Rating: 
Summary: Admittedly prejudiced.
Review: I have loved Peter Robinson since reading his first book. He has continued to develop the character of Alan Banks and the women that populate his life, all appearing in "Aftermath." Since I am not fond of reader reviews that tell me all the details of a novel before I read it, I will only say this is one of the more disturbing cases Banks has investigated. Yet, the events that unfold are made more understandable, particularly by the character of Dr. Jenny Fuller, a psychologist and recurring figure in Bank's life both personally and professionally. The best part of this novel, as always, is Banks; a man who really loves women. I suspect that Peter Robinson does too, he seems to understand the subtle nuances in the way women think, and the complexities and frustrations of the "new" women working in traditional male roles. On the other hand, male readers will identify with Banks' confusion about the women in his life, specifically, Banks' emotional relationship to his ex-wife and the sometimes rocky road he walks with his son and daughter. In "Aftermath" he discovers something about his ex-wife, something he never expected. His reaction struck a realistic cord for me. If you love the Alan Banks series, if you love descriptive writing about places and people, if you want more than just a gruesome mystery, Peter Robinson is your man. I am English born and Robinson brings my country and countrymen to life. They are real, living and breathing on every page. Frankly, Robinson can't write these novels fast enough for me.
Rating:
Summary: Another stunning novel by the inimitable Peter Robinson.
Review: I have run out of superlatives to describe Peter Robinson, who is arguably one of the finest writers of British police procedurals, on par with P. D. James and Ruth Rendell at their best. I have read ten out of the eleven Inspector Banks novels that Robinson has written over the years, and I have enjoyed most of them immensely. In Robinson's latest novel, "Aftermath," Alan Banks is Acting Detective Superintendent in Yorkshire, substituting for his ailing boss. Banks is depressed and on the verge of career burnout. He smokes and drinks too much, he gets too little sleep, and he is overwhelmed by the demands of his job. In addition, his love affair with Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot is not going well. Banks is still grieving over his separation from Sandra, his wife of twenty years, and he has little time or energy to invest in social relationships. Banks's life soon goes from bad to worse. He is caught up in the case of the Chameleon killer, a man who abducts and murders teenaged girls. The case appears to be solved when two detective constables respond to a call about a domestic disturbance. The constables open the door, only to find a house of horrors, and they discover the identity of the man who appears to be the Chameleon killer. Those of us who know Peter Robinson quickly realize that the case is just beginning. Who is Terence Payne, the biology teacher who apparently abducted, raped and murdered the young girls? What role, if any, did Terence's wife, Lucy, play in her husband's heinous crimes? Was Lucy a victim of spousal abuse herself, too frightened to tell the police what her husband was up to, or is she hiding something about her own shadowy past? As usual, Robinson creates a large cast of fascinating and believable characters, such as Maggie Forrest, a domestic abuse survivor who champions the cause of Lucy Payne, and Police Constable Janet Taylor, who stands accused of using excessive force while subduing Terence Payne. Robinson brilliantly explores the theme that police officers who invest themselves in their jobs pay a huge emotional and physical price. He also studies the ways in which people handle personal crises and traumas, and the devastating effects of violence on people's lives. With brilliant psychological insight, an unerring ear for dialogue, clever plotting and compassion for the human condition, Robinson has written a breathtaking novel of suspense. I recommend "Aftermath" unreservedly.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to In a Dry Season
Review: I love Peter Robinson's work, and I thought *In a Dry Season* was a superb novel. I must say I found *Aftermath* something of a letdown -- I don't think Robinson fully transcended all the grisly cliches of the 'serial murder' plot (but then, I hate serial murder plots). Still, it's well worth reading, and the character development of Banks continues to be fascinating,
Rating:
Summary: The master strikes again
Review: I've enjoyed Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series for many years. His superb storytelling skills have made this series one of my absolute favorites. The characters are always unique and well thought out; the stories are interesting with different twists. Aftermath is no exception. Personally, Banks is at an impasse with the women in his life. Professionally, he's at his peak. The storyline is not necessarily unique but the telling is. Terence Payne, the bad guy, is badder than most; his crimes are even worse. Throw in some more thought-provoking discussion on wife abuse, an horrific tale of child abuse and its aftermath and you've got an A-one story. Don't miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Inspector Banks novels
Review: If you've followed Peter Robinson's books as he's progressed in his Inspector Banks series, you've seen how not only do the stories develop with greater depth and comlpexity, but also how the characters - especially Banks - grow and change. That's part of the joy of a good series like this; finding out more about characters and how they react. Robinson's books can be a bit convoluted, but in a good way. This story of a serial killer, his wife, and her past, surprises at every turn, and, while the ending is somewhat to be expected, Robinson carries this out with brio and subtlety. Unlike some suspense novels, where a lot of focus is on shocking the reader, this book is all understatement. The Aftermath of the title, which refers to a female character's past and how this past comes back full circle, is harsh and painful, but Robinson tells this story with just the right amount of detachment. Many people read suspense novels to see how good and evil interact. Others to figure out whodunit. In Aftermath, you get both. A must read.
Rating:
Summary: If You Like Banks You Will Love This
Review: In reviewing the book I will not re-hash or give away the plot. Let me just say that this is a good Peter Robinson Banks mystery that does not disappoint. It has some unusual twists and a suspended fellow police offer. In any case it does what it is supposed to do. You are oblivious to your outer world as you read. Peter is underrated as an author. Good stuff. Jack in Toronto
Rating:
Summary: Too gruesome and not up to Robinson's standard
Review: Like another reviewer, I was hoping that this book would live up to the promise of the superb In a Dry Season, one of the best-crafted mysteries of recent years. It did not. The outcome was fairly predictable and some of the issues far fetched. For example, when a serial killer goes after two police officers with a machete (in the first chapter) and kills one, he gets severely beaten by the 2nd officer who is fighting him off with only her baton. We are expected to believe that this policewoman would be under a serious cloud with her career threatened and life destroyed because she inflicted serious injuries on her attacker. I found this simply unbelievable. Even in Britain, she would be considered a hero, not a criminal. I was also quite disturbed by the graphic descriptions of the serial killer's activities, especially the first scene. It was grotesque but didn't seem to serve much purpose. Until now, each Robinson book seemed better than the last. I hope he can pick up on that trend.
Rating: 
Summary: first rate british procedural
Review: peter robinson, never disapoints Aftermath was no exception
this is a book to burn the midnight oil for, especially
the twist in the tail a "must read"
Rating:
Summary: Atmosphere makes it special
Review: Responding to a domestic disturbance call, two Yorkshire police officers stumble into a killer's lair. One ends up dead, the other, Janet Taylor, finds herself facing possible murder charges. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks arrives at a scene of bloody carnage to find his serial murder case solved.
The horrific, atmospheric opening scenes of Edgar award-winner Peter Robinson's "Aftermath," set up the whole story - the themes of abuse and psychological damage, police accountability and politics and a host of nagging questions. How does a handsome, popular teacher like Terry Payne end up as serial killer of young girls and how did he lure them so easily? What did his beautiful, abused wife, Lucy, know about the atrocities in the basement of her own house? The lines of the murder mystery interweave with the private lives of Banks and his team. Banks struggles with the news that his ex-wife is pregnant while Banks' on-again, off-again girlfriend, the ambitious Annie Cabot, is assigned to investigate Janet Taylor's culpability in the death of the serial killer and troubled psychologist Jenny Fuller profiles Lucy Payne, rekindling her attraction to Banks. Another victim of abuse, a neighbor, desperate to help Lucy, uses and is used by the media, garnering possibly dangerous attention. Meanwhile, one of the missing girls is not found in Payne's macabre basement graveyard. Robinson draws the reader with his superb characterizations and thoughtful pacing. As always, his novel is as much about the world we live in - everyday realities and aberrant fringes - as it is about a particular murder. The tension builds to an explosive climax of split-second timing but the more leisurely twists, turns and missteps of the investigation and the investigators create a human drama that lingers in the mind.
Rating:
Summary: Realistic, but entertaining.
Review: Robinson does a fabulous job of combining some of the realistic
details of violent crime, and police work, along with making
the story an entertaining read.
There is a fine line between the technical details of crime and
police work, on the one hand, and the entertaining, readable
story-telling on the other, but this author knows exactly how
to handle this line, and "Aftermath" is a masterpiece of combining the 2 facets of crime-writing.
This book contains a few necessary "dirty" details, but no more
than is required for this story. Anyone who complains about too
much detail of blood, vicious and depraved motives, and twisted
personalities have no concept of what is present in genuine
crime and the shocks real police officers encounter.
The author touches on, and explores a bit, the very complex
questions of the level of responsibility of a woman involved in
a bloody crime along with her male partner. The fact that he
doesn't present some veneer-thin explanation, that might be
easy to understand, shows his understanding of the difficulty
of explaining and categorizing some of these relationships.
Robinson has said this novel wasn't based on the infamous Bernardo-Homolka case in Ontario, but there are some very
parallel facts present, and we should give credit for some
inspiration from a very real, and more horrific, case than his
work here could convey. Here is a work that is thought-provoking, realistic and quite
entertaining. Most highly recommended.
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