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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I really liked that Robinson used a crime that happened during World War two. It was interesting how he went back and forth between Gwyneth Shackleton's story of what happened and life during world war 2 and Banks story of the investigation. Love Banks!
What a sorry excuse for a mystery novel. This is a sad soap opera with bits of a mystery floating in the background. I couldn’t care less about the main character’s relationships with bosses, ex-wives, girlfriends, children, you name it. Sad!
When a drought causes reservoir levels to fall, not only exposing long-submerged buildings but also leading to the discovery of an old skeleton, DCI Banks is given the job of investigating. This has an inventive plot, and the intertwining of two narratives to tell the story of the wartime crime and the modern investigation works really well. There are a couple of strong subplots and a suitably tense ending, too.
Down sides? There are places where the narrative drags, and the book could probably have been improved by losing a good hundred pages or more out of the middle. But it's not bad at all.
Down sides? There are places where the narrative drags, and the book could probably have been improved by losing a good hundred pages or more out of the middle. But it's not bad at all.
This novel spans a story that started early in the second world war and is intertwined with an investigation spurred by the discovery of skeletal remains at the bottom of a temporarily dry lake. The WW II storyline held my interest and I enjoyed seeing how Inspector Banks was getting along with life after his wife left him in the previous novel. One of the selling points of this series for me is that the writer has done an excellent job creating his fictional world with characters who are affected by the lives they lead. Life changes all of us and that's reflected well here.
I've always said that a writer can do anything as long as the writer keeps it interesting. In this novel, Mr. Robinson does keep it interesting. The information from World War II is well done and was fun to read. However, I didn't care for the story line involving Jem Hylton. From descriptions of the next book in the series, it sounds like Jem Hylton may make another appearance. But the amount of time Banks spent dwelling on his old friend (Jem) just didn't make sense. Banks had a lot going on and we'd never heard of this new character before. The reason given for Banks fascination on his old friend didn't ring true. I don't have a problem introducing new characters but too many pages were devoted to an unrelated sideline story that didn't pay off in any way (in this novel). This information isn't a spoiler because there is never a point when Banks' constant thoughts of Jem ever seem related to this novel. And that's the problem.
Overall, I must emphasize that this is another fine novel in the Inspector Banks series. I look forward to reading the next one. Outside of the character of Jem, the only other complaint I have is that each novel seems to get more long-winded. Tons of background information that seems unnecessary and unrelated. I don't think the storyline for this novel quite fills the length it's given, but lots of writers fall in love with their own voice or hate wasting all that time they spent on research.
I've always said that a writer can do anything as long as the writer keeps it interesting. In this novel, Mr. Robinson does keep it interesting. The information from World War II is well done and was fun to read. However, I didn't care for the story line involving Jem Hylton. From descriptions of the next book in the series, it sounds like Jem Hylton may make another appearance. But the amount of time Banks spent dwelling on his old friend (Jem) just didn't make sense. Banks had a lot going on and we'd never heard of this new character before. The reason given for Banks fascination on his old friend didn't ring true. I don't have a problem introducing new characters but too many pages were devoted to an unrelated sideline story that didn't pay off in any way (in this novel). This information isn't a spoiler because there is never a point when Banks' constant thoughts of Jem ever seem related to this novel. And that's the problem.
Overall, I must emphasize that this is another fine novel in the Inspector Banks series. I look forward to reading the next one. Outside of the character of Jem, the only other complaint I have is that each novel seems to get more long-winded. Tons of background information that seems unnecessary and unrelated. I don't think the storyline for this novel quite fills the length it's given, but lots of writers fall in love with their own voice or hate wasting all that time they spent on research.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Paid $3.95 for a copy at the used book store. Absolutely got my money's worth. Pretty well written; I like style of telling the story from multiple viewpoints; didn't guess the murderer, so that is a plus for the author, or I simply missed the clues. LOL
Forgot to write a review three months ago. This was a good read. I appreciated the complexity of the story, and the use of the character who was a mystery writer’s first person pov from time to time.
This is the first Inspector Banks book I've read and maybe it's not representative, but I didn't even feel like finishing it. Banks didn't seem very engaging to me but there wasn't much time to get acquainted with him because we kept getting sent back to WWII era to get to know the victim. I'd rather stay with the detectives as they try to make sense of the mystery, rather than get to know the victim so I feel extra crummy that she dies. But what made me stop reading was when it turned out that Banks can't keep it in his pants. Why be a moron and cause unnecessary complications? It just seemed gratuitous on Robinson's part.
Peter Robinson is a great discovery. I've been looking for a new mystery series and think this is it. This particular story is a good combination of present and past, as many cold cases can be.
A reservoir dries up and uncovers an old murder, which Chief Inspector Banks must solve.
The characters are great, something that matters, and I want to hear their stories. I will definitely go back to the beginning and read more.
A reservoir dries up and uncovers an old murder, which Chief Inspector Banks must solve.
The characters are great, something that matters, and I want to hear their stories. I will definitely go back to the beginning and read more.