-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I swear I will never read a "series," but I got hooked on the DCI Banks mysteries on PBS this Winter and as good as they are, a film leaves out so much character and language in order to advance the plot, that I knew I had to "read." I also felt like I came in "in the middle of someone's life," because the titles that have been on tv are newer works and I had to go back to where it all began, in The Gallows View, published in 1987. In this first of many novels, Alan Banks leaves big city life in London for Yorkshire (where the author grew up, by the way) and hopes for a little peace and quiet. Instead a local "Peeping Tom," neighborhood toughs, murder and more, shake the peace of this quiet village. No more details - read and enjoy. "
- Mary, 2/20/2014
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" First book for me with this author and I loved his exacting descriptive writing and I found this book satisfying to read. "
- Lynda, 2/15/2014
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" This was pretty good, not as hooked as on some of the other english murder series characters but this was my first and I'll certainly read another. "
- Giesela1000, 2/6/2014
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" For Robinson's first Inspector Banks' novel, I found it interesting in that we still seem to be in the middle of a series. The ending was very good. "
- Rick, 2/5/2014
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Better than the previous time I read a Peter Robinson novel (which was the 10th book in the series), but still only a mediocre read. I solved everything well before Detective Inspector Banks. The story is ok, but a lot of the pages seem to be filled with fluffy hackneyed psychology. Of course, I paid for the previous book and only borrowed this from the library; that might be why I feel better about it. "
- Stewart, 1/27/2014
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" This series has gotten kudos and I decided I would track down the first in the series, published in 1987. Set in Yorkshire, Robinson shows us its grittier side, with a plethora of well-drawn characters. He's skilled at sketching out enough detail to give a picture without bogging down on lengthy descriptions. It's no wonder that he has done so well with this series. "
- Betty, 1/23/2014
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Fantastic mystery - I can see now why Peter Robinson has become such a popular author. Inspector Banks is an interesting character, with many nuances...I liked Robinson's world-building as well. Lots of detail, but none of them extraneous. "
- Teresa, 1/21/2014
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I recently picked this book up at a library book sale. it was a great read. i love the main character it was well written, can't wait to continue the series. "
- Gillian, 1/19/2014
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" pretty predictable, but enjoyable quick read "
- Loralie, 12/23/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Interesting, moved a little slow at first, but picked up later. "
- Viktoriya, 12/11/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" HUGE fan of his books! "
- Glennie, 12/6/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" First of the Inspector Banks' books. Can't wait to read the next one "
- Carla, 11/7/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" See my review for "In A Dry Season". "
- Michelle, 10/30/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" A suspenseful read. classic detective novel with lots of intrigue and plot twists. I love a book that's hard to put down. "
- Rachael, 9/28/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I found it very disappointing with poorly written dialogue, cardboard characters and far too many adjectives. "
- Mel, 6/4/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" First Robinson book I have read...will try to read them in order if they hold my interest... "
- Jared, 4/14/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Really good - just like the other 'Inspector Banks' books I've read "
- Elin, 1/10/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Has to be 5* as it was the first and got me hooked. "
- Derek, 1/7/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" What a great book. Got so excited about this as a good start to a series that I managed to nab the next 6 books from my mum to read as well. "
- Charmlessman77, 12/27/2012
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" His debut novel introducing Inspector Banks was a good mystery about peeping toms and teenagers on a stealing spree. The plot was developed at a good pace with interesting characters "
- Vionna, 12/27/2012
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Sorry to say I couldn't finish the book. It felt as though I were reading a first attempt from a teenager. The characters were very 2D, the speech was as a youngster might assume adults would speak. Not for me, this one. "
- Graham, 9/1/2012
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I'm afraid I'm going to read as many of these as I can until I'm sick of them. This one is a bit dated- strident feminists & no DNA testing but I like the Yorkshire context. "
- Gillian, 8/8/2012
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" An okay mystery, but a bit dated. It takes place in the 1980's before DNA is being used for evidence purposes. Interesting play between 3 sets of crimes in the same small English town and all they all tie together in the end. Read for a book club and will probably not read more by this author. "
- Lee, 12/14/2011
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Only my second crime novel but I am quickly becoming a crime novel fanatic. As I've only read a few I can't really rate it in comparison to other books of it's kind but I enjoyed it at a level four. "
- Joseph, 9/14/2011
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Has to be 5* as it was the first and got me hooked.
"
- Derek, 4/13/2011
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I gave up on this book. Too seedy for my taste and I don't have the stomach for stories about crimes against women. Frankly there wasn't anyone in this book that I cared about, not even Inspector Banks. I'll give one of the later books a try and see if the series improves any.
"
- Lee, 4/11/2011
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" An average police detective mystery with a fair amount of nasty stuff happening. I probably won't read any more by this author. I did like revisiting feminism in the eighties.
"
- Laura, 1/4/2011
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I found it very disappointing with poorly written dialogue, cardboard characters and far too many adjectives.
"
- Mel, 11/24/2010
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" This is a fun new author for me.
"
- Leslie, 8/12/2010
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Recommended by Partners in Crime book store in NYC. I was looking for first crime novels in a series. Lots of fun. I thought it was good, and they insisted that he gets 'much better' throughout the series.
"
- Susan2010, 7/26/2010
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I have wanted to read this series, so I started with the first one, on audio. Enjoyed it and will continue with others.
"
- Christy, 7/21/2010
> Hide All