A Necessary End: An Inspector Banks Mystery (Inspector Banks series Book 3)

From AudioFile James Langton's presentation makes an outstanding mystery even better. When a police officer is killed during a protest, suspects abound, including the aging hippies who live at a nearby commune. Langton skillfully delivers the aristocratic accent of a stuffy member of Parliament, distinctive Yorkshire speech, and even a Cockney accent. Best of all is his portrayal of the relationship between Inspector Banks and his direct opposite, Burgess, who's called in from London to assist with the complex investigation. Suspicion builds as a cop and some of the community's disadvantaged are scrutinized. Even non-mystery fans will enjoy this lively account of life in England today. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the audioCD edition. From Publishers Weekly Chief Inspector Alan Banks of Britain's Eastvale Regional Police reappears in another fluently written, superior mystery. In this third outing he plays good cop while Supt. Richard ("Dirty Dick") Burgess, a special investigator from London CID, plays bad cop in investigating the murder of a young constable sent to keep order at an anti-nuclear demonstration. "A full-blown riot in Eastvale, admittedly, on a small scale, was near unthinkable," Banks muses. It's a drowsy town of 14,000 that time has passed by, yet a murderer--one of the demonstrators--undeniably has struck with a flick-knife (switchblade). Dirty Dick, a notorious stud and heavy drinker, roars into town, convinced that Bolshies and terrorists have killed PCsic Gill. A user of terror tactics himself, he's intent on making a collar even if the evidence must be bent. He brushes off Banks's suggestions that the demonstration may have been used as cover for a grudge killing. In a story that uses considerable psychological subtlety in exploring the afterlives of '60s flower children, Banks traces the crime to its roots in the past. Toronto author Robinson ( Gallows View ; A Dedicated Man ) has created a stalwart cop in Alan Banks, a man who loves justice and understands a woman's heart. Mystery Guild alternate; paperback rights to Avon . Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the audioCD edition. “An exceptional series.”—Washington Post A peaceful demonstration in the town of Eastvale ends with fifty arrests—and the brutal stabbing death of a young constable. But Chief Inspector Alan Banks fears there is worse violence to come. For CID Superintendent Richard Burgess has arrived from London to take charge of the investigation, fueled by professional outrage and volatile, long-simmering hatreds. Crossing Burgess could cost the Chief Inspector his career. But the killing of a flawed Eastvale policeman is not the only murder that needs to be solved here. And if Banks doesn’t unmask the true assassin, his superior’s misguided obsession might well result in further bloodshed. A masterful novel of suspense, A Necessary End demonstrates how our weaknesses can lead to deadly consequences. “A rich, multi-layered book, elegantly written and carefully plotted.”— Virginian Pilot and Ledger-Star “Watch out for those twists—they’ll get you every time.”—Ian Rankin --This text refers to the audioCD edition. From The Washington Post "An exceptional series." --This text refers to the audioCD edition. 'The novels of Peter Robinson are chilling, evocative, deeply nuanced works of art' Dennis Lehane; 'Another fluently written, superior mystery... Robinson has created a stalwart cop in Alan Banks, a man who loves justice and understands a woman's heart.' Publishers Weekly --This text refers to the audioCD edition. From Library Journal The author of A Dedicated Man ( LJ 7/91) returns with another fine traditional English mystery featuring Inspector Banks.Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the audioCD edition. Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire but now lives in Canada. His Inspector Banks series has won numerous awards in the US, Britain and Canada. --This text refers to the audioCD edition. From Kirkus Reviews When the crowd recedes from an anti-nuke rally in quiet Eastvale, crowd-controlling P.C. Edwin Gill lies dead. Chief Inspector Alan Banks (A Dedicated Man, p. 698, etc.), left alone for two weeks while his wife and children visit her ailing father, has to deal not only with the mystery of who stabbed bullying P.C. Gill--the knife is swiftly traced to Maggie's Farm, home to mellow, aging radical Seth Cotton and a pick-up commune including, among others, gentle Mara Delacey and troubled Paul Boyd--but with the problems of fending off the usual pangs of lust for psychologist Jenny Fuller (now involved with Dennis Osmond, another suspect), and dealing with officious, womanizing Supt. Richard (``Dirty Dick'') Burgess, a Scotland Yard interloper who won't stick at anything for fast results. Alan smokes, drinks, frets, and otherwise behaves like an increasingly attractive human being en route to a denouement right out of Ruth Rendell's second drawer. Fans of British procedurals should get to know this appealing series. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the audioCD edition. 'The novels of Peter Robinson are chilling, evocative, deeply nuanced works of art' Dennis Lehane; 'Another fluently written, superior mystery... Robinson has created a stalwart cop in Alan Banks, a man who loves justice and understands a woman's heart.' Publishers Weekly --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Read more