Aftermath: An Inspector Banks Novel - Softcover

The mystery novels of Peter Robinson (Aftermath is his 12th) have only increased with power and intelligence. It's a dirty little secret of the crime-fiction genre that many of its writers simply spin their wheels, repeating a successful formula and hoping, if not assuming, that their fans won't notice. Writers like Robinson, however, actually seem to grow in front of our eyes, delivering books of greater complexity each time. His previous two books, Cold Is the Grave and In a Dry Season, were equally novels of character and novels of crime and Aftermath is no exception.

Like recent books by fellow English writers Reginald Hill, Val McDermid and Stephen Booth, Aftermath centres upon a grim case in which attractive young girls have disappeared, victims of a cunning psychotic killer whose identity is well concealed behind a façade of respectability. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks of the Yorkshire Police is in charge of the case, but he's also got unavoidable personal distractions. His estranged wife is pregnant by her lover and wants the divorce he's been dragging his heels over.

There is nothing cosy about the kind of English mysteries written by Peter Robinson, even if they do take place in picturesque rural villages. He's not afraid of gore, deviance, violence or any of the baser emotions and it's a raw old world behind the hedgerows and cottage walls. If Aftermath is your first taste of his tough-tender sensibility, it won't be surprising if you are soon hooked on the work of one of today's most accomplished practitioners of detective fiction. --Otto Penzler

"The novels of Peter Robinson are chilling, evocative, deeply nuanced works of art."--Dennis Lehane

"A devilishly good plotter...[Robinson's] characterizations are so subtle that even the psychological profiler is stumped."--New York Times Book Review

"Engrossing...seamlessly plotted."--Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Robinson's last two Banks books have been winners...and so is AFTERMATH."--Orlando Sentinel

"[A] splendid series."--The San Diego Union Tribune

"Robinson spins and intricate web...an excellent crime novel."--Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

"A shocking suspense story that gives the reader a glimpse of the darker side of life."--Dallas Morning News

"Highly textured."--Tampa Tribune

"Mystery-mongering at once as sensitive and grandly-scaled as P.D. James."--Kirkus Reviews (*Starred Review*)

"A proven master...Robinson should find a large audience for this gripping, psychologically astute tale."--Publishers Weekly (*Starred Review*)

"This multi-layered novel puts Robinson firmly in the upper-echelon of British mystery writers."--Library Journal

"One of today's most accomplished practitioners of detective fiction."--Otto Penzler

"Seamlessly plotted...The tenacious, thoughtful Banks is even fresher than when Robinson began this series..."--Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Aftermath casts [a] spell... Robinson continues to stretch the boundaries of the standard procedural."--Orlando Sentinel

"Highly textured... Banks is a multidimensional figure struggling to cope with his private demons while directing murder investigations."--Tampa Tribune

The novels of Peter Robinson are chilling, evocative, deeply nuanced works of art. --Dennis Lehane"

A devilishly good plotter...[Robinson s] characterizations are so subtle that even the psychological profiler is stumped. --New York Times Book Review"

Engrossing...seamlessly plotted. --Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel"

Robinson s last two Banks books have been winners...and so is AFTERMATH. --Orlando Sentinel"

[A] splendid series. --The San Diego Union Tribune"

Robinson spins and intricate web...an excellent crime novel. --Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel"

A shocking suspense story that gives the reader a glimpse of the darker side of life. --Dallas Morning News"

Highly textured. --Tampa Tribune"

Mystery-mongering at once as sensitive and grandly-scaled as P.D. James. --Kirkus Reviews (*Starred Review*)"

A proven master...Robinson should find a large audience for this gripping, psychologically astute tale. --Publishers Weekly (*Starred Review*)"

This multi-layered novel puts Robinson firmly in the upper-echelon of British mystery writers. --Library Journal"

One of today s most accomplished practitioners of detective fiction. --Otto Penzler"

Seamlessly plotted...The tenacious, thoughtful Banks is even fresher than when Robinson began this series... --Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel"

Highly textured... Banks is a multidimensional figure struggling to cope with his private demons while directing murder investigations. --Tampa Tribune"

Aftermath casts [a] spell... Robinson continues to stretch the boundaries of the standard procedural. --Orlando Sentinel"

A winner....Returning to the world of Alan Banks is, as always, a pleasure. --Boston Globe"

"A winner....Returning to the world of Alan Banks is, as always, a pleasure."--Boston Globe

-The novels of Peter Robinson are chilling, evocative, deeply nuanced works of art.---Dennis Lehane

-A devilishly good plotter...[Robinson's] characterizations are so subtle that even the psychological profiler is stumped.---New York Times Book Review

-Engrossing...seamlessly plotted.---Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

-Robinson's last two Banks books have been winners...and so is AFTERMATH.---Orlando Sentinel

-[A] splendid series.---The San Diego Union Tribune

-A winner....Returning to the world of Alan Banks is, as always, a pleasure.---Boston Globe

-Robinson spins and intricate web...an excellent crime novel.---Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

-A shocking suspense story that gives the reader a glimpse of the darker side of life.---Dallas Morning News

-Highly textured.---Tampa Tribune

-Mystery-mongering at once as sensitive and grandly-scaled as P.D. James.---Kirkus Reviews (*Starred Review*)

-A proven master...Robinson should find a large audience for this gripping, psychologically astute tale.---Publishers Weekly (*Starred Review*)

-This multi-layered novel puts Robinson firmly in the upper-echelon of British mystery writers.---Library Journal

-One of today's most accomplished practitioners of detective fiction.---Otto Penzler

-Seamlessly plotted...The tenacious, thoughtful Banks is even fresher than when Robinson began this series...---Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

-Aftermath casts [a] spell... Robinson continues to stretch the boundaries of the standard procedural.---Orlando Sentinel

-Highly textured... Banks is a multidimensional figure struggling to cope with his private demons while directing murder investigations.---Tampa Tribune