Past Reason Hated
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Review
'The characterizations are unfailingly sharp and subtle' New York Times 'A definite contender for fiction's new top cop' Independent on Sunday 'Watch for those twists - they'll get you every time' IAN RANKIN
Review
'If you haven't encountered Chief Inspector Alan Banks before, prepare for a crash course in taut, clean writing and subtle psychology. And watch for those twists - they'll get you every time' IAN RANKIN
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The last few crime novels I've read - before this one - have been lacklustre, badly thought-out, over-commercial affairs. Things had got so bad that I was beginning to despair of the genre as a whole. So it was a real joy to find this book: well thought-out plot, well written, good dialogue, believable and interesting characterisation (well, pretty much, a little over-heated in places maybe) and an excellent sense of place and season. My only quibble was a rather melodramatic ending. This was the first time I'd read a book by Peter Robinson and I'm glad to have found him. I'll certainly try his other books. If (like me) you like Henning Mankell's and Ian Rankin's books, this is ideal Sunday afternoon reading - entertaining and intelligent.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
"What the hell was it about the music that bothered him? Why did it have to mean something?"
11 Oct 2007
Format:Paperback
With this novel in the Inspector Banks series, Robinson has taken his work to the next level. His magnificent ability to use everyday situations in his plots, to provide insights regarding the motivations of his characters, and his cleverly-crafted mysteries are complemented with a deeper look at the main characters. This last element is the one that does the trick for me and lifts this effort from very good to excellent.
Inspector Banks has to find Caroline's killer, which is not an easy task, especially due to the number of people that had both opportunity and motive for committing the crime. The fact that she was living as a life-partner with another woman, who is not yet divorced, complicates matters and allows for some very interesting insights into the prejudices of some of the characters involved. When you add a piece of music playing repeatedly at the crime scene, which seems to have a clear symbolism, the elements are set for a compelling mystery.
This novel has all the characteristics that have made this author one of my favorites in the genre, but it goes even beyond that. This is the first time I see several passages with some fine humor, which works very well to provide the story with variety and to lighten the mood. Since before this work Robinson has been compared repeatedly with P. D. James, he just could not refrain himself and I almost started to laugh out loud when Banks thinks to himself: "I'm getting just like that Dalgliesh fellow..."
Robinson also makes great strides in terms of the development of the main characters, giving them even more depth. Not only we get a glimpse of some of Banks' reasons for leaving London and settling on the countryside, but there is considerably more material dealing with the personal relationship among the characters than there was in the previous novel, "The Hanging Valley". Another aspect that helps is the inclusion of a new character. Susan, a new constable that has just joined the Eastvale team, possesses a complex personality and a few prejudices that allow for some enlightening contrasts with Banks. She reminds me a little of Sergeant Barbara Havers, the beloved character in the series by Elizabeth George.
There is no question in my mind, this is the best book in the series so far and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Inspector Banks has to find Caroline's killer, which is not an easy task, especially due to the number of people that had both opportunity and motive for committing the crime. The fact that she was living as a life-partner with another woman, who is not yet divorced, complicates matters and allows for some very interesting insights into the prejudices of some of the characters involved. When you add a piece of music playing repeatedly at the crime scene, which seems to have a clear symbolism, the elements are set for a compelling mystery.
This novel has all the characteristics that have made this author one of my favorites in the genre, but it goes even beyond that. This is the first time I see several passages with some fine humor, which works very well to provide the story with variety and to lighten the mood. Since before this work Robinson has been compared repeatedly with P. D. James, he just could not refrain himself and I almost started to laugh out loud when Banks thinks to himself: "I'm getting just like that Dalgliesh fellow..."
Robinson also makes great strides in terms of the development of the main characters, giving them even more depth. Not only we get a glimpse of some of Banks' reasons for leaving London and settling on the countryside, but there is considerably more material dealing with the personal relationship among the characters than there was in the previous novel, "The Hanging Valley". Another aspect that helps is the inclusion of a new character. Susan, a new constable that has just joined the Eastvale team, possesses a complex personality and a few prejudices that allow for some enlightening contrasts with Banks. She reminds me a little of Sergeant Barbara Havers, the beloved character in the series by Elizabeth George.
There is no question in my mind, this is the best book in the series so far and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire, and is the author of thirteen previous novels featuring Inspector Banks. He is the winner of numerous awards in the United States, Britain and Canada, and in 2002 he won the CWA Dagger in the Library. As I also come from Leeds the background to his stories is something that I have experienced first hand and because of this I have a special affection for his books. However they would be first class crime fiction wherever they were based. This particular novel is one of the author's earlier books in the series.
The scene looks like a typical Christmas in many households, a log fire, sheepskin rug, lights twinkling on the tree, the all is not as it seems. Caroline Hartley, the attractive woman lying on the couch is dead, brutally murdered. Inspector Banks is allocated the case and he soon has more suspects than he can handle. As he looks into Caroline's past he realises that secrecy was a way of life and her death is no different . . .
The scene looks like a typical Christmas in many households, a log fire, sheepskin rug, lights twinkling on the tree, the all is not as it seems. Caroline Hartley, the attractive woman lying on the couch is dead, brutally murdered. Inspector Banks is allocated the case and he soon has more suspects than he can handle. As he looks into Caroline's past he realises that secrecy was a way of life and her death is no different . . .
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Losing the plot
After four previous novels in this series I was beginningto doubt whether any real progression was being made, and this certainly confirmed my worst fears. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mike_T
More like Morse than ever!!
Banks loves music and a drink but he's not as erudite as Morse but I couldn't help feeling throughout this book that they'd get along just fine, enjoy the same cases. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jane Baker
Inspector Banks
Past Reason Hated: An Inspector Banks Mystery (The Inspector Banks series) I find these Audio Tapes by Peter Robinson a must when I am ironing and working in the kitchen in fact I... Read more
Published 20 months ago by I. Oliver
Inspector Banks Series
Having read 3 books in the "Banks" series,"In a Dry Season",and "Cold is the Grave", as well as this one, I have to say that whilst I found the other books first class, this one "... Read more
Published 20 months ago by A. Dawson
Great bedtime read
This is the first of Peter Robinson's novels that I've read although I have listened to several in audiobook format. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by Birkmyre
peter robinson
the book as yet not finished but half way through is not holding the attention the others have had for me. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2009 by A. F. Bloom
Is this a dagger I see before me?
I couldn't go wrong with this. I love Robinson's Inspector Banks novels and I'm heavily into amateur dramatics. This was another cracking, page turner. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2009 by C. White
mystery lover
I loved this book as much as the others i have read by Peter Robinson. He is such a brilliant writer who keeps you interested at all times. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2008 by pat book lover
Spine Chilling!!
Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire, and is the author of thirteen previous novels featuring Inspector Banks. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2008 by J. Chippindale
Fantastic Once again from Robinson
This book really was fantastic. I could hardly bear to put it down. As with all the Inspector Banks novels, Robinson keeps you guessing right to the end, throwing in a few twists... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2006 by H. L. Nielsen
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