A Necessary End

March 2, 1992
Chief Inspector Alan Banks of Britain's Eastvale Regional Police reappears in another fluently written, superior mystery. In this third outing he plays good cop while Supt. Richard (``Dirty Dick'') Burgess, a special investigator from London CID, plays bad cop in investigating the murder of a young constable sent to keep order at an anti-nuclear demonstration. ``A full-blown riot in Eastvale, admittedly, on a small scale, was near unthinkable,'' Banks muses. It's a drowsy town of 14,000 that time has passed by, yet a murderer--one of the demonstrators--undeniably has struck with a flick-knife (switchblade). Dirty Dick, a notorious stud and heavy drinker, roars into town, convinced that Bolshies and terrorists have killed PCsic Gill. A user of terror tactics himself, he's intent on making a collar even if the evidence must be bent. He brushes off Banks's suggestions that the demonstration may have been used as cover for a grudge killing. In a story that uses considerable psychological subtlety in exploring the afterlives of '60s flower children, Banks traces the crime to its roots in the past. Toronto author Robinson ( Gallows View ; A Dedicated Man ) has created a stalwart cop in Alan Banks, a man who loves justice and understands a woman's heart. Mystery Guild alternate; paperback rights to Avon .

James Langton's presentation makes an outstanding mystery even better. When a police officer is killed during a protest, suspects abound, including the aging hippies who live at a nearby commune. Langton skillfully delivers the aristocratic accent of a stuffy member of Parliament, distinctive Yorkshire speech, and even a Cockney accent. Best of all is his portrayal of the relationship between Inspector Banks and his direct opposite, Burgess, who's called in from London to assist with the complex investigation. Suspicion builds as a cop and some of the community's disadvantaged are scrutinized. Even non-mystery fans will enjoy this lively account of life in England today. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine