Aftermath

Starred review from August 27, 2001
Dark, darker, darkest—endless shades of ebony seem to envelop Acting Det. Superintendent Alan Banks in this grim, compelling, character-driven mystery (after 2000's Cold Is the Grave). As the head of the North Yorkshire half of a two-county joint task force, Banks is helping look into the disappearances of five young girls. As the title implies, the answer comes early on in an explosive scene where the girls' grisly fate is discovered. But Banks is left with the aftermath: a cop facing possible charges for excessive force, a woman who may be a victim or may be guilty of monstrous crimes, an "extra" body and one that isn't where it ought to be. Banks also faces plenty of personal challenges as his wife, Sandra, still pressing for divorce, finds a new way to shock him, while sometime girlfriend and colleague, Annie Cabbot, seeks to change their relationship. Robinson's never tackled darker themes: child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, torture and murder. And while he never indulges in needlessly graphic descriptions, it is still horrific stuff. Introspective, thoughtful and plagued by uncertainties, Banks battles to maintain focus as the investigation plods on. As always, the author scrupulously details the police work, from the forensics to the efforts of a consultant psychologist (i.e., a profiler), who delves into a past case that may be related. A proven master of the British police procedural, Robinson should find a large audience for this gripping, psychologically astute tale. Agent, Dominick Abel. (Oct. 9)Forecast:Stronger than
Cold Is the Grave, which won the Anthony and the Ellis awards, this novel stands to rack up even bigger sales, fueled by a five-city author tour and 25-city national radio campaign.

In his fourteenth novel featuring Yorkshire Chief Inspector Alan Banks, Peter Robinson explores the long-term effects of child abuse when a domestic disturbance reveals a gallery of horrors in the cellar of a quiet suburban home. The story is gruesome and graphic, but is hauntingly effective, especially when juxtaposed with Ron Keith's precise and melodious reading. His accent is genteel and euphonic, and his intonation lively, creating a startling contrast to this story of murder and evil passions. As is typical in Robinson's writing, past and present, public crimes and private life all merge in a compelling and unforgettable story. S.E.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine