Rating: 
Summary: Cold Is The Grave... But Excellent Is This Book
Review: After a long quarantine, Inspector Banks has finally a new, officious, job: finding his chief's gone daughter. The girl in question appeared nude on a porn website, and father worries for both her... and his own reputation. Despite his low esteem for his superior, Banks does his job and brings the girl home. But case is far from being closed.
I was not very enthusiastic about my first meeting with Banks, "In A Dry Season", but this one is a gem. Plot is an impressive piece of work, with seemingly non-related events and information slowly converging to form an amazing big picture. Robinson, though, never loses sight of his characters, starting of course with his heroical anti-hero. The main protagonist, however, might be fate that leads a respectable (well, seemingly respectable) family to ruin and tragedy because of a mistake made a long time ago. Past and the way it influences present - for the worse - is a recurring theme to Robinson, handled here with a high emotional power.
Rating: 
Summary: Good writing can't overcome worn plot and wordy angst
Review: After his taut, atmospheric "In a Dry Season" (nominated for Edgar and Anthony awards), Peter Robinson's latest Inspector Banks novel drags, padded with Banks' personal angst over the end of his marriage and the rekindling of his romance with his subordinate, Annie Cabot.The plot makes a well-worn start with a runaway teen showing up in nude pictures on the internet. The teen happens to be the daughter of Banks' hated nemesis, his stiffly ambitious superior, Chief Constable Riddle, who asks Banks to go to London, unofficially, and find her. This he does, and brings lively, bratty Emily back home too, cultivating a soft spot for a girl going the way his own daughter might have. The murder of a low-life criminal diverts Banks' attention until a gruesome death in a local nightclub finds Banks seeking connections with London's organized crime and delving into his superior's personal life. The plot is fine although nothing new but the misunderstandings and non-communication between Banks and Cabot grow wearing and we are treated to far too much middle-aged soul searching. Not one of Robinson's best.
Rating:
Summary: Good writing can't overcome worn plot and wordy angst
Review: After his taut, atmospheric "In a Dry Season" (nominated for Edgar and Anthony awards), Peter Robinson's latest Inspector Banks novel drags, padded with Banks' personal angst over the end of his marriage and the rekindling of his romance with his subordinate, Annie Cabot. The plot makes a well-worn start with a runaway teen showing up in nude pictures on the internet. The teen happens to be the daughter of Banks' hated nemesis, his stiffly ambitious superior, Chief Constable Riddle, who asks Banks to go to London, unofficially, and find her. This he does, and brings lively, bratty Emily back home too, cultivating a soft spot for a girl going the way his own daughter might have. The murder of a low-life criminal diverts Banks' attention until a gruesome death in a local nightclub finds Banks seeking connections with London's organized crime and delving into his superior's personal life. The plot is fine although nothing new but the misunderstandings and non-communication between Banks and Cabot grow wearing and we are treated to far too much middle-aged soul searching. Not one of Robinson's best.
Rating:
Summary: I love Banks, but this mystery is less than enthralling.
Review: Any new book featuring one of my favorite detectives, Alan Banks, is always welcome. In "Cold is the Grave," Peter Robinson continues the saga of the brilliant but troubled Banks. Jimmy Riddle, Banks' superior and arch-enemy, reluctantly asks Banks for help in bringing back Riddle's runaway daughter, sixteen-year-old Emily. Banks accommodates Riddle, and he gets embroiled in a very difficult and depressing case. While working on this case, Banks has to cope with the fallout from his rocky marriage to Sandra, his estranged wife. In addition, Banks has to work again with Annie Cabbot, his former girlfriend, with whom he has a strained relationship. The dialogue and the characterizations in this book are as sharp as ever. Unfortunately, "Cold is the Grave" really collapses at the end. Robinson makes the huge mistake of introducing, late in the book, some very unlikely and melodramatic plot points. The ending is extremely hackneyed and unsatisfying. What a shame, since Robinson is capable of terrific writing. His last book, "In a Dry Season," was a masterpiece of detective fiction. I hope that Robinson gets back to top form in his next novel.
Rating:
Summary: I love Banks, but this mystery is less than enthralling.
Review: Any new book featuring one of my favorite detectives, Alan Banks, is always welcome. In "Cold is the Grave," Peter Robinson continues the saga of the brilliant but troubled Banks. Jimmy Riddle, Banks' superior and arch-enemy, reluctantly asks Banks for help in bringing back Riddle's runaway daughter, sixteen-year-old Emily. Banks accommodates Riddle, and he gets embroiled in a very difficult and depressing case. While working on this case, Banks has to cope with the fallout from his rocky marriage to Sandra, his estranged wife. In addition, Banks has to work again with Annie Cabbot, his former girlfriend, with whom he has a strained relationship. The dialogue and the characterizations in this book are as sharp as ever. Unfortunately, "Cold is the Grave" really collapses at the end. Robinson makes the huge mistake of introducing, late in the book, some very unlikely and melodramatic plot points. The ending is extremely hackneyed and unsatisfying. What a shame, since Robinson is capable of terrific writing. His last book, "In a Dry Season," was a masterpiece of detective fiction. I hope that Robinson gets back to top form in his next novel.
Rating: 
Summary: That reminds of Milton's quote about....
Review: Can't help thinking that this Peter Robinson book is a hangover from the gentility mysteries written by Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. It's full of references to class discrimination: the petty crooks are working class and stupid; the smart crooks are working class and vicious; the upper class are tremendous people, instilled with the wonderful values that only a privileged upbringing can provide. The dialogue between all characters, law abiding and criminal, is mostly polite and deferential to the point of twee, and Inspector Banks floats around in a surreal world of his own, continually congratulating himself on the success of his unorthodox detecting techniques. Perhaps an alternative title to the Banks series could be: It Shoudn't Happen to a Copper.
By comparison, Ian Rankin, James Lee Burke and Michael Connelly have created characters with lives and conversations that resonate with gritty reality. Rebus, Robicheaux and Bosch are on a journey through life; Banks is commuting.
And Robinson has the most irritating habit of parading his learning out of context. Inspector Banks is often reminded of what Milton said or Proust thought - sure, give me a break!
In one chapter, Inspector Banks is having a beer while he talks to a London copper about a villain he wants to obtain more information on. During the conversation, Banks modestly makes a mental note that the other copper is a racist, alcoholic while he, Banks, is still a compassionate, caring human being, branded a 'pinko' by his drinking colleague because of his socialist sensibilities. At that point I put the book down and picked up the latest Ian Rankin.
Rating:
Summary: His last book was better though this is still well done
Review: Chief Constable Jimmy Riddle "asks" a member of his staff, Yorkshire Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, to discreetly do him a favor. Alan would relish telling his detestable boss to shove it because Jimmy has all but destroyed his career. However, discretion being more important than a trip to Paris and the fact that Jimmy has just about groveled, Alan finally agrees to help. Jimmy's preadolescent son has found a nude picture of his teenage older sister Emily, a runaway, on the net. Jimmy wants Alan to insure his daughter is safe and to ask if she would like to come home. Alan, accompanied by his former lover Sergeant Annie Cabot, quickly finds Emily amidst two of London's strong pillars: the drug and porno scenes. Alan succeeds in escorting the sixteen-year-old back to the nest, but a murder soon finds the DCI investigating a case tied back to Chief Constable Riddle and his now united family. COLD IN THE GRAVE is an entertaining Alan Banks police procedural that die-hard fans of English investigative novels will enjoy. Banks retains that freshness that marks him as one of the best police charcaters of the last few years. However, the story line, though well written and exciting, depends too heavily on incidents that forces the reader to accept leaps of faith. Having Annie work with Alan may seem contrived yet their professional relationship adds sexual tension and causes intriguing stumbles to the investigation. Although not quite as good as the previous tale (IN A DRY SEASON), Peter Robinson's latest story can be banked on for providing a novel that series readers will still enjoy. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: His last book was better though this is still well done
Review: Chief Constable Jimmy Riddle "asks" a member of his staff, Yorkshire Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, to discreetly do him a favor. Alan would relish telling his detestable boss to shove it because Jimmy has all but destroyed his career. However, discretion being more important than a trip to Paris and the fact that Jimmy has just about groveled, Alan finally agrees to help. Jimmy's preadolescent son has found a nude picture of his teenage older sister Emily, a runaway, on the net. Jimmy wants Alan to insure his daughter is safe and to ask if she would like to come home. Alan, accompanied by his former lover Sergeant Annie Cabot, quickly finds Emily amidst two of London's strong pillars: the drug and porno scenes. Alan succeeds in escorting the sixteen-year-old back to the nest, but a murder soon finds the DCI investigating a case tied back to Chief Constable Riddle and his now united family. COLD IN THE GRAVE is an entertaining Alan Banks police procedural that die-hard fans of English investigative novels will enjoy. Banks retains that freshness that marks him as one of the best police charcaters of the last few years. However, the story line, though well written and exciting, depends too heavily on incidents that forces the reader to accept leaps of faith. Having Annie work with Alan may seem contrived yet their professional relationship adds sexual tension and causes intriguing stumbles to the investigation. Although not quite as good as the previous tale (IN A DRY SEASON), Peter Robinson's latest story can be banked on for providing a novel that series readers will still enjoy. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Another "stunner"
Review: Cold is the Grave by Peter Robinson William Morrow 2000 Peter Robinson is one of my favorite mystery authors and this his latest book did not disappoint me. This book again finds Inspector Banks under the thumb of his boss Chief Constable "Jimmy" Riddle and a bit confused when Jimmy asks Banks to do him a favor and find his 16 year-old daughter Emily, who has run away to London. Banks finds her living with a very unsavory criminal, Barry Clough, and on drugs. Banks persuades her to return home but a short time later she is found murdered with strychnine laced cocain and the suspects include her former lover, Barry. Banks sorts through all the suspects and clues and develops a likely theory but then uncovers some darkness in the Riddle family that throws new light on the problem. The surprise ending doesn't leave you gasping but has a neat twist. Detective Annie Cabot has been assigned to work with Banks and the tension between them because of their failed affair creates problems that they finally work out. This is aided and abetted by Banks former wife who wants a divorce so she can marry her live-in lover. This is not quite up to "In a Dry Season", the last Robinson book, but a very acceptable mystery and one I would recommend to all mystery fans.
Rating:
Summary: Another "stunner"
Review: Cold is the Grave by Peter RobinsonWilliam Morrow 2000 Peter Robinson is one of my favorite mystery authors and this his latest book did not disappoint me. This book again finds Inspector Banks under the thumb of his boss Chief Constable "Jimmy" Riddle and a bit confused when Jimmy asks Banks to do him a favor and find his 16 year-old daughter Emily, who has run away to London. Banks finds her living with a very unsavory criminal, Barry Clough, and on drugs. Banks persuades her to return home but a short time later she is found murdered with strychnine laced cocain and the suspects include her former lover, Barry. Banks sorts through all the suspects and clues and develops a likely theory but then uncovers some darkness in the Riddle family that throws new light on the problem. The surprise ending doesn't leave you gasping but has a neat twist. Detective Annie Cabot has been assigned to work with Banks and the tension between them because of their failed affair creates problems that they finally work out. This is aided and abetted by Banks former wife who wants a divorce so she can marry her live-in lover. This is not quite up to "In a Dry Season", the last Robinson book, but a very acceptable mystery and one I would recommend to all mystery fans.
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