When the Music's Over

June 27, 2016
In Edgar-winner Robinson’s timely, sobering 23rd Inspector Banks novel (after 2015’s In the Dark Places), Det. Insp. Annie Cabbot investigates the rape and murder of 15-year-old Mimosa “Mimsy” Moffat, a white girl found naked on a country road, who lived in the nearby estates in Wytherton, York, and ran with a crowd that included several older guys of Pakistani descent. While Cabbot must tread carefully in the racially charged atmosphere during her investigation, Banks, recently promoted to detective superintendent, looks into claims made against a beloved British variety star, Danny Caxton, a 1960s-era crooner known for the catchphrase “Do your own thing,” which seemed to include raping 14-year-old Linda Palmer in 1967. Banks must decide whether Palmer, a poet who now wants to pursue a case against Caxton, is credible, and whether she’s his only victim. Robinson takes hot-button topics—xenophobia, sexual assault, and celebrities—and turns them into uniquely compelling cases for Banks, who remains a stalwart of justice in crime fiction. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary Agency.

Simon Prebble's understated narration of Robinson's dark, thought-provoking mystery demonstrates how vital the right choice of narrator is to a successful audiobook. In this latest series title, Inspector Banks investigates a 50-year-old rape charge while his young DI, Annie Cabot, delves into the recent savage murder of a teenaged girl. Solving these crimes requires that the investigators, and listeners, face the horrid consequences of some of society's worst failings. The subject matter is carefully handled, but unsettling. Prebble's steady tones and soothing accent reduce the drama, allowing listeners to appreciate the nuanced characters and complex plot of this riveting police procedural. Prebble's masterful delivery of this well-written story offers an audio experience with appeal far beyond established Inspector Banks fans. M.O.B. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine