Books by Peter Robinson

Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong.’ - Stephen King.Innocent Graves is the eighth novel in Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, following on from Dry Bones That Dream.A murdered girl. Dark Secrets. Deadlier lies.One foggy night, Deborah Harrison is found lying in the churchyard behind St Mary’s, Eastvale. She has been strangled with the strap of her own school satchel.But Deborah was no typical sixteen-year-old. Her father was a powerful financier who moved in the highest echelons of industry, defence and classified information. And Deborah, it seemed, enjoyed keeping secrets of her own . . .With his colleague Detective Constable Susan Gay, Inspector Alan Banks encounters many suspects, guilty of crimes large and small, in his search for the killer. And as he does so, plenty of sordid secrets and some lethal lies begin to emerge . . .The Inspector Banks series became the British ITV drama DCI Banks. Innocent Graves is followed by the ninth book in this Yorkshire-based crime series, Dead Right.Trade ReviewAn expert plotter with an eye for telling detail * New York Times *If you haven't caught up with Peter Robinson already, now is the time to start * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe twenty-fifth instalment of the Number One Bestselling DCI Banks series''The master of the police procedural.'' Mail on Sunday''Robinson is prolific, but with each book he manages to ring the changes.'' Guardian*****The body of a young local student is found on a lonely country road. Initially the evidence points to suicide, yet she didn''t own a car and she didn''t even drive. So how did she get there, where did she die and who moved her?Meanwhile, a man in his sixties is found dead in a gully up on the nearby wild moorland. He is carrying no identification. The post-mortem indicates that he died from injuries sustained during the fall, but what was he doing up there? And why are there no signs of a car in the vicinity?As the trail gets colder, Annie''s father''s new partner, Zelda, alerts Banks and Annie to the return of an old and dangerous eneTrade ReviewPraise for Careless Love * : *This is vintage Banks - a dogged search for truth which never once loses its grip on its hero's intuition and charm. * Daily Mail *Robinson remains the master of the police procedural. * Mail on Sunday *Robinson is prolific, but with each book he manages to ring the changes. * Guardian *Banks' slow but dogged pursuit of murderers and his meditations on the past make him a figure readers feel they know intimately and trust implicitly and, despite moments of darkness, the series' warmth makes you feel all's right with the world. * S Magazine *A fast-paced and ingenious story * On Yorkshire Magazine *His novels track the changing nature of crime, taking on difficult subjects such as gangs of men who groom underage girls, and the new book tackles the contentious subject of widening inequality. * Sunday Times *Robinson has a unique knack of revealing to the layman the painstaking and ingenious ways in which the numerous experts who work for the police can wheedle out the most infinitesimal clues surrounding a suspicious death * On Yorkshire Magazine *Praise for the DCI Banks series * : *The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong. -- Stephen KingPeter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin; perhaps PIECE OF MY HEART, the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, will give him the status he deserves, near, perhaps even at the top of the British crime writers' league * The Times *Robinson also has a way of undercutting the genre's familiarity. With a deceptively unspectacular language, he sets about the process of unsettling the reader * Independent *Top-notch police procedure -- Jeffery Deaver

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Number One bestsellerThe new Sunday Times Number One bestselling DCI Banks book by Peter Robinson has the team investigating two highly contemporary crimes - each echoing and illuminating the other.

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Book SynopsisThis time it is personal - Banks is investigating the murder of one of his own.Detective Inspector Bill Quinn is killed by a crossbow in the tranquil grounds of a police rehabilitation centre, and compromising photos are found in his room. DCI Banks, brought in to investigate, is assailed on all sides.By Joanna Passero, the Professional Standards inspector who insists on shadowing the investigation in case of police corruption.By his own conviction that a policeman shouldn''t be deemed guilty without evidence.By Annie Cabbot, back at work after six months'' recuperation, and beset by her own doubts and demons.And by an English girl who disappeared in Estonia six years ago, who seems to hold the secret at the heart of this case . . .The final novel in the DCI Banks series, STANDING IN THE SHADOWS, is available now.Trade ReviewPeter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin; perhaps PIECE OF MY HEART, the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, will give him the status he deserves, near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league * Marcel Berlins, The Times *Brilliant! . . . Gut-wrenching plotting, alongside heart-wrenching portraits of the characters who populate his world, not to mention the top-notch police procedure. * Jeffery Deaver *Classic Robinson: a labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *Robinson also has a way of undercutting the genre's familiarity. With a deceptively unspectacular language, he sets about the process of unsettling the reader * Independent *

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Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong’ – Stephen KingFrom the master of police procedural and bestselling author of Standing in the Shadows comes Dry Bones That Dream, book seven in Peter Robinson’s the Inspector Banks series.A contract killing. A secret past. Banks is pushed to his limit.2.47 a.m. Chief Inspector Alan Banks sees the body of Keith Rothwell for the first time. Only hours earlier two masked men had walked the mild-mannered accountant out of his farmhouse to the barn. They then clinically executed him with a shotgun.Clearly this is a professional hit – but Keith was hardly the sort of person to make deadly enemies. Or was he? The police investigation soon raises more questions than answers.The more Banks scratches the surface, the more he wonders what lies beneath the veneer of the apparently happy Rothwell family. And when his old sparring partner Detective Superintendent Richard Burgess arrives from Scotland Yard, the case takes yet another unexpected twist . . .Now a major British ITV drama DCI Banks, this novel is followed by the eighth book in this Yorkshire-based crime series, Innocent Graves.Trade ReviewRobinson excels in the depiction of character . . . He is steadily ascending toward the pinnacles of crime fiction * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA terrible crime. No obvious motive.Banks is on the case.''Top-notch police procedure'' - Jeffery DeaverA shocking mass murder occurs at a wedding in a small Dales church and a huge manhunt follows. Eventually, the shooter is run to ground and things take their inevitable course.But Banks is plagued with doubts as to exactly what happened outside the church that day, and why. Struggling with the death of his first serious girlfriend and the return of profiler Jenny Fuller into his life, Banks feels the need to dig deeper into the murders, and as he does so, he uncovers forensic and psychological puzzles that lead him to the past secrets that might just provide the answers he is looking for. When the surprising truth becomes clear, it is almost too late.Trade ReviewThe Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong. * Stephen King *Top-notch police procedure * Jeffery Deaver *A mighty force to be reckoned with in crime fiction * Publisher's Weekly *Peter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin; perhaps PIECE OF MY HEART, the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, will give him the status he deserves, near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league. * The Times *Classic Robinson: labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *Long may Peter Robinson keep writing these books! I envy anyone who has not yet discovered this series * Breakaway Reviews *Robinson's interrogations, many of them conducted in pubs, have the rare quality of steadily illuminating and thickening both the speakers and their subjects. The result is a slow-burning intensity that deepens from beginning to end * Kirkus Reviews *Robinson also has a way of undercutting the genre's familiarity. With a deceptively unspectacular language, he sets about the process of unsettling the reader. * Independent *A canon that is on the way to rivalling Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot . . . Superbly textured, this dark story reveals that Banks is growing even more suspicious and melancholy as he grows older - which makes him even more captivating. * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis'A writer at the very height of his powers' – Ian RankinPlaying With Fire is the fourteenth novel in Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, following on from The Summer That Never Was.In the early hours of a cold January morning, two narrowboats catch fire on a dead-end stretch of the Eastvale canal. When signs of accelerant are found at the scene, DCI Banks and DI Annie Cabbot are summoned. But by the time they arrive, only the smouldering wreckage is left, and human remains have been found on both boats.The evidence points towards a deliberate attack. But who was the intended victim? Was it Tina, the sixteen-year-old who had been living a drug-fuelled existence with her boyfriend? Or was it Tom, the mysterious, lonely artist?As Banks makes his enquiries, it appears that a number of people are acting suspiciously: the interfering 'lock-keeper', Tina's cold-hearted stepfather, the wily local art dealer, even Tina's boyfriend . . .Then the arsonist strikes again, and Banks's powers of investigation are tested to the limit . . .The Inspector Banks books became the major British ITV crime drama DCI Banks. Continue the series with Strange Affair.Trade ReviewThe Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong. -- The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong. -- Stephen KingNear, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league * The Times *An award-winning writer with ideas that are imaginative and plots that are refreshingly cliché-free * Time Out *Robinson also has a way of undercutting the genre's familiarity. With a deceptively unspectacular language, he sets about the process of unsettling the reader. * Independent *A writer at the very height of his powers -- Ian Rankin

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Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong’ Stephen KingFrom the master of police procedural and bestselling author of Standing in the Shadows comes Past Reason Hated, book five in Peter Robinson’s the Inspector Banks series.A BRUTAL KILLING. NUMEROUS SUSPECTS. BANKS MUST UNCOVER THE TRUTH.It should have been a cosy scene – log fire, sheepskin rug, Vivaldi on the stereo, Christmas lights and tree. But appearances can be deceptive. For Caroline Hartley, lying quietly on the couch, has been brutally murdered.Inspector Alan Banks is called to the grim scene. And he soon has more suspects than he ever imagined. As he delves into her past, he realizes that for Caroline, secrecy was a way of life, and her death is no different. His ensuing investigation is full of hidden passions and desperate violence . . .Past Reason Hated is followed by Wednesday’s Child in the Inspector Banks series.

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Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong.’ – Stephen King.From the master of police procedural and bestselling author of Standing in the Shadows comes A Necessary End, book three in Peter Robinson’s the Inspector Banks series.Peace destroyed. Lives in ruin. Banks must race to find the killer . . .Everyday life in Eastvale is shattered when a policeman is stabbed to death after an anti-nuclear demonstration turns violent. Superintendent ‘Dirty Dick’ Burgess, Banks’s nemesis, descends with vengeful fury on those he deems responsible.Inspector Banks is uneasy about Burgess's mishandling of the case, but despite being warned off he puts his career in jeopardy to continue his search for the truth, knowing if he is to keep his job, he must beat Burgess to the killer . . .Now a major British ITV drama DCI Banks, this novel is followed by the fourth book in this Yorkshire-based crime series, The Hanging Valley.Trade ReviewInspector Banks – a man for all seasons, he knows that often the answers to the clues he seeks are hidden in his own heart -- Michael ConnellyAn award-winning writer with ideas that are imaginative and plots that are refreshingly cliché-free * Time Out *If you haven't caught up with Peter Robinson already, now is the time to start * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisA fantastic crime collection, including a brand-new Inspector Banks novella, from Number One bestseller Peter RobinsonWhen DCI Alan Banks arrived in Eastvale his life was every bit as much of a mess as it is now. But he is holding an envelope that could change everything he understood about the events that sent him north twenty years ago. Walking again the narrow alleys and backstreets of his mind, he remembers the seedy Soho nights of his last case - dubious businessmen in dodgy clubs, young girls on the game. And a killer on the loose.In addition to the brand new novella that fills in the gaps in Banks''s life before Yorkshire, Peter Robinson gives us ten more brilliant and eclectic stories that have never before been published in the UK.The Eastvale Ladies'' Poker Circle finds that murder may be just another game of risk. Is a suitcase of cash worth a man''s head on a plate? And tragedy leads a young boy to learn the price of love . . .Trade ReviewOutstanding . . . one of the best voices in contemporary fiction * Publishers Weekly *After 18 tales of the fiendishly good DCI Alan Banks, the bestselling author delves into his leading man's past * Shortlist *The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are, simply put, the best series on the market * Stephen King *Robinson once again puts his skills to work in a police procedural that grips like pliers * Independent on Sunday *'A must for Robinson completists, of course, but also for anyone who appreciates good stories well told.' * Globe and Mail, Canada *'Peter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin . . . [he deserves a place] near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league' * The Times *A police procedural that grips like pliers * Independent on Sunday on FRIEND OF THE DEVIL *

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Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong’ - Stephen King.From the master of police procedural and bestselling author of Standing in the Shadows comes A Dedicated Man, book two in Peter Robinson’s the Inspector Banks series.A dead body. Hidden secrets. Banks will find the truth.The brutally murdered body of a supposedly well-liked local historian is found half-buried under a dry stone wall. But who would kill such a thoughtful, dedicated man?Young Sally Lumb, locked in her lover's arms on the night of the murder, tries to find the killer herself. But her good-intentions only leads to more danger. And when Chief Inspector Alan Banks is called to investigate and soon discovers that disturbing secrets lie behind the seemingly untroubled façade . . .A Dedicated Man is followed in the gripping Inspector Banks crime series by A Necessary End.Trade ReviewThe novels of Peter Robinson are chilling, evocative, deeply nuanced works of art -- Dennis LehaneIf you haven't encountered Chief Inspector Alan Banks before, prepare for a crash course in taut, clean writing and subtle psychology. And watch for those twists - they'll get you every time -- Ian RankinInspector Banks - a man for all seasons, he knows that often the answers to the clues are hidden in his own heart -- Michael Connelly

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Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong’ – Stephen KingFrom the master of police procedural and bestselling author of Standing in the Shadows comes The Hanging Valley, book four in Peter Robinson’s the Inspector Banks series.TWO MURDERS. A MISSING PERSON. A VILLAGE WITH A TERRIBLE SECRET.A faceless corpse is found in a tranquil, hidden valley below the village of Swainshead, the victim’s identity deliberately obscured. And when Chief Inspector Alan Banks arrives, he finds that no-one is willing to talk. Banks's frustration only grows when he suspects his latest case might be connected with an unsolved murder and a missing local woman, which occurred in the same area five years ago.Among the silent suspects are the Collier brothers, the wealthiest and most powerful family in the area. When they start using their influence to slow down the investigation, Banks finds himself in a race against time . . .The Hanging Valley is followed by Past Reason Hated in the Inspector Banks series.Trade ReviewThe novels of Peter Robinson are chilling, evocative, deeply nuanced works of art -- Dennis LehaneIf you haven't caught up with Peter Robinson already, now is the time to start * Independent on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I’m wrong’ - Stephen KingFrom the master of police procedural and bestselling author of Standing in the Shadows comes Gallows View, the first book in Peter Robinson’s the Inspector Banks series.New Town. New Cases. New Danger . . .Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks has recently relocated with his family from stressful London to the Yorkshire Dales, but soon finds that life in the countryside is not quite as idyllic as he had imagined.Three cases come to the fore: a voyeur is terrorizing the women of Eastvale; two thugs are breaking into homes; and an old woman is dead, possibly murdered. As the tension mounts, Banks must also deal with his attraction to a young psychologist, Jenny Fuller – and when both Jenny and Banks’s wife are drawn deeper into events, Banks realizes that his cases are weaving closer and closer together . . .Gallows View is followed by A Dedicated Man in the DCI Banks series.'If you haven’t encountered Chief Inspector Alan Banks before, prepare for a crash course in taut, clean writing and subtle psychology. And watch for those twists – they’ll get you every time' - Ian Rankin, author of A Game Called MaliceTrade ReviewIf you haven’t encountered Chief Inspector Alan Banks before, prepare for a crash course in taut, clean writing and subtle psychology. And watch for those twists – they’ll get you every time -- Ian RankinThe novels of Peter Robinson are chilling, evocative, deeply nuanced works of art -- Dennis LehanePeter Robinson is a master -- Tess GerritsenAn author with amazing empathy, a snare trap ear for dialogue and a clear eye for the telling detail -- Michael ConnellyPeter Robinson’s first, and extremely well-fashioned, police procedural. An expert plotter with an eye for telling detail, Mr. Robinson can also make acute social observations * New York Times Book Review *

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Book Synopsis'Move over Ian Rankin - there's a new gunslinger in town looking to take over your role as top British police procedural author...' Independent on SundayFollowing on from Playing With Fire, Strange Affair is the fifteenth novel in Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, which inspired the major British ITV drama DCI Banks.When Alan Banks receives a disturbing message from his brother, Roy, he abandons the peaceful Yorkshire Dales to seek him out amidst the bright lights of London. But Roy seems to have vanished into thin air.Meanwhile, DI Annie Cabbot is called to a quiet stretch of road just outside Eastvale, where a young woman has been found dead in her car. In the victim’s pocket, scribbled on a slip of paper, police discover Banks’s name and address.Living in Roy's empty South Kensington house, Banks finds himself digging into the life of the brother he never really knew, nor even liked. And as he begins to uncover a few troubling surprises, the two cases become sinisterly entwined . . .'The Banks novels are, simply put, the best series now on the market' - Stephen KingTrade ReviewThe Banks novels are, simply put, the best series now on the market -- Stephen KingInspector Banks is a man for all seasons. -- Michael ConnellyThrilling - brilliantly plotted, beautifully paced -- Louise PennyExemplary * New York Times Book Review *Exquisite * USA Today *

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Book Synopsis‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong’ – Stephen King, author of It and The ShiningFrom the master of police procedural and bestselling author of Standing in the Shadows comes Wednesday's Child, book six in Peter Robinson’s Inspector Banks series.When two social workers, investigating reports of child abuse, appear at Brenda Scupham's door, her fear of authority leads her to comply meekly with their requests. Even when they say that they must take her seven-year old daughter Gemma away for tests. It is only when they fail to return Gemma the following day that Brenda realizes something has gone terribly wrong.At the same time, Banks is investigating a particularly unpleasant murder at the site of an abandoned mine. Gradually, the leads in the two cases converge, guiding Banks to one of the most truly terrifying criminals he will ever meet . . .Wednesday's Child is followed by the seventh book in this Yorkshire-based crime series, Dry Bones That Dream.

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Book SynopsisPeter Robinson is author of twenty-four books in the Number One Bestselling DCI Banks series as well as two collections of short stories and three standalone novels, including the Number One bestseller Before The Poison. Peter's critically acclaimed crime novels have won numerous awards in Britain, the United States, Canada and Europe, and are published in translation all over the world.Peter's DCI Banks was a major ITV1 drama by Left Bank productions. Stephen Tompkinson (Wild at Heart, Ballykissangel) plays Inspector Banks, and Andrea Lowe (The Bill, Murphy's Law) plays DI Annie Cabbot.Peter's standalone novel Before the Poison won the IMBA's 2013 Dilys Award as well as the 2012 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel by the Crime Writers of Canada. This was Peter's sixth Arthur Ellis award.Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire, and lived between Richmond and Canada. He died in October 2022.

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Book SynopsisPublished in the UK as Caedmon’s Song, this is a gripping standalone thriller from New York Times bestselling author Peter Robinson.On a balmy June night, Kirsten, a young university student, is strolling home through a silent moonlit park when she is viciously attacked.When she awakens in the hospital, she has no recollection of that brutal night. But then slowly, painfully, details reveal themselves—dreams of two figures, one white and one black, hovering over her; snatches of a strange and haunting song; the unfamiliar texture of a rough and deadly hand . . .In another part of the country, Martha Browne arrives in a Yorkshire seaside town, posing as an author doing research for a book. But her research is of a particularly macabre variety. Who is she hunting with such deadly determination? And why?The First Cut is a vivid and compelling psychological thriller, from the author of the critically acclaimed Inspector

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Peter Robinson’s Chief Inspector Alan Banks must turn to a murder committed in the 1960s in order to solve a present-day homicide as he races to uncover their common link.1969 . . . In an era of free love and rebellion, a dead body is discovered among the detritus of a recently concluded rock festival—a beautiful young woman stabbed so savagely through the chest that a piece of her heart was sliced off.Now . . . A freelance journalist, a stranger to the region, is savagely bludgeoned to death in a shocking act of violence with no apparent motive.Two murders separated by four decades are investigated by two very different but equally haunted investigators—one, a casualty of war unable to come to terms with a confusing new world; the other, a rogue policeman harboring ghosts of his own. But the truth behind a grisly present-day slaying may somehow be hidden in the amplified, drug-induced fog of a notorio

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Book Synopsis“Robinson is an author with amazing empathy, a snare-trap ear for dialogue, and a clear eye for the telling detail.”—Michael ConnellyOne 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 Superintendent 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; i

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Book SynopsisOne of the finest police procedural writers around... [Standing in the Shadows] is as narratively rich and surprising as Robinson''s best work. Knowing it''s his last makes the reading bittersweet.  — New York Times Book ReviewThe 28th twisting installment in the DCI Alan Banks mystery series that Stephen King calls “the best now on the market.” In November 1980, Nick Hartley returns home from a university lecture to find his house crawling with police. His ex-girlfriend, Alice Poole, has been found murdered, and her new boyfriend Mark Woodcroft is missing. Nick is the prime suspect. The case quickly goes cold, but Nick cannot let it go. He embarks on a career in investigative journalism, determined to find Alice’s murderer—but his obsession leads him down a dangerous path.Decades later, in Novem

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Book SynopsisOne of the finest police procedural writers around... [Standing in the Shadows] is as narratively rich and surprising as Robinson''s best work. Knowing it''s his last makes the reading bittersweet.  — New York Times Book ReviewThe 28th twisting installment in the DCI Alan Banks mystery series that Stephen King calls “the best now on the market.” In November 1980, Nick Hartley returns home from a university lecture to find his house crawling with police. His ex-girlfriend, Alice Poole, has been found murdered, and her new boyfriend Mark Woodcroft is missing. Nick is the prime suspect. The case quickly goes cold, but Nick cannot let it go. He embarks on a career in investigative journalism, determined to find Alice’s murderer—but his obsession leads him down a dangerous path.Decades later, in Novem

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Book SynopsisBanks isn''t back, and that''s the problem.If DCI Alan Banks had been in his office when his old neighbour came calling, perhaps it would have turned out differently.Perhaps an innocent man would still be alive.And perhaps Banks''s daughter wouldn''t be on the run with a wanted man.But Banks is on holiday, blissfully unaware of the terrible chain of events set in motion by the discovery of a loaded gun in a young woman''s bedroom, and his daughter''s involvement with the ultimate bad boy . . .Trade ReviewIt's neither the setting nor even the characters that makes Robinson's work so satisfying, but the plottning of Swiss-watch precision * Independent *Superbly cinematic from the beginning to the explosive finale, this would be a thrilling movie * Joesph Wambaugh *Riveting * The Times *Brilliant! . . . Gut-wrenching plotting, alongside heart-wrenching portraits of the characters who populate his world, not to mention the top-notch police procedure * Jeffery Deaver *'Brilliant! . . . Gut-wrenching plotting, alongside heart-wrenching portraits of the characters who populate his world, not to mention the top-notch police procedure.' * Jeffery Deaver *'Superbly cinematic from the beginning to the explosive finale, this would be a thrilling movie.' * Joseph Wambaugh *'Riveting' * Marcel Berlins, The Times *'A masterclass in the organisation of narrative' * Barry Forshaw, Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe complete manual to gardening with rock and water, from planning the design and construction to planting schemes and fish care.

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Book SynopsisExplore a nostalgic and lavishly illustrated look back at the history of bus and coach travel in the UK.

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Book SynopsisPublished in partnership with the company, this illustrated book celebrates 50 years of National Express.

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated tour of some of the most significant Cold War locations still in existence today, and what they tell us about Britain's Cold War history.

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Book SynopsisA celebration of tourism in Britain over the last 150 years. Offers new perspectives on popular knowledge and looks at the way that the visitors of yesteryear have shaped and influenced todayâs tourist experiences.

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Book SynopsisThe Number One bestseller and winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Besy NovelAfter years of Hollywood success composer Chris Lowndes wanted only one thing: to take his beloved wife home to the Yorkshire Dales.But Laura is gone, and Chris is on his own.He welcomes the isolation of Kilnsgate House, and the beauty of the dale. And it doesn''t surprise him that a man died there, sixty years ago.That his wife was convicted of murder.That something is pulling him deeper and deeper into the story of Grace Elizabeth Fox, who was hanged by the neck until she was dead . . .Trade ReviewIf Robinson is to turn out one-off novels as assured as this perhaps we wouldn't mind too much if Alan Banks was to retire and take up beekeeping in Sussex. * Barry Forshaw, Daily Express *With this stand-alone novel, Mr. Robinson - best-known for his award-winning Inspector Banks mystery series - has fashioned a gripping tale that brings to mind not only old-time Hollywood but also British "golden age" storytelling in the Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier tradition * Wall Street Journal *With adept professionalism, Robinson brings to the reader a story that is tantalisingly unravelled like a poisoned present . . . a haunting, moving tale that will get you thinking days after the last word has been read * crimesquad.com *A gripping tale of guilt and self-sacrifice, it will haunt you to the final page - and beyond * Bella *Most admirers of Robinson will find themselves utterly involved in this haunting, textured mystery . . . If Robinson is to turn out one-off novels as assured as this perhaps we wouldn't mind too much if Alan Banks was to retire and take up beekeeping in Sussex * Barry Forshaw, Daily Express *Robinson outdoes Daphne du Maurier in creating the proper atmosphere for the imaginative fancies of a grief-stricken man * New York Times *'Together with a stunning landscape, vibrant characters and an evocative story, Robinson has created a highly intelligent and well-crafted standalone novel . . . Gripping stuff and highly recommended.' * www.milorambles.com *With adept professionalism, Robinson brings to the reader a story that is tantalisingly unravelled like a poisoned present . . . a haunting, moving tale that will get you thinking days after the last word has been read. * crimesquad.com *'A gripping tale of guilt and self-sacrifice, it will haunt you to the final page - and beyond.' * Bella *'Peter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin; perhaps PIECE OF MY HEART, the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, will give him the status he deserves, near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league' * Marcel Berlins, The Times *'Brilliant! . . . Gut-wrenching plotting, alongside heart-wrenching portraits of the characters who populate his world, not to mention the top-notch police procedure.' * Jeffery Deaver *

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Book SynopsisThe twenty-first novel in Number One bestselling author Peter Robinson''s critically acclaimed DCI Banks series.Ex-college lecturer Gavin Miller is found dead; his distorted body strewn across a disused railway track near his home. There''s no sign of a struggle, and no concrete evidence except for one distinguishing package: 5,000 of cash, tucked inside the man''s pocket. But when DCI Banks delves into Miller''s past, he uncovers a troubled existence tarnished by accusations of abuse and misconduct which throws up an array of puzzling questions.What really occurred at the college where the victim used to teach?How was he embroiled in political activism at Essex University, over forty years ago?And what links him to an upstanding pillar of the community, who also harbours a dark secret from her past?One thing is clear: someone will stop at nothing - even murder - to prevent Banks from discovering the truth . . .Trade ReviewThe Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are, simply put, the best series on the market * Stephen King *Robinson's gift for realistic characterisation is matched by an authentically realised sense of place; landscape is a crucial element in his work * Good Book Guide *A wonderful, well-written plot with a great twist and strong characters . . . a page-turning read * Woman's Way *Peter Robinson deserves a place near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league * The Times *A wonderful, well-written plot with a great twist and strong characters and there's even romance on the cards for Banks too. A page-turning read for both fans of Robinson and Banks and readers who really enjoy a good crime-thriller. * Woman's Way *Classic Robinson: a labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *Brilliant! . . . Gut-wrenching plotting, alongside heart-wrenching portraits of the characters who populate his world, not to mention the top-notch police procedure. -- Jeffery DeaverDetective Chief Inspector Banks, the artsy and melancholic Yorkshire detective, and his snarky sidekick, Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot, are consistently fun to watch . . . As usual with a Banks novel, the chief inspector's frictions with higher-ups are nearly as gripping as the unraveling of the case itself. First-rate procedural and character study . . . this is one of the series' highlights. -- Starred Review * Booklist *Robinson's gift for realistic characterisation is matched by an authentically realised sense of place; landscape is a crucial element in his work. The Alan Banks books have won many awards over the years including the Arthur Ellis award for best crime novel for Past Reason Hated and the Anthony Award for In a Dry Season; Children of the Revolution is a solid entry. * Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisTwo missing boys.A stolen bolt gun.One fatal shot.Three ingredients for murder.When DCI Banks and his team are called to investigate the theft of a tractor from a North Yorkshire village, they''re far from enthusiastic about what seems to be a simple case of rural crime. Then a blood stain is found in an abandoned hangar, two main suspects vanish without a trace, and events take a darkly sinister turn.As each lead does little to unravel the mystery, Banks feels like the case is coming to a dead end. Until a road accident reveals some alarming evidence, which throws the investigation to a frightening new level.Someone is trying to cover their tracks - someone with very deadly intent . . .Trade ReviewClassic Robinson: labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *Peter Robinson deserves a place near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league * The Times *A real page-turner that confirms Robinson as a master of crime fiction * Bella Magazine *As always with the excellent DCI Alan Banks novels, you can expect the story to grip you from beginning to end * Choice *[Peter Robinson deserves a place] near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league * The Times *It's neither the setting nor even the characters that makes Robinson's work so satisfying, but the plotting of Swiss-watch precision * Independent *Classic Robinson: labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *As always with the excellent DCI Alan Banks novels, you can expect the story to grip you from beginning to end. * Choice *A real page-turner that confirms Robinson as a master of crime fiction. * Bella Magazine *

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Book SynopsisAs volunteers clean up after a huge outdoor rock concert in Yorkshire in 1969, they discover the body of a young woman wrapped in a sleeping bag. She has been brutally murdered. The detective assigned to the case, Stanley Chadwick, is a hard-headed, strait-laced veteran of the Second World War. He could not have less in common with - or less regard for - young, disrespectful, long-haired hippies, smoking marijuana and listening to the pulsing sounds of rock and roll. But he has a murder to solve, and it looks as if the victim was somehow associated with the up-and-coming psychedelic pastoral band the Mad Hatters.In the present, Inspector Alan Banks is investigating the murder of a freelance music journalist who was working on a feature about the Mad Hatters for MOJO magazine. This is not the first time that the Mad Hatters, now aging rock superstars, have been brushed by tragedy. Banks finds he has to delve into the past to find out exactly what hornets'' nest the journalistTrade ReviewThe Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are, simply put, the best series on the market * Stephen King *A terrific contemporary crime novel * Independent on Sunday *Further enhances Alan Banks' reputation as one of crime fiction's most appealing cops * The Times *Classic Robinson: labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *Banks is one of the most fully drawn figures in this genre of fiction * New York Times *Peter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin . . . he deserves [a place], near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league . . . PIECE OF MY HEART brilliantly interweaves past and present, providing two strands of tension for the price of one, and further enhancing Alan Banks's reputation as one of crime fiction's most appealing cops. * The Times *PIECE OF MY HEART brilliantly evokes the time of British psychedelia (which I remember as standing in a muddy field sucking on a weak joint), as well as being a terrific contemporary crime novel. * Independent on Sunday *This book must be the bargain of the year, for it is two riveting, equally interesting crime novels in one. What takes it into the premier league, however, is Robinson's utterly convincing and moving portrayal of Chadwick and Banks' * Telegraph *Robinson has to use all his ingenuity to find the solution to both killings. This book benefits hugely from Robinson's sympathetic leading man and the richly recorded Dales settings. * Scotsman *The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are, simply put, the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong * Stephen King *Classic Robinson: labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *Banks is one of the most fully drawn figures in this genre of fiction * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisBanks isn''t back, and that''s the problem.If DCI Alan Banks had been in his office when his old neighbour came calling, perhaps it would have turned out differently.Perhaps an innocent man would still be alive.And perhaps Banks''s daughter wouldn''t be on the run with a wanted man.But Banks is on holiday, blissfully unaware of the terrible chain of events set in motion by the discovery of a loaded gun in a young woman''s bedroom, and his daughter''s involvement with the ultimate bad boy . . .Trade ReviewIt's neither the setting nor even the characters that makes Robinson's work so satisfying, but the plottning of Swiss-watch precision * Independent *Superbly cinematic from the beginning to the explosive finale, this would be a thrilling movie * Joesph Wambaugh *Riveting * The Times *Brilliant! . . . Gut-wrenching plotting, alongside heart-wrenching portraits of the characters who populate his world, not to mention the top-notch police procedure * Jeffery Deaver *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER.The twenty third instalment of the NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING DCI Banks Series. The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I''m wrong. - Stephen KingTwo young girls.Two unspeakable crimes.Fifty years separate them - their pain connects them.When the body of a 15-year-old is found in a remote countryside lane, beaten and broken, DI Annie Cabbot is brought in to investigate how the child could possibly have fallen victim to such brutality.Newly promoted Detective Superintendent Alan Banks is faced with a case that is as cold as they come. Now in her 60s, Linda Palmer was attacked aged 14 by celebrity entertainer Danny Caxton, yet the crime has never been investigated - until now.As each steps closer to uncovering the truth, they''ll unearth secrets much darkeTrade ReviewPeter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin; perhaps PIECE OF MY HEART, the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, will give him the status he deserves, near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league - The TimesRobinson also has a way of undercutting the genre's familiarity. With a deceptively unspectacular language, he sets about the process of unsettling the reader - IndependentThe Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong. - Stephen King

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Book SynopsisThe 26th instalment of the Number One bestselling series''The master of the police procedural'' Mail on Sunday''The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I''m wrong'' Stephen King***A skinny young boy is found dead - his body carelessly stuffed into wheelie bin. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks and his team are called to investigate. Who is the boy, and where did he come from? Was he discarded as rubbish, or left as a warning to someone? He looks Middle Eastern, but no one on the East Side Estate has seen him before.As the local press seize upon an illegal immigrant angle, and the national media the story of another stabbing, the police are called to investigate a less newsworthy death: a middle-aged heroin addict found dead of an overdose in another estate, scheduled for redevelopment.Banks finds the threads of each case Trade ReviewPraise for the DCI Banks series * : *Near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league. * Times *The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong. -- Stephen KingThis is vintage Banks - a dogged search for truth which never once loses its grip on its hero's intuition and charm. * Daily Mail *The master of the police procedural. * Mail on Sunday *Robinson is prolific, but with each book he manages to ring the changes. * Guardian *Banks' slow but dogged pursuit of murderers and his meditations on the past make him a figure readers feel they know intimately and trust implicitly and, despite moments of darkness, the series warmth makes you feel all's right with the world. * S Magazine *Robinson has a unique knack of revealing to the layman the painstaking and ingenious ways in which the numerous experts who work for the police can wheedle out the most infinitesimal clues surrounding a suspicious death * On Yorkshire Magazine *Robinson also has a way of undercutting the genre's familiarity. With a deceptively unspectacular language, he sets about the process of unsettling the reader. * Independent *Banks is up against people tracking, racism, drug dealing and murder, in this unfinchingly tough case. It kicks of with the discovery of a Middle Eastern boy's body stuffed in a wheelie bin and twists and shocks from there * Peterborough Telegraph *Nobody can touch Robinson when it comes to scalpel-sharp police procedurals and Many Rivers to Cross is one of his very best. * Sunderland Echo *Many Rivers To Cross is a well-written and suspenseful crime novel that will be welcomed and read by Peter Robinson's many fans, as well as newcomers to the crime series. * Washington Times *Reliable procedural entertainment from a pro's pro, with an ending that guarantees more drama ahead. * Kirkus Reviews *Many Rivers to Cross is an ultra-modern novel. It covers subjects that are brutal and pitiless, and probably not in the experience of a high percentage of its readers, but are very relevant to today's world and perhaps always have been. Robinson's subject matter for his trilogy is easy to regard as being a million miles from our experience, but nevertheless it exists, and it should not exist. Robinson's exposure in a detective book primarily meant to be read for pleasure is a brave move, but works brilliantly well. We have the horror of being involved in the loathing and bestiality of the crimes, and the joy and satisfaction when at least some of them are cornered and their reign of terror has ended. We pay homage to Banks and to Robinson for having pulled this off, and we sleep easier. I look forward to the final book in this brilliant trilogy. -- Sandra Callard * On: Yorkshire magazine *

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