New York Times bestselling and Edgar award-winning author Peter Robinson—a riveting double homicide leaves two seasoned detectives baffled as they race against the clock before more corpses surface.
Two murders . . . two towns . . .
A woman sits in a wheelchair perched on a cliff high above the sea, her throat slit from ear to ear . . .
In a maze of narrow alleys behind a market square, a teenaged girl has been murdered after a night of drunken revelries with her friends.
The seemingly senseless Cliffside killing falls to Inspector Annie Cabbot, on loan to a local police department. The terrible death of young Hayley Daniels becomes Chief Inspector Alan Banks's investigation. But shattering revelations threaten to awaken the slumbering demons of earlier, darker times, and more blood is in the offing when the two cases brutally and unexpectedly collide.
Friend of the Devil is a chilling, brilliant, and utterly mesmerizing novel of suspense.
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"Loved this book; reminded me of Elizabeth George's writing in that the large cast of characters are so well-developed, you feel as if you know them at the book's end. The mystery takes place in Yorkshire and is evocative of the place; the dialogue is spot-on and believable. "
— Kstewart5362 (4 out of 5 stars)
“Banks and Cabbot are flawed but empathetic heroes, and readers will be on the edge of their seats as the two explore not only the depths of human depravity but also their own murky relationship.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Bestselling author Robinson once again engages readers with the thoughtful characterizations that make his novels unique…Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal“As usual with Robinson, the characters are beautifully drawn, the frequent conflicts sharply etched.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Simon Prebble is an astounding narrator of dialogue…Clever plot, excellent narration.”
— AudioFile" I enjoyed the book except for the obnoxious “suspenseful” music thrown in by the publisher. Dear lord I hope they don’t try and do it again. Inspecter Banks is NOT Sam Spade thank goodness. "
— Ann wilson, 4/5/2019" Cozy read....same characters and case returns within new....in fact, if one had not read these in order I wonder how it would read..... "
— Sharon, 2/20/2014" I usually enjoy reading mysteries that involve the same detective - in this case Inspector Banks. However, in this book there were too many characters and cases happening simulanteously that I found it confusing. The cases were intertwined but it lost me along the way. "
— Jane, 2/15/2014" Another great read by this author. This is a really good series. "
— Pauline, 2/7/2014" A follow-up to another in this series. Dark, grim. For the reader who has already read several in the Banks series. "
— Jenny, 1/30/2014" as always Robinson delivers - why UK writers seem so good writing interestinjg characters in mystery books is beyond me but Robinson, Rankin just do it every book "
— Jim, 1/21/2014" Powerful story of man's inhumanity to fellow man. Robinson writes in a manner that makes you not want to put down the book and not want the story to end. with this series he can continue until Banks can go no more. Must read more by him. "
— Agnes, 1/20/2014" I am going to read more of this author. I enjoy the English murder mysteries. Very good with the characters. I could see the murdered lady in the wheelchair on the cliff. Did the young policeman have to die? "
— Joann, 1/1/2014" I enjoy Peter Robinson's mysteries, but this was too gory for my taste. "
— Nancye, 1/1/2014" Really enjoyed another Banks and Cabot story. I love watching them grow and change as the books go by. Not as suspenseful as some others in the series, but good police work. Also love the "Britishisms" and to track down some of Banks' music. "
— Karen, 12/19/2013" Seems to be standard now to have two inquiries going on but so far it has worked and I enjoyed it. "
— David, 12/6/2013" Robinson's latest thriller in paperback, it seems rushed and ill-conceived. There are too many coincidences, too many pat answers, too simple a conclusion. I was not satisfied and I hope for better from Robinson's next novel. "
— Allie, 7/6/2013" Another one I thoroughly enjoyed, I am really into the Inspector Banks books, so far haven't thought a lot to the TV version of the stories but they might get better. "
— Barbara, 3/6/2013" I've been a fan of the Inspector Banks mysteries, but was disappointed in this one. Too much concentration on repeating the gruesome details of the crimes. Heavy emphasis on personal issues of both Banks and Cabbot, I thought. Disappointing. "
— Suzanne, 12/21/2012" Excellent although I had seen series on TV last year. "
— Jill, 11/11/2012" A woman in a wheelchair killed and left at the edge of a cliff ties in with a murdered young woman in an isolated town where the two murders seem to have no links. "
— Kitty, 12/20/2011" The DCI banks series are quality mysteries. I'm enjoying them all. "
— Ann, 6/2/2011" Really good. I likesd this book a lot, especially because of the prominence in it of Annie Cabot, a longtime peripheral character who is more center stage here. "
— Bart, 5/2/2011" The first paragraph of the book is driving me crazy! I have to figure out who the girl is and what happened to her! "
— Christina, 3/1/2011" I've read others by this author that I enjoyed more. This one felt disjointed; I kept thinking I may be reading a sequel since he kept referring to events from a past case. There was no indication of that, though. It just didn't hold together well. "
— Pat, 2/20/2011" <br/>I was very disappointed with this book. I was looking forward to another great Inspector Book mystery. I only read half of the book. I found it wordy. The book had two story lines and by the middle of the book I didn't care who the murderers were. "
— Bertha, 1/4/2011" I enjoyed the book and the characters. Robinson had me wanting to read more and having lots of crimes solving going on, you had to keep up. "
— Cheryle, 12/24/2010" A woman in a wheelchair killed and left at the edge of a cliff ties in with a murdered young woman in an isolated town where the two murders seem to have no links. "
— Kitty, 11/19/2010" Another one I thoroughly enjoyed, I am really into the Inspector Banks books, so far haven't thought a lot to the TV version of the stories but they might get better. "
— Barbara, 10/26/2010" Really good. I likesd this book a lot, especially because of the prominence in it of Annie Cabot, a longtime peripheral character who is more center stage here. "
— Bart, 10/11/2010" Recommended by a friend. Liked it very much. My first by this author, but probably not my last. I don't think I could do several of his in a row, but for interesting pageturning with little or no slowing down, it was well worth it. "
— Darren, 10/4/2010" The first paragraph of the book is driving me crazy! I have to figure out who the girl is and what happened to her! "
— Christina, 9/15/2010" I am going to read more of this author. I enjoy the English murder mysteries. Very good with the characters. I could see the murdered lady in the wheelchair on the cliff. Did the young policeman have to die? "
— Joann, 9/5/2010" Wrap=up from a previous grisly case. Hope Banks finds a new woman. "
— Marianne, 5/10/2010" I've been a fan of the Inspector Banks mysteries, but was disappointed in this one. Too much concentration on repeating the gruesome details of the crimes. Heavy emphasis on personal issues of both Banks and Cabbot, I thought. Disappointing. "
— Suzanne, 5/1/2010" Detective Banks tries to solve the murder of a young woman, and Annie looks for the killer of a quadriplegic. The cases eventually come together, while Annie and Detective Banks try to sort out their relationship. Great story, and the reader is terrific. "
— Pat, 4/16/2010" A little difficult because it takes place in England, but once you get used to the different language, it's actually a pretty good book "
— Paula, 2/24/2010Peter Robinson (1950-2022), author of the award-winning Inspector Banks novels, won the Anthony, Barry, Macavity, Martin Beck, and Arthur Ellis awards, among others. The Inspector Banks novels have been named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a New York Times Notable Book, and a People magazine Page Turner of the Week. His novels have reached #1 on the London Sunday Times bestsellers list and hit the New York Times expanded list of bestsellers.
Simon Prebble, a British-born performer, is a stage and television actor and veteran narrator of some three hundred audiobooks. As one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices, he has received thirty-seven Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie in 2010. He lives in New York.