Rating: 
Summary: Another engrossing Inspector Banks mystery.
Review: "Final Account" is the story of Keith Rothwell, a mild-mannered accountant who has been brutally murdered, execution-style. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, with the help of his colleagues, investigates Rothwell's shady business dealings as well as his family and social contacts. Banks discovers that Rothwell's life was a great deal more complicated than the police could ever have imagined. Once again, Peter Robinson has created a fascinating character study of a man whose outward appearance is deceptive. The book has many wonderful qualities. It is full of colorful Yorkshire characters who are brought to life in exquisite and entertaining detail. Robinson's descriptions of the beautiful English countryside are lovely. The mystery is satisfying although the ending is a bit far-fetched. I especially like the character of Inspector Banks, who has always been a man of contradictions. He is compassionate towards victims, but he can be ruthless and cruel when necessary. Although he loves his wife, he all but ignores her when he is on a case. He has little formal eduation, but he has a deep interest in music and literature. Banks is one of the most interesting of all the British detective heroes and "Final Account" is a fine mystery in the Inspector Banks series.
Rating:
Summary: Another engrossing Inspector Banks mystery.
Review: "Final Account" is the story of Keith Rothwell, a mild-mannered accountant who has been brutally murdered, execution-style. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, with the help of his colleagues, investigates Rothwell's shady business dealings as well as his family and social contacts. Banks discovers that Rothwell's life was a great deal more complicated than the police could ever have imagined. Once again, Peter Robinson has created a fascinating character study of a man whose outward appearance is deceptive. The book has many wonderful qualities. It is full of colorful Yorkshire characters who are brought to life in exquisite and entertaining detail. Robinson's descriptions of the beautiful English countryside are lovely. The mystery is satisfying although the ending is a bit far-fetched. I especially like the character of Inspector Banks, who has always been a man of contradictions. He is compassionate towards victims, but he can be ruthless and cruel when necessary. Although he loves his wife, he all but ignores her when he is on a case. He has little formal eduation, but he has a deep interest in music and literature. Banks is one of the most interesting of all the British detective heroes and "Final Account" is a fine mystery in the Inspector Banks series.
Rating:
Summary: Another engrossing Inspector Banks mystery.
Review: "Final Account" is the story of Keith Rothwell, a mild-mannered accountant who has been brutally murdered, execution-style. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, with the help of his colleagues, investigates Rothwell's shady business dealings as well as his family and social contacts. Banks discovers that Rothwell's life was a great deal more complicated than the police could ever have imagined. Once again, Peter Robinson has created a fascinating character study of a man whose outward appearance is deceptive. The book has many wonderful qualities. It is full of colorful Yorkshire characters who are brought to life in exquisite and entertaining detail. Robinson's descriptions of the beautiful English countryside are lovely. The mystery is satisfying although the ending is a bit far-fetched. I especially like the character of Inspector Banks, who has always been a man of contradictions. He is compassionate towards victims, but he can be ruthless and cruel when necessary. Although he loves his wife, he all but ignores her when he is on a case. He has little formal eduation, but he has a deep interest in music and literature. Banks is one of the most interesting of all the British detective heroes and "Final Account" is a fine mystery in the Inspector Banks series.
Rating:
Summary: A series that's important to read in order
Review: I can only suspect that the nay-sayers haven't read the previous books in this series. Banks is a bit like scotch whiskey - an acquired taste. Much of the pleasure in reading this book lies in knowing Banks and his supporting characters. What kind of music will Banks be "into" in this book (it changes in each book)? Will Susan Gay develop a life outside of her work? What nasty tricks will Burgess be up to in this episode? What's up with Banks' marriage and can he resist temptation one more time?So, my advice to other readers is to invest the time in reading this series from the start. The first few books are only so-so but they lay the foundations to make later books a much enjoyed reading experience.
Rating:
Summary: A series that's important to read in order
Review: I can only suspect that the nay-sayers haven't read the previous books in this series. Banks is a bit like scotch whiskey - an acquired taste. Much of the pleasure in reading this book lies in knowing Banks and his supporting characters. What kind of music will Banks be "into" in this book (it changes in each book)? Will Susan Gay develop a life outside of her work? What nasty tricks will Burgess be up to in this episode? What's up with Banks' marriage and can he resist temptation one more time? So, my advice to other readers is to invest the time in reading this series from the start. The first few books are only so-so but they lay the foundations to make later books a much enjoyed reading experience.
Rating: 
Summary: GRIPPING!!!
Review: I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN
Rating: 
Summary: only ok
Review: I picked up this book partly because the blurb in the back said that he's comparable to Ruth Rendall. Unfortunately, I found him far from being comparable in a good light beyond the generics of background. I could predict how the murder would be resolved almost from the beginning, which was disappointing. The secondary characters were too one-dimensional as well. Even though the plot was predictable, the book moved at a good pace which is why I wasn't bored. I could only imagine that he has other books that are better if he's been compared to Rendall.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent British police procedural
Review: Of all the British police procedural mysteries I've read, and I've read a bunch, Robinson's Inspector Banks books are my favorite. Mind you, there are others close in second and third place, but he's on top. Wonderful primary characters you can care about, fascinating plots, secondary characters who add realism and dimension to the story. Light touches of humor or humanity. I wish Robinson was as prolific as Francis.
Rating: 
Summary: Bloody barbaric detectives
Review: Oh my gosh,this book was a pain.The first 200 pages were ok but after that,the story loses heat and dragged on without a plot.The writing was mediocre and lazy as if he were in a rush to finish this book.Also,Banks was a very unlikeable character.He was lusting after Pamela when he was already married,he got into a fight in a pub and he came across as a very unsentimental man.Other than that,the detectives in this book,other than Susan,were just plain barbaric.They acted like criminals instead of detectives.And the part about the "shaved pussies"was totally disgusting.All in all,the book was a pain to read.The contrived plot,mediocre writing plus all the unlikeable characters just make this a very bad book.
Rating: 
Summary: I had to wake up to write this review!
Review: The plot in Final Analysis is trite and overused and the characters are flat and stock. Tedious and painful to read.
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