The story itself was not bad, I would say it was even an improvement on the book #25, which in my opinion was the weakest one so far. I liked the new angle and the twist to the story that I did not really see coming and I am quite intrigued about the direction of this particular narrative in the future. That being said, for the first time ever I had multiple issues with the way the characters were portrayed, especially female ones. The author made several attempts at explaining to the reader why sex trade is morally wrong (duh?) but he continued to portray all female characters in a very sexual terms, always mentioning their looks and the way they sexually aroused all the men around them. There was a scene in the high school when Banks is actually wondering what sexual fantasies schoolboys might have about his female partner. Somehow I do not think that remark was super necessary for the plot, “realistic” as it may be because all it did was change my opinion about Banks from being a perceptive, intelligent detective to a sex obsessed aging man trying to feel more macho.

Many Rivers to Cross: Robinson, Peter: 9780771072802: Books Many Rivers to Cross: Robinson, Peter: 9780771072802: Books

Set in the fictional English town of Eastvale in the Yorkshire Dales, the Inspector Banks series of crime novels has been translated into 20 languages. Known as the "master of the police procedural," Robinson's other books in the series include Many Rivers to Cross, Careless Love and Sleeping in the Ground , which won the Arthur Ellis Award in 2018 in the best novel category.Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival. I am a big fan of the Banks series mostly due to witty dialogues, interesting cases and detailed descriptions of the police procedural. The writing in this one has shifted in a way that makes me uncomfortable and I really hope that Peter Robinson reads his readers’ comments and continues to deliver an intelligent and thought-provoking books instead of confusing them with sexist messages. If not, the 27th Inspector Banks book will definitely be my last.

Standing in the Shadows: A Novel (Inspector Banks Novels, 28)

However, I was to be disappointed. I'm not sure if this is because it's the 26th novel in a series I have never read before, or whether the quality of his earlier books has declined as the number of 'Banks' novels has grown, but it was not what I was expecting from such a lauded series. Finally, I HATED the way women were written in this book. Every women is physically described, then we're told how good she is at her job despite the way she looks. This doesn't seem to happen for any of the male characters. As an example on one occasion, two police officers (one a 'coltish' female with 'pre-Raphaelite red curls', walk down a school corridor and two boys cross them, obviously agog at the officers being in the school and Banks assumes it's because they're having 'highly erotic' thoughts about the female officer. Not because she's a confident and intimidating police officer? It's old-fashioned and cringeworthy, and it really cheapens the character of Banks for me. Although there is a twist at the end, I wasn’t surprised at who the culprit/s was but nonetheless a satisfying conclusion. The Next Chapter 14:48 Peter Robinson on Many Rivers to Cross Featured VideoPeter Robinson, who has been called "the master of police procedurals" on his latest Inspector Banks mystery, Many Rivers to Cross. True enough,’ Banks said. ‘I was just thinking about that, myself. It’ll make identifying him either easy or bloody impossible. Either way, we’d better brace ourselves. I have a feeling this is going to be a big case.’

Robinson was best known for the long-running Inspector Banks crime fiction series, beginning with his first novel Gallows View in 1987, which won Robinson his first Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award, an award he would go on to win seven times for his novels and short stories. At the same time, Zelda, girlfriend of Annie Cabbot’s father Ray is conducting her own investigation in London. In Careless Love, Zelda came across as a somewhat annoying cliché. However, in this novel, as we learn more about her personal history, she becomes a much more interesting and sympathetic character. DCI Banks author Peter Robinson dies aged 72". BBC News. 7 October 2022 . Retrieved 7 October 2022.

BOOK REVIEW: ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ - Washington Times BOOK REVIEW: ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ - Washington Times

Then, in a decayed area of Eastvale scheduled for redevelopment, a heroin addict is found dead. Was this just another tragic overdose, or something darker? Their temperamental similarity to the Kray twins had been remarked on more than once, to the extent that in some quarters they were referred to as Reggie and Ronnie, though never to their faces.” The discovery of the body of a young Middle Eastern boy on the East Side Estate, found in a “wheelie bin” (large garbage can), brings Banks and his detective, Gerry, a woman with a prestigious Cambridge degree, as well as his long-time partner, Annie Cabot to the estate to investigate. The boy’s identity is unknown, but eventually they determine he was part of a drug pushing ring operating out of Leeds, that he was 12-years-old and a Syrian refugee. Subsequently, is an area of abandoned decaying houses, a wheelchair-bound man in his 60’s is found dead of an overdose. The police investigation works to determine if these are related to the Leeds drug ring. a b c d e f g Napier, Jim (14 November 2012). "Peter Robinson". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada . Retrieved 7 October 2022.

Peter Robinson, the prolific British Canadian crime novelist and creator of the popular Alan Banks series of books, has died, his publisher confirmed on Friday. The Toronto-based Robinson died on Oct. 4, 2022 after a brief illness at the age of 72. But certainly with age — a sense of mortality and introspection — Banks becomes more philosophical too. Those are all things that happen as your life circumstances change." Meanwhile, on a totally unrelated note, in the last novel in the series, readers were introduced to a beautiful young woman named Zelda who is the girlfriend of Annie Cabbot's father, Ray. Zelda is thirty years younger than Ray and Annie isn't very keen either on Zelda or on the relationship. Banks, though, is somewhat intrigued by the young woman.

Peter Robinson dead at age 72 British Canadian crime novelist Peter Robinson dead at age 72

A well paced, and enjoyable read, I would of loved to have Zelda’s story go on longer, the ending was left open no doubt that will be in store for the next book that I’m now looking forward to! I was looking forward to this book. I usually really like Peter Robinson's Alan Banks series but this one was a disappointment. It was full of the politics of the remainer kind. The detectives were showing their politically correct colours with ongoing sneering at any character right of the centre. I have crossed off Louise Penny and Ann Cleeves from must read list. Is this the one to follow? Police inaction on minor crime was mentioned with reliance on citizens to do their own policing. The wholesale discounting of the grooming gangs in those Northern cities mentioned was disappointing.What Banks doesn’t know is that Zelda witnessed Keane talking to Mr Hawkins, her boss at the NCA. Zelda has a preternatural ability to recognize and remember faces: she’s positive in her ID. Zelda’s old friend Mati also has a horrific history of abuse and cruelty at the hands of ruthless men: she doesn’t understand Zelda’s reluctance to speak up. a b c Stephenson, Hannah (11 July 2018). "Crime in the blood: creator of DCI Banks comes home". The Yorkshire Post. p.15. ISSN 0963-1496.