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Inspector Banks #1
Gallows View
"A Peeping Tom is frightening the women of Eastvale; two glue-sniffing young thugs are breaking into homes and robbing people; an old woman may or may not have been murdered. Investigating these cases is Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, a perceptive, curious and compassionate policeman recently moved to the Yorkshire Dales from London to escape the stress of city life. In addition to all this, Banks has to deal with the local feminists and his attraction to a young psychologist, Jenny Fuller. As the tension mounts, both Jenny and Banks’s wife, Sandra, are drawn deeper into the events. The cases weave together as the story reaches a tense and surprising climax."--Author's website.
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First published August 27, 1987
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About the author
Peter Robinson
276 books2,277 followersLibrarian 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,188 reviews
February 7, 2018
This is a series I have wanted to try for a very long time. It’s a series with staying power; it still attracts a significant number of loyal readers despite its long run of 24 (so far) books over a 30-year period. Gallows View is first in the series and was published in 1987. The book left me with mixed, though mainly positive, feelings.
First, the not so good things. The novel, though a fast read as it is on the shorter side, did take some time to engage me. I wasn’t dying to pick it up in my spare time. It didn’t help that my previous read had me glued to the pages and was one of the very best books I have ever read. Secondly, Mr. Robinson’s writing style is okay, but nothing special. In addition, a fair number of characters are introduced in the first few chapters, and I had to work to keep them straight (I read a paperback version so no life-saving search button). Finally, throughout much of the book I thought DCI Banks and his police colleagues were a rather bland group of fellows who were written without much personal depth.
On the other hand, there were some major redeeming factors. The plot is very good. Banks, who had moved to a small British village (Eastvale) to escape the unrelenting stress of London crime, is actually juggling three baffling cases at once. He is trying to solve a series of breakins, a Peeping Tom case, and a possible murder. Though I figured out the voyeurism case fairly quickly, I was impressed by how the author adeptly weaved these three cases together, which culminated in an entertaining and satisfying climax. Furthermore, by the end of the book I was starting to get a better feel for DCI Banks and Sergeant Hatchley. I have to think they will be fleshed out further as the series progresses. I also really liked the secondary characters of Sandra Banks (Alan’s wife) and Jenny Fuller (psychologist). Last, but not least, I absolutely loved the detailed map of the fictional village of Eastvale at the front of the book. I referred to this map at least 20 times to follow the story around town. I wish all crime novels came with a map.
Overall, I think Gallows View shows promise. I will definitely continue on with the series as I would like to see how Mr. Robinson matured as a writer with hopes that he really developed his characters and came up with even better plots. I suspect he has been successful as, after all, 30 years later, he is still going strong!
First, the not so good things. The novel, though a fast read as it is on the shorter side, did take some time to engage me. I wasn’t dying to pick it up in my spare time. It didn’t help that my previous read had me glued to the pages and was one of the very best books I have ever read. Secondly, Mr. Robinson’s writing style is okay, but nothing special. In addition, a fair number of characters are introduced in the first few chapters, and I had to work to keep them straight (I read a paperback version so no life-saving search button). Finally, throughout much of the book I thought DCI Banks and his police colleagues were a rather bland group of fellows who were written without much personal depth.
On the other hand, there were some major redeeming factors. The plot is very good. Banks, who had moved to a small British village (Eastvale) to escape the unrelenting stress of London crime, is actually juggling three baffling cases at once. He is trying to solve a series of breakins, a Peeping Tom case, and a possible murder. Though I figured out the voyeurism case fairly quickly, I was impressed by how the author adeptly weaved these three cases together, which culminated in an entertaining and satisfying climax. Furthermore, by the end of the book I was starting to get a better feel for DCI Banks and Sergeant Hatchley. I have to think they will be fleshed out further as the series progresses. I also really liked the secondary characters of Sandra Banks (Alan’s wife) and Jenny Fuller (psychologist). Last, but not least, I absolutely loved the detailed map of the fictional village of Eastvale at the front of the book. I referred to this map at least 20 times to follow the story around town. I wish all crime novels came with a map.
Overall, I think Gallows View shows promise. I will definitely continue on with the series as I would like to see how Mr. Robinson matured as a writer with hopes that he really developed his characters and came up with even better plots. I suspect he has been successful as, after all, 30 years later, he is still going strong!
November 13, 2016
Gallows View is the first novel in the popular Inspector Banks series by British author Peter Robinson. Banks, has recently moved from the high-crime city of London to Yorkshire, a sleepy little town, where crime is not particularly common and the residents have until now felt safe. He is happily married to Sandra, has two kids, and is very dedicated to his job and works long hours. Sandra has outside interests, and is presently taking photography classes, so Banks’ long hours don’t seem to present a problem. In this novel there are several things happening: 1. A Peeping Tom is targeting blonde attractive women, including Banks’ wife, but leaves no evidence and has made it very difficult to catch him; 2. Burglaries are being committed all over town, primarily aimed at elderly victims; and 3. An elderly woman has been murdered in her home.
A very attractive female psychologist, Jenny Fuller, has been called in to help with the investigation of the Peeping Tom. Although she is a well-respected and first-rate psychologist, she is primarily chosen because she is a woman, due to the fact that there is a woman’s group in the town that has accused the police department of putting the investigation on the back burner because the crime is only committed against women. In order to profile the stalker, Banks and Fuller find it necessary to meet often, and they generally meet in pubs over drinks.
Since Banks is the Chief Inspector, he has his hands full trying to solve the three sets of crimes. He is, however, an excellent investigator, and with hard work and a quick mind, finally solves the crimes in the end.
The setting for this novel is very English, which gives it a sort of charm that is missing from some mainstream suspense/thriller novels. The characters are just run-of-the-mill people and are very believable – no superheroes here with superhuman strength; no out-of-the-ordinary evil murderous villains or serial killers just waiting to pounce on the next victim; no graphic violence. Robinson’s writing style is easy to follow and the book flows without any inconsistencies. There are several suspenseful moments in the book, and the ending is a totally unexpected surprise. This book is definitely recommended for those who enjoy well-written police procedural thrillers. Like me, once you finish this one, you’ll want to immediately pick up the next novel in the Inspector Banks series and sit down to an afternoon of good reading.
October 18, 2016
First published in 1987, this is the novel that introduced Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. Banks is a former London policeman who relocated to Yorkshire, assuming that the pace of life and the crime rate would both be slower. That may be the case, but he quickly discovers that there's more than enough crime to keep him busy, even out here in the hinterlands. This is a good thing, of course; otherwise there would be no point in writing or reading about his adventures. The series has now reached twenty-three books, with the latest published this year. A lot has changed over that period for Banks, but he's never wanted for mysteries to unravel and criminals to pursue.
When we first meet him, Banks is apparently somewhere in his early to mid-thirties. He's happily married and has two children who are nearing their teens. He's a solid, dedicated husband, father and policeman. He's certainly not as flashy as Lucas Davenport or as complex as John Rebus, but if you were in need of a detective, he's probably just the sort of guy you'd want on the job.
In this instance, Banks faces three complex criminal cases and some personal issues as well. In the first case, an elderly woman is killed, apparently by someone she admitted to her home. It may have been a burglary gone wrong, although little seems to be missing. Unfortunately, there are few clues; there's no one with an obvious motive, and there are apparently no witnesses.
Additionally, a Peeping Tom is spying on local women. He seems to prefer shapely blondes and apparently wants them to know that he has been watching them. Several outraged and frightened women have reported the guy, but no one's gotten a good look at him and he's gotten away cleanly every time, at least thus far.
Finally, someone, or maybe two someones, are burglarizing houses. They apparently know when people are going to be away from home and what sort of valuables they might have. It's all very frustrating, both for the victims and for the police, but at least initially, the burglars have been careful and clever enough to leave no clues pointing in their direction.
Banks must juggle all these cases and pressure is building for solutions in each. In an effort to catch the Peeping Tom, the police bring in a psychologist to consult with Banks and develop a profile of the peeper. The psychologist turns out the be a young, intelligent and very sexy woman. Although happily married, Banks is strongly attracted to her and his feelings are obviously reciprocated, which may wind up causing problems on the home front.
This novel moves at its own, relatively quiet pace. There's not a great deal of violence and it's not one of those thrillers that grabs you by the throat and won't let go. Still, it has attractions of its own. Banks is an interesting protagonist and as a detective he's probably perfectly suited for the job he's taken. It's fun to watch him at work and, twenty-three books down the road, fans of the series still look forward to the new installments. By now, it's like settling in with a familiar cast of characters that you look forward to meeting again once every year or so.
Over twenty-three books Banks's personal life has steadily evolved, and this is one of those series where a reader would probably be well advised to start at the beginning rather than picking up the latest installment and learning a lot of things that you might well not want to know. But for people who enjoy more realistic British mystery series, this is among the best.
When we first meet him, Banks is apparently somewhere in his early to mid-thirties. He's happily married and has two children who are nearing their teens. He's a solid, dedicated husband, father and policeman. He's certainly not as flashy as Lucas Davenport or as complex as John Rebus, but if you were in need of a detective, he's probably just the sort of guy you'd want on the job.
In this instance, Banks faces three complex criminal cases and some personal issues as well. In the first case, an elderly woman is killed, apparently by someone she admitted to her home. It may have been a burglary gone wrong, although little seems to be missing. Unfortunately, there are few clues; there's no one with an obvious motive, and there are apparently no witnesses.
Additionally, a Peeping Tom is spying on local women. He seems to prefer shapely blondes and apparently wants them to know that he has been watching them. Several outraged and frightened women have reported the guy, but no one's gotten a good look at him and he's gotten away cleanly every time, at least thus far.
Finally, someone, or maybe two someones, are burglarizing houses. They apparently know when people are going to be away from home and what sort of valuables they might have. It's all very frustrating, both for the victims and for the police, but at least initially, the burglars have been careful and clever enough to leave no clues pointing in their direction.
Banks must juggle all these cases and pressure is building for solutions in each. In an effort to catch the Peeping Tom, the police bring in a psychologist to consult with Banks and develop a profile of the peeper. The psychologist turns out the be a young, intelligent and very sexy woman. Although happily married, Banks is strongly attracted to her and his feelings are obviously reciprocated, which may wind up causing problems on the home front.
This novel moves at its own, relatively quiet pace. There's not a great deal of violence and it's not one of those thrillers that grabs you by the throat and won't let go. Still, it has attractions of its own. Banks is an interesting protagonist and as a detective he's probably perfectly suited for the job he's taken. It's fun to watch him at work and, twenty-three books down the road, fans of the series still look forward to the new installments. By now, it's like settling in with a familiar cast of characters that you look forward to meeting again once every year or so.
Over twenty-three books Banks's personal life has steadily evolved, and this is one of those series where a reader would probably be well advised to start at the beginning rather than picking up the latest installment and learning a lot of things that you might well not want to know. But for people who enjoy more realistic British mystery series, this is among the best.
October 22, 2025
Giving “I’ve got my eye on you” a more disturbing meaning!
Chief Inspector Alan Banks, CID, recently transferred from London to Eastvale, a town in the Yorkshire Dales, is no Harry Bosch or Harry Rebus. But then Eastvale isn’t New York City, London or Edinburgh either. Alan Banks is a real man with real characteristics – he loves opera; he enjoys a jar or two of his favourite beer; he’ll even indulge in a scotch if the problem he’s considering is a little deeper or a little more pressing; he’d much rather deal with the nuts and bolts of policing and crime solving than the management issues of reprimanding one of the officers reporting to him; he worries about his marriage and his ability to withstand the temptation of a very attractive woman who’s smart and has made it clear that she is undeniably no-strings-attached available – but he’s got a good bit less in the psychological baggage department and he’s happy to be in a small town. But this small town has a couple of big city surprises in store that Banks would not have expected – an active peeping Tom, a couple of local housebreakers whose thievery is escalating to violence, not to mention the apparently motiveless murder of an elderly lady who wouldn’t hurt a fly!
GALLOWS VIEW is not a big-city police procedural or a gritty suspense thriller loaded with graphic sex and violence. But you can be assured that it certainly isn’t a turn-of-the-century cozy mystery with a drawing room “sleuth reveals all” climax either. It’s 20th century all the way and enjoyable from first page to last. The author ties up all the loose ends and weaves the disparate story lines into a single satisfying climax with a maturity that belies the fact that GALLOWS VIEW is a debut novel.
There isn’t a mystery lover out there who won’t close the last page of GALLOWS VIEW with a note-to-self to head out to the bookstore to pick up A DEDICATED MAN, #2 in the now wildly successful Inspector Banks series.
Paul Weiss
Chief Inspector Alan Banks, CID, recently transferred from London to Eastvale, a town in the Yorkshire Dales, is no Harry Bosch or Harry Rebus. But then Eastvale isn’t New York City, London or Edinburgh either. Alan Banks is a real man with real characteristics – he loves opera; he enjoys a jar or two of his favourite beer; he’ll even indulge in a scotch if the problem he’s considering is a little deeper or a little more pressing; he’d much rather deal with the nuts and bolts of policing and crime solving than the management issues of reprimanding one of the officers reporting to him; he worries about his marriage and his ability to withstand the temptation of a very attractive woman who’s smart and has made it clear that she is undeniably no-strings-attached available – but he’s got a good bit less in the psychological baggage department and he’s happy to be in a small town. But this small town has a couple of big city surprises in store that Banks would not have expected – an active peeping Tom, a couple of local housebreakers whose thievery is escalating to violence, not to mention the apparently motiveless murder of an elderly lady who wouldn’t hurt a fly!
GALLOWS VIEW is not a big-city police procedural or a gritty suspense thriller loaded with graphic sex and violence. But you can be assured that it certainly isn’t a turn-of-the-century cozy mystery with a drawing room “sleuth reveals all” climax either. It’s 20th century all the way and enjoyable from first page to last. The author ties up all the loose ends and weaves the disparate story lines into a single satisfying climax with a maturity that belies the fact that GALLOWS VIEW is a debut novel.
There isn’t a mystery lover out there who won’t close the last page of GALLOWS VIEW with a note-to-self to head out to the bookstore to pick up A DEDICATED MAN, #2 in the now wildly successful Inspector Banks series.
Paul Weiss
August 17, 2020
This hardcover book was published in 1990 by Scribner and is the 1st Edition. First American Edition of this book.
A police procedural, ”In Gallows View” , The First 'Inspector Banks' Mystery by Peter Robinson, the Former London policeman Alan Banks has relocated to Yorkshire, where Peter Robinson actually grew up, and is seeking some small measure of peace. But depravity and violence are not unique to large cities. His new venue, the quaint little village of Eastvale, has more than its fair share of reprobates, among them a brazen Peeping Tom who hides in night's shadows spying on attractive, unsuspecting ladies as they prepare for bed. And when an elderly woman is found brutally slain in her home, Chief Inspector Banks wonders if the voyeur has increased the intensity of his criminal activities. But whether related or not, perverse local acts and murderous ones are combining to profoundly touch Banks's suddenly vulnerable personal life, forcing a dedicated law officer to make hard choices he'd dearly hoped would never be necessary.
A police procedural, ”In Gallows View” , The First 'Inspector Banks' Mystery by Peter Robinson, the Former London policeman Alan Banks has relocated to Yorkshire, where Peter Robinson actually grew up, and is seeking some small measure of peace. But depravity and violence are not unique to large cities. His new venue, the quaint little village of Eastvale, has more than its fair share of reprobates, among them a brazen Peeping Tom who hides in night's shadows spying on attractive, unsuspecting ladies as they prepare for bed. And when an elderly woman is found brutally slain in her home, Chief Inspector Banks wonders if the voyeur has increased the intensity of his criminal activities. But whether related or not, perverse local acts and murderous ones are combining to profoundly touch Banks's suddenly vulnerable personal life, forcing a dedicated law officer to make hard choices he'd dearly hoped would never be necessary.
December 30, 2022
I only just found out about the death of Peter Robinson last October. Very sad. I remember enjoying the Inspector Banks TV shows in the eighties very much indeed and suddenly felt like reading the books behind it.
Gallows View is a great start. Alan Banks has recently transferred, with his wife Sandra, to a small town in the Yorkshire Dales in order to escape the stress of policing in London. His cases in this book begin small with a peeping tom and some incidents of homes being broken in to. Things escalate when an old lady dies apparently as a result of a break in.
There are personal issues too. Alan and Sandra have a steady marriage but it is threatened when a psychologist is called in to aid in the search for the peeping tom. This turns out to be Jenny Fuller, a very attractive young woman, and there is an immediate spark between her and Banks.
Of course I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the mentions of various Yorkshire towns which I used to know well from when I lived there. The pace was steady, the writing was good and the mystery interesting and well wrapped by the end. Very well worth reading and I plan to continue with the series.
Gallows View is a great start. Alan Banks has recently transferred, with his wife Sandra, to a small town in the Yorkshire Dales in order to escape the stress of policing in London. His cases in this book begin small with a peeping tom and some incidents of homes being broken in to. Things escalate when an old lady dies apparently as a result of a break in.
There are personal issues too. Alan and Sandra have a steady marriage but it is threatened when a psychologist is called in to aid in the search for the peeping tom. This turns out to be Jenny Fuller, a very attractive young woman, and there is an immediate spark between her and Banks.
Of course I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the mentions of various Yorkshire towns which I used to know well from when I lived there. The pace was steady, the writing was good and the mystery interesting and well wrapped by the end. Very well worth reading and I plan to continue with the series.
Read
September 5, 2025DNF at 30%
I usually love a good British mystery series and this seemed to have great potential except for one tiny “it’s me, not him” problem…. Boredom set in and then I lost interest and read nearly two other books before deciding to move on.
Le sigh.
(Reviewed 3/19/23)
I usually love a good British mystery series and this seemed to have great potential except for one tiny “it’s me, not him” problem…. Boredom set in and then I lost interest and read nearly two other books before deciding to move on.
Le sigh.
(Reviewed 3/19/23)
April 20, 2018
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks was doing everything he could to find and capture the peeping Tom who was terrorizing young women in Eastvale, but his frustrations were mounting. Added to that were burglars who were preying on the elderly women of the area – and then an elderly woman was killed in her home and it was ransacked.
Had the peeping Tom escalated? Or had the burglars been carried away and killed by accident? The police force brought in a psychologist to help, but even that didn’t seem to mount to anything. Until the day Banks’ wife was targeted – Sandra Banks loved photography and her class once a week was something she enjoyed.
Would Inspector Banks get to the bottom of the crimes that seemed to be rife in the area? Were they connected – or separate crimes? The more he found out; the deeper he went – the more danger there was…
Gallows View is my first by author Peter Robinson and won’t be my last! The first in the Inspector Banks series, the tension and pace is electric. Racing to the conclusion, there was no way I could put it down! Everything came together beautifully, and I was left with a feeling of profound satisfaction at finishing an excellent crime/mystery novel. Highly recommended.
Had the peeping Tom escalated? Or had the burglars been carried away and killed by accident? The police force brought in a psychologist to help, but even that didn’t seem to mount to anything. Until the day Banks’ wife was targeted – Sandra Banks loved photography and her class once a week was something she enjoyed.
Would Inspector Banks get to the bottom of the crimes that seemed to be rife in the area? Were they connected – or separate crimes? The more he found out; the deeper he went – the more danger there was…
Gallows View is my first by author Peter Robinson and won’t be my last! The first in the Inspector Banks series, the tension and pace is electric. Racing to the conclusion, there was no way I could put it down! Everything came together beautifully, and I was left with a feeling of profound satisfaction at finishing an excellent crime/mystery novel. Highly recommended.
November 4, 2015
I really enjoyed this one. It reminded me a lot of the Martin Beck series by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahloo.
The characters are well developed. Banks is a very respectable man with good values and morals and his wife, Sandra, is really easy going. This was an enjoyable read and I found myself always wanting to get back to reading it. It wasn't particularly suspenseful until the end, but the book moved at a good pace. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
The characters are well developed. Banks is a very respectable man with good values and morals and his wife, Sandra, is really easy going. This was an enjoyable read and I found myself always wanting to get back to reading it. It wasn't particularly suspenseful until the end, but the book moved at a good pace. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
January 1, 2010
A trusted friend recommended Peter Robinson's books so I started at the beginning, anticipating the pleasure of a long series to follow. The only explanation I can find for my profound disappointment is that this is a first novel. It certainly reads like one - clichéd in characters and language, with dialogue that would sound at home in The Archers.
Too many adjectives thrown in for effect and never mind the contradictions. On one page the Superintendent is "rubbing a hairy hand over his red, pockmarked face." On the next he has "guileless blue eyes as disconcerting as a newborn baby's." Possible perhaps, but does that really sound like the same man? Similarly, the Inspector's blonde wife at one point "raises her dark eyebrows."
And then there is Inspector Banks whose "character" is largely based on his being an opera lover because he once caught a TV performance of The Magic Flute. We are told his enthusiasms embrace Monteverdi's Orfeo, Berg's Lulu, Britten's Peter Grimes, Puccini's Tosca and Madama Butterfly as well as Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress. Eclectic tastes for a man who drives home accompanied by "the delightful melodies of The Magic Flute." Monteverdi to Berg argues a broad musical interest - yet he is puzzled when he is told that a piece he is listening to is Bruch's Violin Concerto! Could anyone be so opera-centric as not to have heard a piece that was virtually Classic FM's signature tune?
Even the title is fraudulent. Why Gallow's View? Simply because a street in the Yorkshire town where the story unfolds has that name. Why it is called Gallows View is never explained.
Too many adjectives thrown in for effect and never mind the contradictions. On one page the Superintendent is "rubbing a hairy hand over his red, pockmarked face." On the next he has "guileless blue eyes as disconcerting as a newborn baby's." Possible perhaps, but does that really sound like the same man? Similarly, the Inspector's blonde wife at one point "raises her dark eyebrows."
And then there is Inspector Banks whose "character" is largely based on his being an opera lover because he once caught a TV performance of The Magic Flute. We are told his enthusiasms embrace Monteverdi's Orfeo, Berg's Lulu, Britten's Peter Grimes, Puccini's Tosca and Madama Butterfly as well as Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress. Eclectic tastes for a man who drives home accompanied by "the delightful melodies of The Magic Flute." Monteverdi to Berg argues a broad musical interest - yet he is puzzled when he is told that a piece he is listening to is Bruch's Violin Concerto! Could anyone be so opera-centric as not to have heard a piece that was virtually Classic FM's signature tune?
Even the title is fraudulent. Why Gallow's View? Simply because a street in the Yorkshire town where the story unfolds has that name. Why it is called Gallows View is never explained.
April 24, 2017
So, I brought two books with me to England for fun reading: Wuthering Heights and this book, Gallows View by Peter Robinson. Wuthering Heights didn’t do it for me and I finally tossed it aside in disgust while on a catamaran traveling between destinations. I couldn’t decide which was causing my headache and nausea: the rolling of the boat or the crazy nonsense of Emily Brontë’s characters. I didn’t enjoy Gallows View much more, but managed to finish it; it’s crappy, but at least readable crap.
Alan Banks is a former London police officer who settled in a small village in Yorkshire to enjoy a quieter, more relaxed life with his wife and two children. However, it’s soon apparent that he’s going to be busier than he wished. His village of Eastvale has three ongoing investigations: the murder of an elderly woman, a peeping tom, and a series of small burglaries. He suspects they may be connected, but needs more evidence. While leading these investigations, Banks also has to deal with local villagers’ complaints about the conduct of his officers and overcome his growing attraction to an attractive psychologist brought in to consult on the peeping tom case.
This book was published in 1987, so the 80s flashbacks are awesome. Banks listens to cassettes of opera on his Walkman. Tee hee. While reading, I kept thinking: a cell phone/computer/GPS would really be helpful to both the police and the bad guys. Also, later, when the police are trying to track the movements of a suspect and can’t find him, it’s weird because the UK is covered by CCTV now. Plus, you can be tracked through the usage of your Oyster card and maybe even via your train tickets. It was freaky being in 21st century York while reading a 20th century book situated in the same area. The only other aspect of the novel I enjoyed was my newly acquired familiarity with York. When a suspect takes a trip to York, Robinson describes his journey through town: “He walked along the wall, passed the railway station, then crossed the Ouse over Lendal Bridge by the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey and the Yorkshire Museum…Just after opening time, he found a pub on Stonegate” (233). I read this, squealing with delight because I knew right where the character was and had visited those places (the museum is fascinating and the gardens are beautiful) and crossed the Lendal Bridge several times during my stay in York. One other passage in the book is delightful; Banks’s children are arguing about the age of a local castle and the boy says it’s “ancient” because it has dungeons and the stone is falling to ruin. His sister argues that it probably dates only from the twelfth century (because it’s built from stone), and everyone knows that’s not ancient at all. That’s so charming; an English child turning up her nose at castle that’s a few thousand years old—that’s not old to her! Whereas, as an American, I get excited seeing an 18th century chair that Benjamin Franklin may have sat on—that’s ancient history!
Aside from these moments, the novel is terrible. My edition (which I could not find on Goodreads) is a Harper paperback published in 2010. The font is HUGE. Like, 20 point or something. It doesn’t say that it’s a large print copy but damn, I could read this book from 50 paces. Considering it’s barely 300 pages with the huge font, maybe the publisher wanted to make the book look longer to justify the $15 price tag? Seeing how this is the first book in the series, and the “Inspector Banks” series appears to contain many books, I’m going to hope that Robinson improved as a writer. The writing itself is clumsy and mediocre, the various criminal investigations are somewhat interesting but turn predictable and kind of stupid, and the characters are cardboard thin. Banks himself not interesting, not really likeable, but not necessarily unlikeable. The author spends way too much time describing in painful detail the opera that Banks listens to and frankly, I don’t care. It doesn’t really add anything to the story or even help make Banks a solid character; he just comes across as a guy who really likes opera for no important reason. His conversations with Dr. Jenny Fuller, the psychology professor (she’s not even a psychologist), are off-putting. She’s described as very attractive (a right “bobby-dazzler” in Yorkshire lingo) and he focuses on baiting her (“women who don’t close their curtains when undressing are asking to be spied on”) and how attracted he is to her. They spend a lot of time in pubs drinking (both enjoy Theakston’s bitter while he smokes his Benson and Hedges Special Milds sparingly—thanks for all that excessive detail) and Banks thinks how much he looks forward to seeing her and how if he slept with her, it’d probably be just fine (with him? His wife?). There’s just something too macho about the whole book, a tone that irritated me. There’s a lot of talk about “feminists” and how irritating they are, how they cause troubles for no reason. The leader of these pesky feminists is described as being very fat, ugly, homely clothes and aggressive. In contrast, the other main female characters (apparently not feminists) are all very beautiful women (Sandra, Banks’s wife; Jenny the token smart career woman; Andrea the sexy married woman getting her sex thrills with a lower-class working man). The crimes in the novel mostly target women and have a sexual component to them. They are contrasted with possible romances between characters, sex scenes between two other minor characters, and this weird will they/won’t they between Banks and Jenny. Plus the “feminists are irritating” and overall macho humor of the novel. I feel as if I should be insulted, but I can’t be sure. Either way, the author cannot write female characters. Jenny, the only career woman in the novel, comes across as flighty, giggly, indecisive, idiotic and slightly hysterical. She’s not a real woman. She’s a bundle of quirks wrapped in attractive packaging (big tits? Check. Long legs with shapely ankles? Check. Red curly hair? Check. Luscious mouth? Check, check, check.). None of the women talk like women or behave like women—they are a male author’s interpretation of women and they all fail.
I cannot recommend this book. It’s not a pleasure to read, even for the escapist quality. The author bogs down the pace of the novel with excessive details that add nothing to the novel. He also adds scenes that have absolutely no repercussions later. He apparently has not heard of that good advice to writers: if there’s a gun on the wall, eventually it needs to be fired. Scenes take place in this novel for no damn reason and then they’re just dropped. Like…okay. Well, that was weird. I hope the books improve as the series continues because the investigation in this novel is not terribly awful. Not great, but it kept me turning pages with a decent level of interest for a while, even though I have no plans to read another Inspector Banks novel.
Alan Banks is a former London police officer who settled in a small village in Yorkshire to enjoy a quieter, more relaxed life with his wife and two children. However, it’s soon apparent that he’s going to be busier than he wished. His village of Eastvale has three ongoing investigations: the murder of an elderly woman, a peeping tom, and a series of small burglaries. He suspects they may be connected, but needs more evidence. While leading these investigations, Banks also has to deal with local villagers’ complaints about the conduct of his officers and overcome his growing attraction to an attractive psychologist brought in to consult on the peeping tom case.
This book was published in 1987, so the 80s flashbacks are awesome. Banks listens to cassettes of opera on his Walkman. Tee hee. While reading, I kept thinking: a cell phone/computer/GPS would really be helpful to both the police and the bad guys. Also, later, when the police are trying to track the movements of a suspect and can’t find him, it’s weird because the UK is covered by CCTV now. Plus, you can be tracked through the usage of your Oyster card and maybe even via your train tickets. It was freaky being in 21st century York while reading a 20th century book situated in the same area. The only other aspect of the novel I enjoyed was my newly acquired familiarity with York. When a suspect takes a trip to York, Robinson describes his journey through town: “He walked along the wall, passed the railway station, then crossed the Ouse over Lendal Bridge by the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey and the Yorkshire Museum…Just after opening time, he found a pub on Stonegate” (233). I read this, squealing with delight because I knew right where the character was and had visited those places (the museum is fascinating and the gardens are beautiful) and crossed the Lendal Bridge several times during my stay in York. One other passage in the book is delightful; Banks’s children are arguing about the age of a local castle and the boy says it’s “ancient” because it has dungeons and the stone is falling to ruin. His sister argues that it probably dates only from the twelfth century (because it’s built from stone), and everyone knows that’s not ancient at all. That’s so charming; an English child turning up her nose at castle that’s a few thousand years old—that’s not old to her! Whereas, as an American, I get excited seeing an 18th century chair that Benjamin Franklin may have sat on—that’s ancient history!
Aside from these moments, the novel is terrible. My edition (which I could not find on Goodreads) is a Harper paperback published in 2010. The font is HUGE. Like, 20 point or something. It doesn’t say that it’s a large print copy but damn, I could read this book from 50 paces. Considering it’s barely 300 pages with the huge font, maybe the publisher wanted to make the book look longer to justify the $15 price tag? Seeing how this is the first book in the series, and the “Inspector Banks” series appears to contain many books, I’m going to hope that Robinson improved as a writer. The writing itself is clumsy and mediocre, the various criminal investigations are somewhat interesting but turn predictable and kind of stupid, and the characters are cardboard thin. Banks himself not interesting, not really likeable, but not necessarily unlikeable. The author spends way too much time describing in painful detail the opera that Banks listens to and frankly, I don’t care. It doesn’t really add anything to the story or even help make Banks a solid character; he just comes across as a guy who really likes opera for no important reason. His conversations with Dr. Jenny Fuller, the psychology professor (she’s not even a psychologist), are off-putting. She’s described as very attractive (a right “bobby-dazzler” in Yorkshire lingo) and he focuses on baiting her (“women who don’t close their curtains when undressing are asking to be spied on”) and how attracted he is to her. They spend a lot of time in pubs drinking (both enjoy Theakston’s bitter while he smokes his Benson and Hedges Special Milds sparingly—thanks for all that excessive detail) and Banks thinks how much he looks forward to seeing her and how if he slept with her, it’d probably be just fine (with him? His wife?). There’s just something too macho about the whole book, a tone that irritated me. There’s a lot of talk about “feminists” and how irritating they are, how they cause troubles for no reason. The leader of these pesky feminists is described as being very fat, ugly, homely clothes and aggressive. In contrast, the other main female characters (apparently not feminists) are all very beautiful women (Sandra, Banks’s wife; Jenny the token smart career woman; Andrea the sexy married woman getting her sex thrills with a lower-class working man). The crimes in the novel mostly target women and have a sexual component to them. They are contrasted with possible romances between characters, sex scenes between two other minor characters, and this weird will they/won’t they between Banks and Jenny. Plus the “feminists are irritating” and overall macho humor of the novel. I feel as if I should be insulted, but I can’t be sure. Either way, the author cannot write female characters. Jenny, the only career woman in the novel, comes across as flighty, giggly, indecisive, idiotic and slightly hysterical. She’s not a real woman. She’s a bundle of quirks wrapped in attractive packaging (big tits? Check. Long legs with shapely ankles? Check. Red curly hair? Check. Luscious mouth? Check, check, check.). None of the women talk like women or behave like women—they are a male author’s interpretation of women and they all fail.
I cannot recommend this book. It’s not a pleasure to read, even for the escapist quality. The author bogs down the pace of the novel with excessive details that add nothing to the novel. He also adds scenes that have absolutely no repercussions later. He apparently has not heard of that good advice to writers: if there’s a gun on the wall, eventually it needs to be fired. Scenes take place in this novel for no damn reason and then they’re just dropped. Like…okay. Well, that was weird. I hope the books improve as the series continues because the investigation in this novel is not terribly awful. Not great, but it kept me turning pages with a decent level of interest for a while, even though I have no plans to read another Inspector Banks novel.
November 18, 2021
Every male character in this book, with the possible exception of DC Richmond (a minor character), was an absolutely disgusting excuse for a human being. This includes Inspector Banks, who spends more time contemplating an affair with a colleague than concern for his own wife, who is the main target of the voyeur. It was bad enough to have to read - in great detail - about how said voyeur pleasured himself as he realized his victims' disgust at catching him watching them, but there's another storyline about a pair of teenage assholes who get off burglarizing homes, and whose crimes escalate rapidly in violence.
I really, really hated this book, and the dated attitude that the women invited men's unwelcome attention by the way they dressed (or didn't dress). Having the female psychologist dress in shapeless sack clothes, ugly horn-rimmed glasses, and with her hair in a severe bun when she interviewed the voyeur just reinforced the notion. Why is it always the impetus of women to protect themselves from men, instead of teaching men how to behave like actual human beings? It just makes my blood boil, UGH.
I really, really hated this book, and the dated attitude that the women invited men's unwelcome attention by the way they dressed (or didn't dress). Having the female psychologist dress in shapeless sack clothes, ugly horn-rimmed glasses, and with her hair in a severe bun when she interviewed the voyeur just reinforced the notion. Why is it always the impetus of women to protect themselves from men, instead of teaching men how to behave like actual human beings? It just makes my blood boil, UGH.
January 17, 2014
This first book in the series featuring DI Alan Banks does a great job of introducing the main character and the people in his life as he works to resolve three cases that end up intersecting seamlessly. While it seemed to meander initially, it eventually hooked me as I immersed myself in the scenes and settings. Banks moved to Yorkshire from London to have a less stressful work life only to be faced with these complicated crimes. He's very competent but not without his own personal issues.
This series can only get better and I plan to continue. The narrator of the audiobook, Mark Honan, did an exceptional job of providing distinctive voice for at least 10 characters. He brought them to life, which magnified the story. I highly recommend this format.
This series can only get better and I plan to continue. The narrator of the audiobook, Mark Honan, did an exceptional job of providing distinctive voice for at least 10 characters. He brought them to life, which magnified the story. I highly recommend this format.
October 23, 2018
A brilliant book, I have watched the DCI Banks TV show which is excellent but was surprised to find the books behind the series better. This book I read in 3 hours, cover to cover - could not put it down. The author has a knack of giving so much detail that the picture is clear in your mind as reading the words, without being over descriptive to the point of tediousness.
It's compelling and very readable, the characters are detailed and the plot keeps you going until the end. It is a very good crime novel and I read a lot of them. I will certainly be reading more of this compelling series.
It's compelling and very readable, the characters are detailed and the plot keeps you going until the end. It is a very good crime novel and I read a lot of them. I will certainly be reading more of this compelling series.
December 15, 2015
When Chief Inspector Alan Banks relocated from London to the Yorkshire village of Eastvale, he expected the quiet of the countryside. But, with a string of robberies, a Peeping Tom, a rape, and a murdered doddering 87-year-old woman, Banks has his hands full.
I had heard a lot of good things about Peter Robinson’s Alan Banks series, and the debut, Gallows View, was serviceable, although not awe-inspiring. Originally released in 1987, the novel was less dated than I expected. The honest, if imperfect, Banks makes for an interesting protagonist, and I really liked his wife. Most refreshing of all were the realistic suspects; after a string of mystery novels with ridiculously unrealistic villains with patently implausible motivations, a serviceable novel looks pretty good. I particularly liked Banks’ patient, tenacious pursuit of the teenaged rapist. Reading the book in its audio format, I couldn’t stop listening during the book’s final three to four hours. In addition, I expect Banks to grow on me as the series advances.
I had heard a lot of good things about Peter Robinson’s Alan Banks series, and the debut, Gallows View, was serviceable, although not awe-inspiring. Originally released in 1987, the novel was less dated than I expected. The honest, if imperfect, Banks makes for an interesting protagonist, and I really liked his wife. Most refreshing of all were the realistic suspects; after a string of mystery novels with ridiculously unrealistic villains with patently implausible motivations, a serviceable novel looks pretty good. I particularly liked Banks’ patient, tenacious pursuit of the teenaged rapist. Reading the book in its audio format, I couldn’t stop listening during the book’s final three to four hours. In addition, I expect Banks to grow on me as the series advances.
February 1, 2010
This is one of the early novels in Robinson's Alan Banks series of detective novels, and lacks the psychological depth and sense of dark claustrophobia that make the more recent entries worthy of their place on the shelf alongside books by the likes of Ian Rankin and Ruth Rendell. Still and all, it's a rattlingly readable yarn: I gobbled it down in little more than a day.
The Yorkshire town of Eastvale is being plagued by a peeping tom and by a spate of house invasion-style thefts, in which a couple of thugs push their way into the homes of old dears and petrify their victims into silence as they strip the place of cash and valuables. Then one of the old dears is killed in the course of such a robbery . . . or is that really what went down? In trying to solve any one of the crimes, Banks and his colleagues manage to solve all of them, while Banks solves also the problem of his adulterous yearnings for consultant psychologist Jenny Fuller. Some of the tying off of ends seems a bit contrived, as indeed does some of the rest of the plotting and characterization; I'm not sure that, had I read this back in 1987, I'd have guessed how good Robinson was going to become, but I'd certainly have felt myself entertained agreeably enough to have tried another.
May 9, 2024
4 Stars. I enjoyed it - a police procedural with complex issues - peeping toms, women's rights, juvenile crime, sexual assault, and possibly murder. It's our first encounter with Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, an émigré from "the smoke" (aka London) to Eastvale in Yorkshire. He finds the expected resentment of his outsider's approach to policing. Unfortunately he's a man of thought and culture surrounded by some who are less so, read Sergeant Hatchley! Banks, his wife Sandra and their two children, are just settling in when three cases come at him rapid fire. Women around Eastvale are shocked by a man peering in their bedroom windows as they undress, indeed the outbreak comes close to home. Banks is even visited by a feminist with the expected diatribe. At the same time a rash of break-ins starts up; the vandalism upsets the victims more than the lost jewellry! Then an old lady is found with her head bashed in. In his inquiries, Banks meets the smart and lovely psychologist Jenny Fuller. Now that's tension a man can understand. Are these matters related? A touch refined in these thriller days, but most enjoyable. (Jul2020/May2024)
August 12, 2018
Buena primera entrega del inspector Banks, por lo que tengo entendido, una de las menos intrincadas de la serie. Aunque se nota que el estilo aún no está muy depurado, pues la novela salió al mercado en el siglo pasado, se ve potencial como para continuar con las siguientes. La trama es sencillita, pero los protagonistas principales prometen.
October 22, 2014
More of a 3.5 listen. The narrator was good & there was more to the story than I expected. No mystery here except how Banks will wrap it all up, but at least the author didn't try for any except in one case & that was well done.
What made this an interesting listen was the setting, a large town in England, & the characters, pure English. It seemed to be a very realistic snapshot of their life & issues.
I have another, but I'm not in a rush to get to it. The writing was very good, but it wasn't really my sort of book. The fact that I liked it so much was kind of surprising.
What made this an interesting listen was the setting, a large town in England, & the characters, pure English. It seemed to be a very realistic snapshot of their life & issues.
I have another, but I'm not in a rush to get to it. The writing was very good, but it wasn't really my sort of book. The fact that I liked it so much was kind of surprising.
October 3, 2018
If you can get past the sexism and misogyny, still fairly indifferent.
July 2, 2013
First book of the DCI Alan Banks series. Maybe the crime plots were a little predictable but nevertheless the characters were well developed which bodes well for the rest of the series.
I will certainly be continuing with this series.
I will certainly be continuing with this series.
May 27, 2014
I saw a review of the most recent "Alan Banks" mystery and decided to start with the first one - written in the mid-eighties. The mystery was so-so- and in many ways it's a typical British cop-procedural - which I like. But I have to say; holy moly is this full of woman-hating crap. The author/Alan Banks do all they can to trash feminism. And of course the case of feminism is represented by two different women. An older, frumpy, unattractive woman who they see as a man-hater and fits the stereotype of and uncompromising pain in the ass and the beautiful psychologist who is more forgiving of the police and in fact Inspector Banks ponders the idea of having an affair with the beauty. She of course, is a palatable feminist because she is beautiful and isn't so anti-cop/man.
Bank's wife is aware of her husband's attraction to the fair psychologist and knows he's thinking of straying - and Banks realizes that his wife is aware of his feelings. In the meantime, the wife is a victim of a very scary crime and manages to act quickly to save herself. All the bad guys are caught - and the fair psychologist and the wife become friends and Alan, in an effort to east his guilt decided to buy his wife a bauble!
Ok, this is a bit snarky - but really. I might read another one but if it's more of the same there are plenty of British cop mysteries out there that deal with women a bit better.
Bank's wife is aware of her husband's attraction to the fair psychologist and knows he's thinking of straying - and Banks realizes that his wife is aware of his feelings. In the meantime, the wife is a victim of a very scary crime and manages to act quickly to save herself. All the bad guys are caught - and the fair psychologist and the wife become friends and Alan, in an effort to east his guilt decided to buy his wife a bauble!
Ok, this is a bit snarky - but really. I might read another one but if it's more of the same there are plenty of British cop mysteries out there that deal with women a bit better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2021
DNF at page 110. Scribd.com's English text, and translation for Portuguese + audio in English from Google Translate. Continuing the Project Learning English by myself.
March 19, 2015
Gallows ViewIt is not the first of Peter Robinson's books Ihave read, but it is the first I have listened to, and it was a very enjoyable experience.
The narrator had a pleasant voice and was easy to listen to.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, a perceptive, curious and compassionate policeman recently moved to the Yorkshire Dales from London to escape the stress of city life.
He is therefore somewhat surprised, having expected a quieter life, to be faced with finding a peeping tom, identifying two teenagers who are breaking into elderly ladies homes, burgling them and terrorising the occupants, and the death of an elderly lady which may or may not be murder.
There were no great surprises in this book, but it was thoroughly enjoyable and well written.
3 1/2 stars from me for this, the first in the inspector Banks series.
December 8, 2016
The first DCI Banks novel, published in 1987, is a good police procedural story with plenty of interesting characters. There are no car chases or daring stunts here, but there is a good plot & an easy narrative. One of the storylines involves someone secretly watching women undressing when they go to bed & makes me ask the question "Why don't these people draw their curtains before getting undressed ?" But if they did that, of course, then there would be no story here! Reading this novel has certainly cheered me up after hearing the news that the TV series has been cancelled after five great years. Looking forward to the second novel very much.
July 30, 2023
After picking up Peter Robinson's latest, not realizing it was 28th in a long series, I decided to return to his early efforts and grabbed #1, "Gallows View", at our local library. The key player in the series, Alan Banks, is an experienced, yet fairly young, inspector on the Yorkshire police force. He's a transfer from London, in his mid-30s, married, and with a few able assistants on his team.
Gallows View begins with the locals being subjected to a Peeping Tom in the neighborhood. Additionally, an old woman is discovered dead in her ransacked home, either murdered or the victim of an accident that happened during the robbery. Detective Chief Inspector Banks begins his investigations with not a lot to go on as this episode takes place in the late '80s, prior to the DNA/CCTV revolution in policing. To add to his workload some burglaries are taking place around town. Banks meets with and begins to utilize a beautiful psychologist as a profiler to help his search for the peeper, which gets him in a bit of hot water with his wife. Eventually there are breaks in the cases which lead to their conclusions.
Gallows View was a fairly auspicious start for the series, which continued long afterwards. The writing is fine, there's a bit of humor and hints of sex, violence is present but not overwhelming, and the characters are nicely done. I liked this first one, so I have only 26 more to go to catch me up!
Gallows View begins with the locals being subjected to a Peeping Tom in the neighborhood. Additionally, an old woman is discovered dead in her ransacked home, either murdered or the victim of an accident that happened during the robbery. Detective Chief Inspector Banks begins his investigations with not a lot to go on as this episode takes place in the late '80s, prior to the DNA/CCTV revolution in policing. To add to his workload some burglaries are taking place around town. Banks meets with and begins to utilize a beautiful psychologist as a profiler to help his search for the peeper, which gets him in a bit of hot water with his wife. Eventually there are breaks in the cases which lead to their conclusions.
Gallows View was a fairly auspicious start for the series, which continued long afterwards. The writing is fine, there's a bit of humor and hints of sex, violence is present but not overwhelming, and the characters are nicely done. I liked this first one, so I have only 26 more to go to catch me up!
January 25, 2016
This is the first book in the Chief Inspector Banks mysteries. I liked it from the very opening pages and enjoyed the story thoroughly. Alan Banks is an interesting character, having moved from London to Eastvale in Yorkshire, in the hope of a quieter police life. He quickly is involved in a case of a peeper as well as a number of break-ins and finally a murder of an old woman. I enjoyed getting to know Alan and also his personal life. His wife, Sharon, was well-presented and also some of the other police officers that worked with Alan. The story was gritty enough but not so that it was disturbing. The pace of the book was excellent and I enjoyed how the cases were worked and ultimately how they were resolved. All in all, it was an excellent first story and I'm glad now that I have a few others of the series in my bookshelves awaiting my attention. As an aside, this series has also been developed for TV and while I felt the TV show to be quite different from the initial book, I enjoyed both immensely. Nice that both have their differences but at the same time hold there own as excellent series. I highly recommend you give this series a try if you like good mysteries.
July 15, 2018
3.75 stars rounded up. I enjoyed the writing, the main characters, and the setting of this new (to me) long-running British detective series. However, the young villains were a bit too villainous for me, making me want to smack the sneers off their faces many times.
The audio was really well done. I'm listening to audiobooks while writing postcards to voters. If you're concerned about the direction the US is headed and are feeling frustrated, consider volunteering for Postcards to Voters. They help elect Dems in tight races so we can flip the Congress blue and save our democracy.
It's very therapeutic and lots of fun!
Http://www.postcardstovoters.org for more info 🌊💙🌊
The audio was really well done. I'm listening to audiobooks while writing postcards to voters. If you're concerned about the direction the US is headed and are feeling frustrated, consider volunteering for Postcards to Voters. They help elect Dems in tight races so we can flip the Congress blue and save our democracy.
It's very therapeutic and lots of fun!
Http://www.postcardstovoters.org for more info 🌊💙🌊
August 20, 2018
Read this again as I couldn’t remember a single thing about the previous reading. Is that because there is nothing memorable to it, or my increasingly poor memory?
Who said that?
Ahh, right. I see. Ok, so it’s ... ok. I thought I may give others in the series a go, I see from many of the other reviews that they do get better. I think I probably will too. It was entertaining and looking forward to reading some more.
Who said that?
Ahh, right. I see. Ok, so it’s ... ok. I thought I may give others in the series a go, I see from many of the other reviews that they do get better. I think I probably will too. It was entertaining and looking forward to reading some more.
April 28, 2020
The first in the DCI Alan Banks series - a few months after moving to Yorkshire, we pick up the life of Alan Banks, now settled in Eastvale. Three cases dominate his first book, a peeping Tom, a string of burglaries timed when the house owners are out and a homicide. An enjoyable read and interesting sub-plots with Banks on the verge of acting out a mid-life crisis. 6 out of 12
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