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The Hanging Valley: A Novel of Suspense Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,358 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
No one dreamed something so hideous could grow in so beautiful a place... Many who visit the valley are overwhelmed by its majesty. Some wish they never had to leave. One didn't: a hiker whose decomposing corpse is discovered by an unsuspecting tourist. But this strange, incomprehensible murder is only the edge of the darkness that hovers over a small rural village and its tight-lipped residents, who guard shattering secrets of sordid pasts and private shames. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks knows that both the grim truth and a cold-blooded killer are hiding here, far from the city, the noise, and safety. And he's determined to walk into the valley of death to expose them both.
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"This is an enjoyable series that takes place in a small town in England, with lots of focus on the characters and their personal lives. I find it to be a good relaxing read (even though there's murder involved!)."
— Pam (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Evocative…intriguing…emotionally rich.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Complex and unexpected…stylish prose and lean, dramatic storytelling.”
— St. Louis Post-Dispatch -
“A superior detective…a superior writer.”
— Denver Post -
“Robinson excels in the depiction of character, especially in his portrait of his pleasingly fallible copper. He is steadily ascending toward the pinnacles of crime fiction.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Robinson renders a happy mixture of English village procedural and Canadian atmosphere…This solid, straightforward title is recommended for most fiction collections.”
— Library Journal -
Robinson excels in the depiction of character, especially in his portrait of his pleasingly fallible copper. He is steadily ascending toward the pinnacles of crime fiction.
— Publishers Weekly Starred Review
The Hanging Valley Listener Reviews
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" A mystery set in Swainshead where two men were murdered and a young woman has disappeared some years apart. The suspects were all very flawed disturbing characters. This novel was on the darker side, but again well written and plotted "
— Vionna, 2/3/2014 -
" D. A. Banks character is always enjoyable, as is picturing the setting. Plot was good but got bogged down in the middle, picked up in the end and to control myself not to read the ending first. "
— Ruth, 1/29/2014 -
" Another great book in the Inspector Banks series which keeps you wondering until the end. This book has the added bonus of a trip to Canada. Made me want to visit Yorkshire. "
— Carla, 1/18/2014 -
" As always another good Chief Inspector Banks mystery. The small town of Shwainshead is teeming with dead bodies and intrigue but never fear Chief Inspector Banks will sort it all out - eventually. "
— Carol, 1/15/2014 -
" Loved the character description and how each person had his/her special aura, even the old characters. Could have had a bit better ending though. Enjoyable, overall. "
— Jailan, 1/15/2014 -
" Another satisfying Inspector Banks mystery. The character visits Toronto in the course of the investigation and it's fun to read about known Toronto spots from a tourists point of view. I had though Robinson was Canadian but find he was born and schooled in Britain. "
— Nancy, 1/14/2014 -
" One of his earlier books. "
— Marianne, 12/25/2013 -
" Very good read. Couldn't believe the way it ended! Way to go Peter. "
— Lorraine, 12/15/2013 -
" As usual a good read from this author.These are nice gently murders not to grisly -not that I don't like grisly but makes a change.There is also no gratuitous swearing in them. "
— Pauline, 12/10/2013 -
" #4 of the Alan Banks series set in England. The story was thrilling, the murders were mounting, but the ending was unexpected. I did not like the ending. "
— Debbie, 12/2/2013 -
" Robinson is good at creating atmosphere, composition, his characters are ok, not too flat or two-dimensional. But he really isn't good at plots. This one was worse than usual. "
— Kadi, 7/5/2013 -
" I enjoyed this story from the Insp Banks series but found it a bit too descriptive in parts and it has rather an abrupt end. I like the main characters though so will keep on with the series. "
— Windy, 2/11/2013 -
" A bit slow to get started, it was only at the halfway mark that I even cared what was happening. Picked up the pace eventually, but not the greatest crime novel ever. "
— Aram, 1/4/2013 -
" Enjoyed it - been a while since I read any of the Banks' series. Also good to go back to the 80s and marvel at how much things have changed since then. "
— Louise, 11/19/2012 -
" Not bad. The "twist" (if you can call it that) is telegraphed. Reads well, but not enough characters in the book to create much suspense. Nice ending though. "
— Stephen, 10/4/2012 -
" If you like Morse and Frost you will enjoy Banks. In this outing Banks makes a journey to Canada, which made for an interesting detour. "
— Jeff, 5/28/2012 -
" Pretty good mystery with an abrupt ending. This book taught me the phrase "running around like a blue-arsed fly." I also liked the bartender's quip that the mayhem was good for business: "Aye, there's nobody drinks like a murder suspect." "
— Kirsti, 11/19/2011 -
" I found this more interesting than A Dedicated Man and A Necessary End, but I was really disappointed by the ending! Also, without giving too much away, one of the characters that Banks seems to favour and also has a soft spot for was so annoying and difficult to like! "
— Ashton, 9/4/2011 -
" I'm having a great deal of trouble deciding if I actually like these or not. I do like the Toronto bits of this one--set right near where we lived when I was a child! "
— Polly, 7/31/2011 -
" Fairly gothic for Robinson who like a stage director leaves characters and props around that you can just tell will be part of a grisly climax. The detective Banks is not so well developed as in later books in the series, but Robinson has the North Yorkshire town down to its smallest detail. "
— Susan, 6/15/2011 -
" Good mystery novel. First one of Peter Robinson's books I have read but I would read more. "
— Debbie, 6/10/2011 -
" I'm having a great deal of trouble deciding if I actually like these or not. I do like the Toronto bits of this one--set right near where we lived when I was a child! "
— Polly, 4/25/2011 -
" An Alan Banks whodunit set in Yorkshire, with a whiff of the bodice ripper. "
— Stephen, 10/21/2010 -
" Another Inspector Banks who-dunnit set in Northern England. Equal to the others in tone and plot -- worth reading if you like police procedurals. "
— Nancy, 10/13/2009 -
" #4 of the Alan Banks series set in England. The story was thrilling, the murders were mounting, but the ending was unexpected. I did not like the ending. "
— Debbie, 8/30/2009 -
" Fairly gothic for Robinson who like a stage director leaves characters and props around that you can just tell will be part of a grisly climax. The detective Banks is not so well developed as in later books in the series, but Robinson has the North Yorkshire town down to its smallest detail. "
— Susan, 3/26/2009 -
" As usual a good read from this author.These are nice gently murders not to grisly -not that I don't like grisly but makes a change.There is also no gratuitous swearing in them. "
— Sparhawk, 1/20/2009 -
" Not bad. The "twist" (if you can call it that) is telegraphed. Reads well, but not enough characters in the book to create much suspense. Nice ending though. "
— Stephen, 6/23/2008
About Peter Robinson
Peter 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.
About James Langton
James Langton, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and later as a musician at the Guildhall School in London. He has worked in radio, film, and television, also appearing in theater in England and on Broadway. He is also a professional musician who led the internationally renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1996 to 2002.