Rating: 
Summary: Like this would happen no way
Review: The book opens up with two young police constables stumbling on the house of a serial killer. In the basement they find the corpse of a young girl. The serial killer attacks one of the police with a machette and he is then killed by the other constable.Unlike most murder mysteries which usually aim to find a killer this is one about the aftermath, thus the title. The questions revolve around whether the surviving constable will be charged with the murder of the serial killer and whether it will be possible to implicate the wife of the killer. There are naturally a number of other sub plots. The problem with the book is that it deviates from what a police procedural should be. That is any police procedural depends on a certain degree of accuracy for its fascination. They reveal something about the process of investigation or the process of the law. The problem with this book is that its events are so far from reality it is hard to read without cringing. One could not imagine in the real world that a police woman, giving away inches in height would be regarded as anything but a hero for dealing with a serial killer in the way described in the book. The idea that she would face investigation is laughable. In addition the process of the investigation is something out of cloud cuckoo land. Any police officer facing a murder charge would receive independent legal advice and be fully aware of things like the impact of changing a statement. Police deal with these issues day in and day out. The other main plot hinge around whether the wife of the serial killer will be charged is also from arm chair amateur land. The evidence against the woman at the start of the book is that she lived in a house in which young woman were kept captive for weeks and then killed. There is circumstantial evidence of blood on her clothers and other material under her finger nails. The sort of case which would lead in most cases to a defendant being charged and found guilty with a jury deliberation of four or five minutes. However the author for some reason thinks this is not enough. So the hero of the book a police officer investigates the matter. His long interviews with the wife are some of the most tedious, meandering, poorly thought out interviews of suspects that I have come across. Even a first year constable would not fall into the traps that he does. Questions are asked which are speculative, with no basis, aimed at electing answers unrelated to the charges. The aim in the book is to create a notion of a battle of wits between a crusty old investigator and a wily criminal. However in reality the questioning is so bad it would form a strong basis for any competent defence team to seriously attack the investigation. Not a great book.
Rating: 
Summary: Long winded. Slow building.
Review: The first 80 pages of the book made me throw it down in disgust. I don't care for one page long descriptions of the contents of a dead characters purse. Over and over the author went into too much detail for irrelevant character development that didn't have ANYTHING to do with the story. To say the least, that tends to be boring. The last part of the book started to be intriguing but then it fell flat. Not ENOUGH development. Too much character interplay between the detective and the two women that are part of his life and not enough detail on the killers motives. If I wanted a romance, I would have bought one. I won't read another one of his books.
Rating: 
Summary: Some good things, some not so well done...
Review: The title for my last Robinson review was that I was still waiting for the excellence of "In A Dry Season." I continue to wait. I have read all of Robinson's work and I just really didn't care too much for this book. Now to say why is difficult. It did keep me turning the pages. It did tackle some serious issues. However, I must admit that I am not the type who usually figures out any whodunit that I read. I read mostly for pleasure and don't tax my brain too much to figure out what happens. But this time I had figured it out halfway through the book, which didn't please me. I thought the handling of the Annie Cabot/Banks relationship was in a word, lame. To me it was as though Robinson couldn't figure out where the relationship was headed so he ended it quickly. Can anyone say Susan Gay? She was Bank's former asscoicate who has disappeared from the last two novels. I suppose I also was tremendously disturbed by the content of some of the book. No, I am not a prude and no, I don't have my head in the sand in denial. I know these things exist I guess I don't enjoy reading about them (the perversity was too much). So, Peter, I am still waiting...until next fall when your next novel comes out.
Rating:
Summary: Aftermath
Review: This book is a departure from Robinson's usual form. Not really a mystery as the book starts with the solution and then explains why the various characters acted in the way that they did. For me, it was a disappointment. Not a great read but not a total waste of time either.
Rating: 
Summary: Best yet
Review: This is Robinson's best yet. The characterizations, the sub plots, and the plot itself are all excellent. And chilling.
Rating:
Summary: Aftermath : A Novel of Suspence
Review: This is the longest 466 page book that I have ever read. The the Holy Bible is a quicker read. It was the first Peter Robinson book that I've read and undoubtedly the last. Stephen King must have been paied handsomly to sing the praises of the Alan Banks series. I can't believe that a book of this calibur was even publised in such an overloaded genre. In the words of Simon Cowell, "this book was absolutly deadfull."
Rating:
Summary: Aftermath : A Novel of Suspence
Review: This is the longest 466 page book that I have ever read. The the Holy Bible is a quicker read. It was the first Peter Robinson book that I've read and undoubtedly the last. Stephen King must have been paied handsomly to sing the praises of the Alan Banks series. I can't believe that a book of this calibur was even publised in such an overloaded genre. In the words of Simon Cowell, "this book was absolutly deadfull."
Rating: 
Summary: Better than average British police mystery
Review: This mystery novel concerns detective work related to identifying a serial killer in the British Midlands. The protagonist is the police detective responsible for solving these crimes. Though he works hard at his job, he makes believable mistakes, particularly because of incomplete information from others and because of his own erroneous assumptions. The complications of his personal life don't help. The book initially succeeds in luring the reader into the same false lead to the killer. As the story develops, the identity of the real killer becomes increasingly obvious. There is a bit too much dialogue about police business. American readers may find the compulsive smoking and drinking somewhat retro.
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