Category Archives: DCI Banks Series

Review: Not Dark Yet by Peter Robinson

Title: Not Dark Yet by Peter Robinson
DCI Banks Series Book 27
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 334 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

One of the world’s greatest suspense writers returns with the 27th novel featuring the legendary detective Alan Banks in the mystery series Stephen King calls “the best now on the market.” 

When property developer Connor Clive Blaydon is found dead, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks and his Yorkshire team dive into the investigation. As luck would have it, someone had installed a cache of spy-cams all around his luxurious home. The team hope that they’ll find answers—and the culprit—among the video recordings.

Instead of discovering Connor’s murderer, however, the grainy and blurred footage reveals another crime: a brutal rape. If they can discover the woman’s identity, it could lead to more than justice for the victim; it could change everything the police think they know about Connor and why anyone would want him dead.

Meanwhile, tensions are rising between Banks and his friend, Zelda. A super recognizer—able to recognize faces significantly better than most people—Zelda is determined to bring the men who abused her to justice. But stirring up the murky waters of the past will put her in far greater danger than ever before, and Banks worries that he won’t be able to stop her from plunging too deep before it’s too late.

Review:

Not Dark Yet by Peter Robinson is a multi-layered mystery. This twenty-seventh installment in the DCI Banks series can be read as a standalone.

DCI Alan Banks, DI Annie Cabott and DC Gerry Masterson are currently investigating the double murders of Connor Clive Blaydon and his employee Neville Roberts. After making a shocking discovery, Cabott and Masterson attempt to identity the woman on the grainy tape. In the midst of the investigation, Banks’ friend Nelia “Zelda” Melnic is kidnapped from the home she shares with Annie’s father Raymond Cabott.  Alan uncovers information that convinces him her disappearance might be connected to her past. Will he locate Zelda before it is too late? And can Annie and Gerry identify the woman they are searching for?

Alan is in a good place in his personal life. He enjoys a good glass of wine while listening to his favorite music. At work, Alan is more than pleased with the team he leads. But during the search for Zelda, Banks begins to question his satisfaction with his career. He is also very protective of Zelda as he uncovers intriguing evidence. After an evening with Raymond, Banks finds himself in a very dangerous situation.

Having lost both parents at a young age, Zelda grew up in an orphanage.  The head of the orphanage eventually sold her to traffickers. After making her escape, Zelda takes justice into her own hands. Although happy in her relationship with Raymond, Zelda is still avenging her past. Both Raymond and Alan notice she is a little nervous and jumpy in the days leading up to her kidnapping.

Annie and Gerry continue to try to identify the woman from the tape. They are very concerned about her mental health. Their worry grows after they finally know who she is but will Cabott and Masterson locate her?

Not Dark Yet is a gritty mystery with a topical storyline involving the trafficking of women. Zelda is a strong woman who wants to avenge the wrongs others have wrought on her. Alan is surprisingly sympathetic and unexpectedly grateful as he and Zelda eventually cross paths. Annie and Gerry are determined to find the young woman from the film and find out who murdered Roberts and Blaydon.  Peter Robinson brings this leisurely paced mystery to a surprising conclusion will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next book in the series. Old and new fans are sure to enjoy this newest addition to the DCI Banks series.

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Filed under Contemporary, DCI Banks Series, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense

Review: Careless Love by Peter Robinson

Title: Careless Love by Peter Robinson
DCI Banks Series Book 25
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

His fans include Stephen King, Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritsen, Ian Rankin, and Louise Penney. He has won acclaim and numerous international prizes and awards, including the Edgar. Now, Peter Robinson, one of the world’s greatest suspense writers, returns with a powerful mystery in which his legendary Detective Superintendent Alan Banks must solve two perplexing crimes.

Two suspicious deaths challenge DS Alan Banks and his crack investigative team.

A young local student’s body is found in an abandoned car on a lonely country road. The death looks like suicide, but there are too many open questions for Banks and his team to rule out foul play. The victim didn’t own a car. She didn’t even drive. How did she get there? Where—and when—did she die? Did someone move her, and if so, why?

A man in his sixties is found dead in a gully up on the wild moorland. He is wearing an expensive suit and carrying no identification. Postmortem findings indicate that he died from injuries sustained during a fall. Was it an accident—did he slip and fall? Or was he pushed? Why was he up there? And why are there no signs of a vehicle near where he fell?

As the inconsistencies multiply and the mysteries surrounding these two cases proliferate, a source close to Annie reveals a piece of information that shocks the team and impacts the investigations. An old enemy has returned in a new guise—a nefarious foe who will stop at nothing, not even murder, to get what he wants.

With the stakes raised, the hunt is on. But will Banks be able to find the evidence to stop him in time?

Review:

Careless Love by Peter Robinson is a perplexing police procedural about two murders that occur within the same area but are seemingly unconnected. This twenty-fifth outing in the DCI Banks series can be read as a standalone.

Detective Superintendent  Alan Banks and Detective Sergeant Winsome Jackman’s newest case involves the discovery of a young woman’s body in an abandoned car. There are no outward signs of violence but both Banks and Winsome find it very curious the woman does not have a handbag or a mobile phone. It is also quite apparent she did not die at the scene.  Who transported the young woman’s body to car? And, most important, why?

Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot and Detective Constable Gerry Masterson’s latest investigation revolves around an older man whose lifeless body has been discovered in a ravine.  His injuries are consistent with the fall but Annie and Gerry must determine whether his death might be the result of foul play. Interestingly enough, there are similarities to Banks’ latest case since the dead man has no identification or mobile phone with him.  Despite the very different causes of death, Annie and Alan cannot help but wonder if their two cases are linked.

With both of the victims now identified as university student Adrienne Munro and wealthy businessman Laurence Hadfield, Annie and Alan begin interviewing the people in their lives. Banks discovers that Adrienne has not quite been herself lately but she has not provided a reason for these changes. She is also not quite as strapped for cash as the previous year.  There does not seem to be any differences in Laurence’s life but an unexpected discovery leads to a new line of inquiry for Banks and his team.

The investigations take an interesting turn when DCI Ken Blackstone informs Banks that a murder in his jurisdiction might be of interest to him. The body of another university student has been and in this case, there is no question the victim was murdered.  She is quickly identified as Sarah Chen and Banks’ interviews turn up information that is chillingly similar to details about Adrienne’s life. Again there is no clear link between the victims, but Banks and Cabbot continue their search for the missing puzzle pieces.

Annie and Alan are also troubled to learn information about an old foe of theirs. During an evening with Annie’s father, Ray and his girlfriend, Zelda, they discover the man who tried to murder Banks has resurfaced. Unwilling to put Zelda in danger, Banks tries to convince her to stay from this very dangerous criminal but will she heed his warning?

Careless Love is a steady-paced mystery with interesting characters and a multi-layered plot. The connection between the individual cases is not immediately clear but once the pieces fall into place, the investigation quickly gathers steam. Although there are no big twists or turns,  Peter Robinson does an excellent job keeping readers guessing the truth about these very puzzling deaths. Although the main storyline is completely wrapped up, the novel ends on a cliffhanger with the secondary story arc which deals with Zelda, Banks and Cabbot and the person from their past. Readers will be impatiently awaiting the next installment in the DCI Banks series.

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Filed under Careless Love, Contemporary, DCI Banks Series, Mystery, Peter Robinson, Rated B, Review, Suspense, William Morrow