Scan barcode
nonna7's review against another edition
5.0
To say I am a fan of Peter Robinson is putting it mildly. As I continue to catch up with the older books in the series, I continue to be impressed by his writing. It's interesting that this was published in 1998. It's post Thatcher Great Britain where the industrial jobs are gone, and frustration takes on an ugly anti immigrant flavor by native white Brits. Unfortunately many of them can't distinguish between someone who is native born vs an actual immigrant, not that it matters. When a young man is found brutally murdered and disfigured, it is soon apparent that there is far more to this case than meets the eye. It turns out that the murdered young man had a sordid past that his family didn't even know about, a life of racial hatred and association with a group advocating racial purity. It's really a chilling book, and is amazingly prescient.
book__man's review against another edition
5.0
A great book to read, recommend to everyone great writer
merrynld's review against another edition
1.0
Admittedly this was the first Peter Robinson novel I have read so I fear I may have been a little unprepared in terms of appreciating the characters but I don't think that was what affect my opinion. I really wanted to appreciate and enjoy this book as I am a great fan of crime/thriller novels but I was so let down by it within the first few chapters. It was Robinson's style of writing that really made me squirm. It is way too obvious that he himself is still a novice at understanding the police force and is trying far too hard to use the typical voice of a police officer. He says things such as "Banks approached the door. He thought it would an obvious choice for breaking and entering." in a part of the story that has nothing to do with robbery/trespassing etc. It was a very simplistic approach to a narrative which made the whole thing seem a bit mediocre.
I fear I am comparing the style to Ian Rankin's novels which I find to be brilliant. He really captures the voice and attitudes of a police officer as though he were one himself in a way that Robinson seems to be merely attempting.
Additionally, the blurb almost reveals the plot to you so there is absolutely no suspense or mystery as you would expect with a crime novel. I found that I didn't care about Jason or what happened to him as I already knew why and how he'd been killed. Again, this is something you would never find in an Ian Rankin novel as his development of the plot is always controlled and well written.
I really did want to love this book but I'm afraid I doubt I'll ever feel inclined to read another Banks novel.
I fear I am comparing the style to Ian Rankin's novels which I find to be brilliant. He really captures the voice and attitudes of a police officer as though he were one himself in a way that Robinson seems to be merely attempting.
Additionally, the blurb almost reveals the plot to you so there is absolutely no suspense or mystery as you would expect with a crime novel. I found that I didn't care about Jason or what happened to him as I already knew why and how he'd been killed. Again, this is something you would never find in an Ian Rankin novel as his development of the plot is always controlled and well written.
I really did want to love this book but I'm afraid I doubt I'll ever feel inclined to read another Banks novel.
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
bookwormbev17's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ksparks's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid installment. I'm impressed that he was writing about racism so candidly in 1997-Robinson never shies away from difficult social problems: from police brutality to sexual harassment to racism. He is such an acute social observer. Banks is a brilliant character, always smooth as a cucumber. He is seemingly mild mannered and manages not to ruffle too many feathers, while relentlessly working his way to the truth of the case. This was a difficult installment for his personal life and left a lot to resolve for the next book. As always, I loved the audiobook version narrated by James Langton--such a wonderful voice.
skinnypenguin's review against another edition
3.0
DCI Banks is called to the scene of a dead body in the middle of the night. The person has been kicked to death and there is no ID. He starts an investigation to determine who the person is and what happened. Once they find out that the person was a neo-Nazi the problems begin. They bring in several Asian boys who had gotten into an altercation with the guy in a pub and there are charges of discrimination running rampant especially when the boys are released. As the cops delve deeper into the guy's past they discover the group he runs with is starting to get into drugs also.
Banks is having personal problems as his wife wants a separation which leads to stress for him. He is called to a mysterious meeting in Amsterdam that ends up causing him more grief when he gets back to Eastvale. The Chief Constable has it in for him and is determined to oust him by whatever means he can. One of his detectives, DC Gray, is having problems of her own. She is involved with another detective from a different area and she finds out he has been feeding information they discussed to the Chief Constable. She feels bad and tries even harder to help out Banks.
The group that the dead guy is a member of is very racist and at his funeral they incite his grandfather to attack them and he dies from a heart attack. Banks feels awful about this and definitely wants to bring down this group. Lots of political maneuvering and some back channel deals. Banks uses his connections with another detective, Ken Blackstone, in another district to help him get information and figure out who is really responsible for the guy's death.
Interesting topic of how racists work and effect everyone around them. Enjoy the DCI Banks series and the progression of his life and the other usual characters.
Banks is having personal problems as his wife wants a separation which leads to stress for him. He is called to a mysterious meeting in Amsterdam that ends up causing him more grief when he gets back to Eastvale. The Chief Constable has it in for him and is determined to oust him by whatever means he can. One of his detectives, DC Gray, is having problems of her own. She is involved with another detective from a different area and she finds out he has been feeding information they discussed to the Chief Constable. She feels bad and tries even harder to help out Banks.
The group that the dead guy is a member of is very racist and at his funeral they incite his grandfather to attack them and he dies from a heart attack. Banks feels awful about this and definitely wants to bring down this group. Lots of political maneuvering and some back channel deals. Banks uses his connections with another detective, Ken Blackstone, in another district to help him get information and figure out who is really responsible for the guy's death.
Interesting topic of how racists work and effect everyone around them. Enjoy the DCI Banks series and the progression of his life and the other usual characters.
ayami's review against another edition
4.0
A decent crime novel with some stellar character portrayal.