DCI Banks: The first three novels

Inspector Banks #1-3

by Peter Robinson

The first three DCI Banks novels: Gallows View, A Dedicated Man and A Necessary End

Discover Detective Chief Inspector's first three cases, when he moves to the Yorkshire Dales from London to escape the stress of the metropolis, but soon finds that life in the country is not quite as idyllic as he had imagined . . .

In Gallows View, the people of Eastvale are frightened. Two glue-sniffing thugs are breaking into homes. An old woman may or may not have been murdered. In addition, Banks has to deal with his attraction to a young psychologist Jenny Fuller. As the tension mounts, both Jenny and Banks's wife are drawn deeper into events, and disturbing secrets lie behind the apparently bucolic facade.

In A Dedicated Man, the body of well-liked local historian Harry Steadman is found half-buried under a drystone wall. But who would want to kill such a thoughtful, dedicated man? DCI Banks soon discovers that disturbing secrets lie behind the apparently bucolic façade.

And in A Necessary End, a simmering tension in the town of Eastvale has now reached breaking point. An anti-nuclear demonstration has ended in violence, leaving one policeman stabbed to death. Though he is warned off the case, Banks realizes that the only way he can salvage his career is finding the killer first.

Genres: Crime

919 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Peter Robinson was born in Yorkshire. After getting his BA Honours Degree in English Literature at the University of Leeds, he came to Canada and took his MA in English and Creative Writing at the University of Windsor, with Joyce Carol Oates as his tutor, then a PhD in English at York University. He has taught at a number of Toronto community colleges and universities and served as Writer-in-Residence at the University of Windsor, 1992-93.

Series:
* Inspector Banks

Awards:
* Winner of the 1992 Ellis Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 1997 Ellis Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 2000 Anthony Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 2000 Barry Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 2001 Ellis Award for Best Novel.

Reviews

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My new favorite mystery writer. I've read a number in this series, out of order, and have now. Gone back to fill in the gaps.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2...the tv show is watchable ergo the books are too....like reading the scripts for the next show. The English just do this genre so well....imagine all those murders in those quiet villages. Easy writing makes for ideal vacation reading

[Alan Whitlam · Rating 5 out of 5]

All good reads

[Carolyn Yardley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read keeps you guessing and gripped throughout

[Lee Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first 3 Banks compilation

[Phil Aldis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in thd series. Interesting to meet all the characters and see how their relationships start.

[Ms Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

page turner

Good way to start getting to know Banks- nothing like the tv character. Much more enjoyable and full of suspense.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed all three books and looking forward to reading more from this very talented author.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sharp, methodical mystery from Canadian writer Peter Robinson. This is the first mystery featuring English cop Alan Banks…who has subsequently become a continuing character of Robinson’s. Set in Yorkshire, Banks recently made the move from London to the North of England…and is still getting used to small-town ways. Robinson does a great job of setting Banks up as a character we want to get to know better. We feel comfortable with this man and like him…because he’s human. He has flaws, bad habits and is not always Super Cop. This book deals with two crimes…one involving a peeping tom and one a murder. Robinson does a great job of letting Banks unfold both cases. A superb mystery with a fascinating new police character!

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Banks is a great character. Not as down and out as Rankin's Rebus, but still a bit of an outsider. The descriptions of Yorkshire countryside are excellent, as are the pub life :) The tales have you guessing and keep you engaged. Especially the last one, A Necessary End, as you don't know the answer until, literally, the end.

[Debbie Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

July 6/22 - Finished reading Gallows View (book #1) for the 2nd time.
July 15/22 - Finished reading A Dedicated Man (book #2) for the 2nd time.
July 24/22 - Finished reading A Necessary End (book #3) for the 2nd time.

[Tom]

Insp. Banks #1, 2, 3