lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
What would you do if a childhood friend disappeared, then 35 years later you learn that he was murdered? That's the situation for Alan Banks, taking him away from his vacation in Greece (much needed, and now shortened) - but it's not, as they say, on his patch. Of course he's involved, if only as a potential witness, and of course he finds out that there's more to his old friend's life than met the eye. What is more interesting is the relationship between Banks and his parents and how they react not just to his profession but also to how it leads him into an investigation close to home. There's another mystery here, a missing teen being investigated by Annie Cabot. While the two cases aren't related, the mistakes both Banks and Cabot make are interestingly similar.
Having recently read Book 12 (Aftermath) it was really easy to understand the non-procedural parts. Only a few more and I'll have read the entire series and have a really complete picture of who Banks is... maybe.
Having recently read Book 12 (Aftermath) it was really easy to understand the non-procedural parts. Only a few more and I'll have read the entire series and have a really complete picture of who Banks is... maybe.
nonna7's review against another edition
5.0
This book opens with Alan Banks vacationing in Greece. He's taking a long holiday after a particularly messy case and messy personal problems. He spends his time reading, listening to music and playing chess with a Greek friend at the local taverna. He still picks up the newspapers however and is shocked when he learns that the body of a boyhood friend had been found at an excavation site. He, the boy, Graham, and two others had been friends as teenagers until Banks left his hometown at the age of 18 for London. He always assumed that Graham had just "run off." He returns early to offer his help to Michelle, an attractive 40 year old cop, who has been taking classes and working hard at her job both to further her education and to forget her past. In typical Robinson fashion this unfolds over time so this won't be a spoiler if you want to read the book.
Michelle is surprised that her boss is not supportive about the investigation. When Banks shows up he doesn't tell her initially that he is one of them which doesn't endar him to either her or her boss. Her boss was a young detective who was with the head detective when they visited Banks when he was 14 to ask about his friend. So that's kind of interesting, but more about that later as they say.
In the meantime, since Banks has abandoned his holiday plans, Annie asks him to assist in the investigation of a missing teenage boy. It's a high profile case. His father is a well known footballer (as they say) and his mother was a well known model back in the day. Then they get a call saying that he has been kidnapped.
However, not soon after they find his body. So now it's a murder investigation.
The two cases are not related except for the fact that they are both about murders of 14 year old boys, and Banks is involved in both of them. In typical Robinson fashion there are so many twists and turns and red herrings.
It's an interesting book about music and memory and how our memories can often trick us. Robinson always weaves music into his books. Banks has eclectic taste in music: everything from Schubert to Monk to the Beatles. As always, I'm a fan. I never miss a Peter Robinson book.
Michelle is surprised that her boss is not supportive about the investigation. When Banks shows up he doesn't tell her initially that he is one of them which doesn't endar him to either her or her boss. Her boss was a young detective who was with the head detective when they visited Banks when he was 14 to ask about his friend. So that's kind of interesting, but more about that later as they say.
In the meantime, since Banks has abandoned his holiday plans, Annie asks him to assist in the investigation of a missing teenage boy. It's a high profile case. His father is a well known footballer (as they say) and his mother was a well known model back in the day. Then they get a call saying that he has been kidnapped.
However, not soon after they find his body. So now it's a murder investigation.
The two cases are not related except for the fact that they are both about murders of 14 year old boys, and Banks is involved in both of them. In typical Robinson fashion there are so many twists and turns and red herrings.
It's an interesting book about music and memory and how our memories can often trick us. Robinson always weaves music into his books. Banks has eclectic taste in music: everything from Schubert to Monk to the Beatles. As always, I'm a fan. I never miss a Peter Robinson book.
bookwormbev17's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
psalmcat's review against another edition
5.0
I'm in love with the main character in this book, I think. Of course, that means I'll probably have to add Peter Robinson to my Authors list.
So this finds Alan Banks in Greece recovering from a previous case, where he reads a short article in the paper about bones being discovered near where he grew up. As it turns out, the bones are those of a friend of his from his teen years. In spite of having another week of leave, he returns to England to see if he might have any information to help the local police.
He also finds out that a boy in his own area has disappeared. The two cases track together--somewhat obviously--but with entirely different ending points. One takes away from the book as a whole the wishful-thinking of parents who think they know their teens, and how good teens are at concealing from everyone what they are really thinking...and doing.
Really good book.
So this finds Alan Banks in Greece recovering from a previous case, where he reads a short article in the paper about bones being discovered near where he grew up. As it turns out, the bones are those of a friend of his from his teen years. In spite of having another week of leave, he returns to England to see if he might have any information to help the local police.
He also finds out that a boy in his own area has disappeared. The two cases track together--somewhat obviously--but with entirely different ending points. One takes away from the book as a whole the wishful-thinking of parents who think they know their teens, and how good teens are at concealing from everyone what they are really thinking...and doing.
Really good book.
micrummey's review against another edition
4.0
A typical Banks' police procedural. This is in effect two novels are rolled into one as Banks has links to two murders over 30 years apart involving two teenage boys.
Robinson does his usual thing with plenty of music references as Banks and Annie look at these crimes in Peterborough and Yorkshire.
Robinson gives us some of Banks's childhood in Peterborough and uses various clever devices that allow Banks to remember things he has forgotten, from finding old schoolboy diaries to visiting a fair, the sounds and smells evoking his memories.
Although both crimes are solved not everything is neatly tied up as what might happen in a real case.
An enjoyable read which has a patient pace throughout.
Robinson does his usual thing with plenty of music references as Banks and Annie look at these crimes in Peterborough and Yorkshire.
Robinson gives us some of Banks's childhood in Peterborough and uses various clever devices that allow Banks to remember things he has forgotten, from finding old schoolboy diaries to visiting a fair, the sounds and smells evoking his memories.
Although both crimes are solved not everything is neatly tied up as what might happen in a real case.
An enjoyable read which has a patient pace throughout.
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
3.0
The Summer that Never Was, by Peter Robinson, sees Yorkshire policeman DCI Alan Banks (Robinson's main character) discover that the bones of an old schoolboy chum have been discovered near his old home town. At the same time a local kid (and son of a rock icon) disappears in his new "patch" so Banks (along with his subordinate DI Annie Cabbot) helps bring both investigations to a conclusion.
This book, which occurred earlier in the "Banks and Cabbot" series, is better than his 2 most recent books (both of which were hard to believe). It's an easy read, and will keep you interested while you read it.
I'm not altogether sure, however, that the series is improving with age. The best written of his books (that I've read), were the two books near the start of the series. This is sort of middling, while the 2 newest books are less effective. Consequently, I'd recommend that people start at the beginning of the series and take it from there.
This book, which occurred earlier in the "Banks and Cabbot" series, is better than his 2 most recent books (both of which were hard to believe). It's an easy read, and will keep you interested while you read it.
I'm not altogether sure, however, that the series is improving with age. The best written of his books (that I've read), were the two books near the start of the series. This is sort of middling, while the 2 newest books are less effective. Consequently, I'd recommend that people start at the beginning of the series and take it from there.
skinnypenguin's review against another edition
4.0
Two murders in one story. The body of a young boy is found and he had been murdered a long time ago and was a friend of DCI Banks. While another cop investigates Banks helps out a bit and the story keeps flashing back to his memories of the time he spent with the murdered youth. Meanwhile he also helps out DI Annie Cabot in the investigation into the disappearance and subsequent death of another young boy. Both boys were a bit different than their peers and it was these other associations that got them killed. Banks does a little soul searching and ends up dating the cop investigating his friends death.
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