As a longtime fan of Peter Robinson’s Inspector Bank’s
series, I must say that I have been slightly unenthusiastic about the series.
There was a certain restlessness about the story line as it progressed through
the last few books. It didn’t stop me from enjoying the story or the intricate
plotting that Mr. Robinson is so famous for; his delicate and intricate descriptions
of the Yorkshire country side are always evocative and imaginative; his choices
of music are always educational and have caused me to spend more money than I
care to remember on musical CDs inspired by his musical choices. Yet, the
stories felt like the characters have stagnated slightly even though both Banks
and Annie have not stayed static over the sequence of books, it just seemed
like they aren’t going anywhere.
The prior installment of the Inspector Banks series, When the
Music Is Over, gave us a wee dram of tastiness of what is to come however.
Banks had been promoted to Detective Superintendent and he has finally found a
boss that he felt comfortable with, and his orneriness and rebelliousness seems
to have been tempered by old age. The lone term storyline with the characters
was evolving, accounting for both Bank’s and Annie becoming older. The other
characters are also beginning to blossom into their own skin; Winsome Jackson’s
character was becoming a welcome addition, and Gerry Masterson started to stand
out. Indeed the introduction of Linda Palmer the poet introduces the element of
poetry to the narrative, a most welcomed respite from the reality that Mr.
Robinson is so adept at describing. So I see that installment as the
foreshadowing of this installment.
This book is a full blown coming out party in many ways.
Even though Mr. Robinson kept his dual story plotline, he executed it in a
different way, expertly giving us all a nice head fake while doing so. He has
reintroduced the character of psychologist Jenny Fuller, teasing us as to her
potential to be Bank’s latest love interest. Most importantly, he has also
shown Banks growing into his role as the Detective Superintendent, gaining
gravitas and acting as the mentor. This is a most welcome development, as we
watch Banks mature, much as we watch a good and trusty friend mature along with
us. It is a comfortable and emotional evolution for me as I become more
identified with Bank’s thoughts and emotions.
All the while, in a reversal of roles, it is now Annie who
is the rebel of sorts, and the designated ornery character, although Banks has
not completely mellowed out by any stretch of the imagination. Gerry Masterson
is the ingénue and the story actually moves along in a smooth new way.
In yet another new twist, Mr. Robinson has also introduced
an element of nostalgia and regret in describing the death of Bank’s first
love, his childhood sweetheart Emily. It is a bittersweet interlude which helps
us delve further into Bank’s psyche and his most primal feelings. This
storyline does not seem intrusive, even though in the wrong hands, it could
have. It fits nicely into the narrative naturally.
In my personal history with this series, I would put this
book up there with In A Dry Season, the first book in the series that I’d read
and the one book that exemplifies much of what I love about the series and the
reason why I loyally and unquestioningly follow Banks. In some ways this story is
better because it is much more emotional and personally meaningful to me.
