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sixbury 's review for:
In a Dry Season
by Peter Robinson
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.