the sex trade. As he did with "In a Dry Season", Robinson uses a memoir written by the victim, now a grown woman and well-known poet, to tell her version of the abuse by the music icon many years ago. In crafting the story of the murder related to modern day sex trade, Robinson grapples with issues like racism and community/police relations. Of course, as in all the Inspector Banks novels, musical references abound and exploring the literary references to poetry in this story could create a mini-project for the reader once the book is over. Simon Prebble knows these characters and his voice combined with Robinson's poetic writing style make for an excellent listen. Reviewed on August 24 2016 by mspoet (La Honda, CA, United States)

Question: Who writes the series of novels about Chief Inspector Alan Banks?
Answer: Peter Robinson