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A Piece of My Heart
 
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A Piece of My Heart (Paperback)

by Peter Robinson (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 440 pages
  • Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd; Export Ed edition (19 Jun 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0340836873
  • ISBN-13: 978-0340836873
  • Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 3.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,027,331 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

Stephen King
'The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are, simply put, the best series now on the market.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

'Robinson has to use all his ingenuity to find the solution to both killings. This book benefits hugely from Robinson's sympathetic leading man and the richly recorded Dales settings.'

(Scotsman )

'PIECE OF MY HEART brilliantly evokes the time of British psychedelia (which I remember as standing in a muddy field sucking on a weak joint), as well as being a terrific contemporary crime novel.'

(Independent on Sunday )

'Peter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin; perhaps Piece of My Heart, the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, will give him the status he deserves, near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league . . . Piece of My Heart brilliantly interweaves past and present, providing two strands of tension for the price of one, and further enhancing Alan Banks's reputation as one of crime fiction's most appealing cops.'

(Marcel Berlins, The Times )

'This is Banks' 16th outing and the best yet'

(Mirror )

'This book must be the bargain of the year, for it is two riveting, equally interesting crime novels in one. What takes it into the premier league, however, is Robinson's utterly convincing and moving portrayal of Chadwick and Banks'

(Telegraph )

'Peter Robinson has for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin; perhaps Piece of My Heart, the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, will give him the status he deserves, near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league . . . Piece of My Heart brilliantly interweaves past and present, providing two strands of tension for the price of one, and further enhancing Alan Banks's reputation as one of crime fiction's most appealing cops.'

(Marcel Berlins, The Times ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Product Description

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Customer Reviews

29 Reviews
5 star:
 (13)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (8)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A clever and original 16th Alan Banks novel., 10 Jul 2006
By R. A. Brown "richardawood2376" (Lincoln, UK.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: A Piece of My Heart (Hardcover)
Peter Robinson is able to keep coming up with clever and original stories in his Inspector Alan Banks series and this (though rather drawn out) is one of his best.

This is a split time novel with two investigations, one in the autumn of 1969 and the present day. The novel switches cleverly between the two periods and provides an intriguing insight into how a murder investigation was conducted in the 6o's compared to present day.
The investigating officer in 1969 is Stanley Chadwick a WWII veteran, a hard nosed policeman of the 'old school'. He is investigating the murder of a teenage girl at an open air rock concert in Yorkshire where a local band called "The Mad Hatters' were playing.
37 years later Banks is investigating the death of a rock music jounalist who was writing an article on the band.

Robinson has developed very strong characters as well as a real sense of atmosphere added with some clever observations. The character Vic Greaves, a rock star who took too many drugs and escaped into his own reclusive world is very obviously based on Pink Floyd's original musical genius Syd Barrett.

Banks has to contend with a new boss, Detective Superintendent Gervaise, a high flying ex Cheltenham Ladies College student who is tough and single minded but knows that Banks, although unconventional gets results.

This is the most original Banks story since 'In a Dry Season' (also a split time novel,in this case WWII).

Peter Robinson is a very accomplished writer but it would be good to see him stretch out and write another non Banks book in the future.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, 6 Oct 2007
By Andy Edwards "staxasoul" (Essex UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
This review is from: Piece of My Heart (Paperback)
In the crowded world of fictional detectives/investigators, Peter Robinsons Inspector Banks series stands out - a new Banks novel is always worth reading. Banks himself is a satisfyingly complex creation, and if you have read any of the series, you will know that his love of music features heavily.

So it is no surprise to see this novel use a '70's music festival as the centrepiece of the tale. Robinson has 2 separate threads woven brilliantly together, linking the past with the present, and the efforts to solve both cases running side by side. It is a tribute to his style that this never becomes tiresome, each unwinding to a satisfying and credible conclusion.

If you have not yet discovered Peter Robinson as an author, then be warned - if you buy this you will have to get hold of the rest of the series - this is highly recommended for all lovers of Detective fiction
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly constructed tale, 9 Jun 2007
This review is from: Piece of My Heart (Paperback)
Peter Robinson has succeeded where many fail: he has put together a highly complex plot which carries the reader to and from a different era without losing pace. For me this book restores Robinson's position as the (much underrated) master of this genre.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars intersting, enjoyale but not great
I was provided with this book to read as part of my crime book group reading. I found the split story not entirely to my liking. Read more
Published 27 days ago by rowse

2.0 out of 5 stars Overrated
I'm puzzled why so many people rave about Peter Robinson. His work is highly derivative, generally fails to develop characters into something better than stereotypes, regularly... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Geoff Wallis

3.0 out of 5 stars Lies, drugs and Rock 'n roll
An interesting idea with a split 1969 & modern day murder being told concurrently. I love the way that Robinson builds layers as his novels progress; I did find that the constant... Read more
Published 4 months ago by C. White

5.0 out of 5 stars Murder, Mystery and Rock and Roll
The Sixties are almost over, it's summer and it's a summer of sex, drugs and rock and roll and at a major Woodstock like rock fest where the Mad Hatters thrill their audience in a... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Maggie Mae

3.0 out of 5 stars Trying too hard
Piece of My Heart An interesting use of the split time-frame and a good pace makes this a mildly enjoyable read. Read more
Published 4 months ago by piscator

4.0 out of 5 stars Two for the price of one
"A piece of my heart" is a well crafted police procedural from the pen of an excellent writer. DCI Banks once again heads the main investigation but is to some extent hampered by... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Martin A. Chambers

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm very impressed
I haven't read any of his other books and I picked this up because it was cheap. And I have to say I am really impressed. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Book Worm

3.0 out of 5 stars The twist that never was
Ian Rankin is quoted on the front cover of my edition of this novel as saying "Watch out for those twists - they'll get you every time". Read more
Published 19 months ago by OEJ

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable & worthwhile
I've read a few of the Inspector Banks' series, and this was one of the better. I still can't quite place the writing style - its not energetic, its not boring, its not overly... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Opus_Seven

4.0 out of 5 stars A well written tale of parallel crimes a generation appart
I really enjoyed this book.

It was my first go at this author and I found it very easy to read and well written. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2007 by Mrs. B

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