malongorose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
4.0
This is an enjoyable read in the Inspector Banks series. It has all that I like about the series. It starts out with a missing girl but the investigation leads to murder, murder and more murder. I enjoy the characters, the setting and multi faceted story lines. They all come together to make for an enjoyable read.
Highly recommend read.
Highly recommend read.
if_you_give_a_mouse_a_prozac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
didactylos's review against another edition
4.0
Another well plotted crime thriller, developing nicely from a small scale operation to a greater set of developments. Perhaps a little rushed as an ending?
paronomaniac's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, and Gun violence
chartsh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
DCI Banks was “a real copper, a man who had come from the street”.
WEDNESDAY’S CHILD, the sixth instalment in Peter Robinson’s now wildly successful Inspector Banks series, follows a tried and true suspense thriller formula. The novel opens with two distantly separated mystery plot lines that ultimately come together when the protagonist’s brilliant police work solves the crime and brings the villain to heel. It’s predictable and perhaps even a tad trite. Fans of the suspense thriller/murder myster/police procedural genres will know that the joining of the two plot lines is coming before the end of the very first chapter. But the fact is that Robinson’s skill in plot development, character development and scene setting pull it off with a novel that’s compelling, entertaining, diverting and then some.
In the first plot we are told of Brenda Scupham, a likeable bimbo, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and definitely a very reluctant mother, who is persuaded to simply hand her daughter over to two fake social workers knocking on her door claiming they have received reports of child abuse. The second story is a rather atypical murder – a petty criminal who is found gruesomely disemboweled in a tunnel on a long abandoned mine site. In the convergence of the two cases, Peter Robinson and Inspector Banks introduce us to one of the more terrifying villains appearing in the pages of crime literature. Think Hannibal Lector or Aaron Stampler.
Most enjoyable and highly recommended. I’m definitely an Inspector Banks fan.
Paul Weiss
WEDNESDAY’S CHILD, the sixth instalment in Peter Robinson’s now wildly successful Inspector Banks series, follows a tried and true suspense thriller formula. The novel opens with two distantly separated mystery plot lines that ultimately come together when the protagonist’s brilliant police work solves the crime and brings the villain to heel. It’s predictable and perhaps even a tad trite. Fans of the suspense thriller/murder myster/police procedural genres will know that the joining of the two plot lines is coming before the end of the very first chapter. But the fact is that Robinson’s skill in plot development, character development and scene setting pull it off with a novel that’s compelling, entertaining, diverting and then some.
In the first plot we are told of Brenda Scupham, a likeable bimbo, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and definitely a very reluctant mother, who is persuaded to simply hand her daughter over to two fake social workers knocking on her door claiming they have received reports of child abuse. The second story is a rather atypical murder – a petty criminal who is found gruesomely disemboweled in a tunnel on a long abandoned mine site. In the convergence of the two cases, Peter Robinson and Inspector Banks introduce us to one of the more terrifying villains appearing in the pages of crime literature. Think Hannibal Lector or Aaron Stampler.
Most enjoyable and highly recommended. I’m definitely an Inspector Banks fan.
Paul Weiss
cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars - Solid installment in this series. The cases are intriguing and kept my interest.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
One of the things that Robinson does really well is create characters that feel real; in this case, I could see and hear Brenda as though I'd met here somewhere. The mystery does have a "ripped from the headlines" feel to it, and there are plenty of references to the Moor Murders for those who don't know what headline is being referenced. Banks' growth throughout the series is interesting, especially if (like me) you're reading these out of order. I've said it before: one day I'll read them in order, or catch up with where he is now!