Strange Affair (Inspector Banks Novels)

Robinson has fallen into the quagmire that awaits the author who has started A Successful Series. This novel is forced, artificially prolonged, sometimes trite, and leaves the reader frustrated that she/he wasted so much time for so little payoff.

Alan Banks is on holiday from his police job, and he gets a worrisome message on his answering machine from his prodigal brother Roy. Alan is a good fella, so he goes around London trying to find Roy and find out what prompted the phonecall. Meanwhile, the entire police force is trying to get ahold of Banks because a murder victim had his address in her back pocket. For at least half the novel, Banks plods along looking through his brother's life, completely unaware of a related investigation that his sometime partner/sometime lover is leading. It is ludicrous to think Annie Cabot and Banks couldn't have communicated with each other for all that time. The novel could've been much shorter except for this forced detour.

We don't even have an idea as to why the woman was murdered (in the first chapter) until the last 20 pages of the novel. So the intervening pages are just "Gee, why did that happen? Gee, who could've done such a think? Gee, who's that man in the photograph?" The plot doesn't really advance--it just circles the airport waiting for an open gate wasting fuel. In the meantime, the reader has long wished she started a different book and left Banks and Annie Cabot to slosh along in their petty problems.

The title is corny and unfitting for the novel, and this book falls into the trap of making a mystery based on human rights groups' pet project. In summary, this was just plain boring! Banks and Annie make no progress in character development. You could just skip this novel and not miss a beat in the soap opera this series has become. Boo!

Could you please write another Banks novel soon? I've read them all...you can't just read one, as the dust jacket blurb says...and I want more, more, more! I know it takes a long time to turn out a great detective novel, but I'm an addict, what can I say? I was particularly touched by this one, because my brother died a couple of years ago and it's been a long time healing. As Banks says, "I feel like I've lost a part of me." Made a real connection with this one...can you blame us for wanting more?

I've read almost all of Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks books and have never been disappointed. This one is no exception. This is without a doubt one of the most suspenseful, intelligently written series of mysteries on the market. Just one note: Normally, a reader can pick up any book in this series and have no problem with references to past books. However, I would recommend reading "Playing With Fire" prior to "Strange Affair". But whatever you do, read it.

Set in Yorkshire and London, England. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is still recuperating from the fire in the last novel. He is dealing with some deep depression issues as well. His brother, Roy, calls from London asking for Alan's help. Even though the brothers are not close, blood is thicker than water. So Alan returns Roy's call. After several attempts, in vain, to reach Roy, Alan travels to London and begins to search for his elusive brother.

DI Annie Cabbott is investigating the murder of Jennifer Clewes. The lady was found sitting in her car with a bullet in her head. On the body is a piece of paper with DCI Alan Banks's contact information. A link is found between Alan, Roy, and Jennifer. Chaos reins supreme.

**** Unlike most of this series, not nearly enough investigating was done for my taste. The author DID give the readers information to whet their appetites, but he deals more with each character's backgrounds, personalities, and putting in some much needed bits of romance. Fans of Patricia Cornwell should take notice of this author's series. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

While reading, I alternated between wanting to rush through because the story was just that good, and wanting to read slowly, taking every word in, because the writing was just that good.

This book excels in all areas: plot, characters (and character development), sense of place, suspense, dialogue, and atmosphere. It's a police procedural that will make you feel, cheer, shudder, and think.

In Strange Affair Inspector Banks continues to mature as a character. In it he has his brilliant moments, his life lessons learned and times "when he just doesn't get it". Meanwhile the plot is absorbing and intricate. One of the nice things about these books is that a new reader can start with any book and understand where Banks's head is at now.

I look forward to the next installment.

...that Robinson's latest books have become as pedestrian as this one. I found the plot uninspiring at best, and completely devoid of surprises. All in all, one could skip this entry and not miss a thing. As always, Robinson is a good writer, and he's brought Banks to an interesting -- albeit depressing -- psychological place, but one can't help but feel that he and the series are simply treading water at this point. If only the entire book were as brilliant and incisive as the very last line. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the next one.

Gets better and better; cannot recommend it too highly. Well delineated characters great story! I have read them all. One of the other reviewers suggested it was like Cornwell's series...I think much better...more depth. Read it!.

Another Inspector Banks page turner. Fascinating plot with more twists and turns than some of the other Banks novels -- although I've never found one I didn't like. This one finds Banks recovering from a fire that nearly took his life, and feeling lost or not feeling much at all, when he receives a message from his estranged brother regarding a "matter of life and death." Banks fails to reach him and finally goes to London to find him, and things take off from there. Robinson is a true master who continues to develop Banks' character in the midst of life's twists and turns. His books are far more than simple police procedurals -- lots of characters you care about and mysteries galore to keep you up at night.

The DI Banks series just keeps getting better--more complex and twisting plots, better descriptions, more juicy character developments. This is one of the best, can't wait to read the next one. Dr.Kacie Crisp