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 enlarge | Author: Peter Robinson
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Category: Book
List Price: £16.99
Buy New: £9.34
You Save: £7.65 (45%)
New (24) Used (7) Collectible (2) from £8.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 6864
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.5
ISBN: 034083692X
EAN: 9780340836927
ASIN: 034083692X
Publication Date: August 7, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 All the Colours of Darkness - Peter Robinson October 1, 2008
I thought that the last novel in the Chief Inspector Banks series lacked energy but was hopeful that he would back on form in this. Not so, I honestly believe that Robinson is writing in the wrong genre. This is loosely a crime/police procedural novel. It is more about Banks himself, his ability to balance his personal relationship and job and the changes in him that have taken place over time.
In this novel nothing happens outside of the police characters' lives - no tension built up but a rather incredible story line around the MI6 which sees Banks dealing with unbelievable shadowy forces.
The music references are annoying. A sergeant goes in to interview a person at home and ends up reflecting upon the music he plays and thinks of her own preferences.
The prose and dialgoue are clunky and the end is a disappointment.
I gave this one star and I only gave it that because some of the descriptive scenes are good - ie. the vivid imagery of life in contrast to the ugly death of a hanged man in the opening scene.
It also feels that Robinson is out of touch - a witness has never heard of a "hoody" before, a teacher that covers arithmetic, a detective who says he should "spank" someone who arrives unexpectedly at his home.
I have really enjoyed Banks up until the last couple of novels and I'm not sure that I could be tempted to buy any more when there are writers out there such as Richard Montanari, Craig Russell, Mark Billingham and John Harvey.
Not so good September 28, 2008
Well, that was hard work. The partnership between the driven Banks and the neurotic Annie is much the same as ever, but the plot is tired and long-winded with an exceptionally silly climax. Plot sparkle has always been a hallmark - hopefully the next offering will not disappoint so comprehensively.
Poor September 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Oh dear. Poor plot, O-Level interpretation of Othello and a silly conspiracy theory. Not good.
 Well, I thought it was excellent! September 21, 2008
I too have read all the Banks books and I thought this one was well up there with the best. At any rate, I found the plot gripping once I'd got into it and the characters convincing. I thought the Tom subplot might lead somewhere else but on reflection Banks DOES need someone nearer his own age! My major quibble is Banks' alcohol consumption; he must be approaching alcoholism and I simply do not see how anyone could do the job he does on that amount of booze. Come to that, ALL the police characters seem to spend an awful lot of time eating and drinking in pubs; don't they ever consider a takeaway sandwich for lunch? But in general I would heartily recommend this one as a worthy addition to an excellent series.
Much Ado About Nothing September 17, 2008
OK, so Robinson wants to make a big thing of a Shakespeare play, dare I suggest another one as a summary of this novel? I agree with most other reviewers about the slack plotting and the music references.
Can I add this - continual use of rank in conversations e.g. 'Let me ask you,
DI Cabbot, where is DCI Banks?' and when those two are alone in the pub, they refer to 'Superintendent Gervaise'. Oh, come on! How many of us give bosses that much respect?!!!! One other thing - why is Reeth named as such, when a few miles away you seemingly enter a fictitious place called Eastvale? It seems strange to me that a fine writer like Peter Robinson stoops to this level. Something similar has happened recently to Lee Child, Robert Goddard, John Grisham among others. Is it the publishers? If so, I'm afraid they've over-played it, as I, for one, won't be back for the next Robinson. Billingham, as another reviewer has said, is on top of his game. And if you want really good police-procedural, try Graham Hurley-strongly recommended.
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