Standing in the Shadows - (Inspector Banks Novels) Large Print by Peter Robinson (Paperback)

About the Book

"In November 1980, Nick Hartley returns home from a university lecture to find his house crawling with police. His ex-girlfriend, Alice Poole, has been found murdered, and her new boyfriend Mark Woodcroft is missing. Nick is the prime suspect. The case quickly goes cold, but Nick cannot let it go. He embarks on a career in investigative journalism, determined to find Alice's murderer--but his obsession leads him down a dangerous path. Decades later, in November 2019, an archaeologist unearths a skeleton that turns out to be far more contemporary than the Roman remains she is seeking. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks and his team are called in to investigate, but there is little to be gleaned from the remains themselves. Left with few clues, Banks and his team must rely on their wits to hunt down a killer"--

Book Synopsis

"One of the finest police procedural writers around... [Standing in the Shadows] is as narratively rich and surprising as Robinson's best work. Knowing it's his last makes the reading bittersweet." -- New York Times Book Review

The 28^th twisting installment in the DCI Alan Banks mystery series that Stephen King calls "the best now on the market."

In November 1980, Nick Hartley returns home from a university lecture to find his house crawling with police. His ex-girlfriend, Alice Poole, has been found murdered, and her new boyfriend Mark Woodcroft is missing. Nick is the prime suspect. The case quickly goes cold, but Nick cannot let it go. He embarks on a career in investigative journalism, determined to find Alice's murderer--but his obsession leads him down a dangerous path.

Decades later, in November 2019, an archaeologist unearths a skeleton that turns out to be far more contemporary than the Roman remains she is seeking. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks and his team are called in to investigate, but there is little to be gleaned from the remains themselves. Left with few clues, Banks and his team must rely on their wits to hunt down a killer.

As the two cases unfurl, the investigations twist and turn to an explosive conclusion.

Review Quotes

"One of the finest police procedural writers around... [Standing in the Shadows] is as narratively rich and surprising as Robinson's best work. Knowing it's his last makes the reading bittersweet." -- New York Times Book Review

"Readers will love getting a fascinating primer in both modern forensics and archaeological techniques.... As usual, Banks' steadfast, multifaceted character holds his team and the story itself together....The ending, in which the two narratives join, is a stunner." -- Booklist on Standing in the Shadows

"As always in the Banks novels, readers will enjoy the details of pop culture and social history. This is an intelligent and satisfying procedural." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Standing in the Shadows

"[An] intriguing Sherlock Holmes-type mystery." -- Buzzfeed on Standing in the Shadows

"Standing in the Shadows is textbook Robinson, expertly conceived and suspenseful from start to finish.... One of the best mystery/thriller series in the business." -- Book Reporter on Standing in the Shadows

"Standing in the Shadows is a worthy addition to the Banks canon... Robinson was an author at the top of his game, and Banks a detective at the top of his. Both will be sorely missed by their readers." -- The Guardian

"A fascinating mystery.... Standing in the Shadows delivers a true whodunit mystery packed with details. When the dust settles, readers will find a satisfying ending that ties up all the loose ends." -- Novels Alive on Standing in the Shadows

"Another thrilling ride with Inspector Banks and his crew.... Fans of the series will love this one." -- Red Carpet Crash on Standing in the Shadows

"A serpentine, multilayered and intricate novel... Death stands powerless before Robinson's legacy, which will endure for longtime admirers who will recapture the magic via rereading and for those lucky souls who have yet to discover his achievements." -- Free-Lance Star on Standing in the Shadows

"Peter Robinson's superior plotting skills, strong social conscience, palpable sense of place, and, not least, voracious love of music put him in the pantheon of contemporary British crime writers... a lovely way to remember Banks and his creator, who leaves behind a legacy of novels that explore the thorniest regions of the heart, mind, and soul." -- Air Mail on Standing in the Shadows

"Robinson... zigzags deftly back and forth between present and past." -- Kirkus Reviews on Not Dark Yet

"Not Dark Yet finds Banks at an existential crossroads. . . . The plight of Zelda, it seems, has rocked Banks's sense of himself and his career as a lawman to the core." -- Wall Street Journal

"Robinson pulls the reader in with deft characterizations, powerfully understated action scenes, and strong locales--while leaving space for this amateur musicologist's usual legion of song and album references... A strong addition to the Banks series that suggests tantalizing possibilities for the next installment." -- Kirkus Reviews on Not Dark Yet

"Bestseller Robinson ably balances multiple plotlines in his intricate 27^th novel featuring Det. Supt. Alan Banks . . . . Robinson deepens the character of Banks . . . Fans will wonder what lies ahead for his career and personal life." -- Publishers Weekly on Not Dark Yet

"This series continues to be as thoughtful and intelligent as ever . . . Long may it continue." -- The Guardian on Not Dark Yet

"Celebrated suspense writer Robinson returns with the latest in the long-running series starring Yorkshire DCI Alan Banks. Fans will welcome this latest Banks adventure and revel in what Michael Connelly calls Robinson's 'clear eye for the telling detail.'" -- Booklist on Not Dark Yet

"Robinson is an author with amazing empathy, a snare-trap ear for dialogue, and a clear eye for the telling detail." -- Michael Connelly on Many Rivers to Cross

"Peter Robinson is a master." -- Tess Gerritsen on Many Rivers to Cross

"Robinson approaches his characters with immense compassion." -- New York Times Book Review on Many Rivers to Cross

"Thrilling, brilliantly plotted, beautifully paced." -- Louise Penny on Many Rivers to Cross

"Reliable procedural entertainment from a pro's pro, with an ending that guarantees more drama ahead." -- Kirkus Reviews on Many Rivers to Cross

"Robinson fans will enjoy the latest entry in this long-running series. First-time readers will be motivated to seek out the previous titles. Well-written and believable, with recognizable but multifaceted characters and enough twists to keep the story riveting until the mystery is solved." -- Library Journal on Careless Love

"As usual, Robinson provides a solid police procedural enhanced by the rugged Yorkshire setting. Banks himself--jazz and solitude-loving, difficult, somewhat melancholic, unlucky in love--is always fascinating... [F]or series fans, this one is a sure bet." -- Booklist on Careless Love

"Engrossing... Those who enjoy methodical police procedurals that build to a logical, satisfying conclusion will be amply rewarded." -- Publishers Weekly on Careless Love