Sleeping in the Ground
Author: Peter Robinson
Series: Inspector Banks Book 24
Publisher: Hachette Australia
July 12th 2017
ISBN: 9781444786927
Paperback 374 pages
Publishers Summary
'A shocking mass murder occurs at a wedding in a small Dales church and a huge manhunt follows. Eventually, the shooter is run to ground and things take their inevitable course.
But Banks is plagued with doubts as to exactly what happened outside the church that day, and why. Struggling with the death of his first serious girlfriend and the return of profiler Jenny Fuller into his life, Banks feels the need to dig deeper into the murders, and as he does so, he uncovers forensic and psychological puzzles that lead him to the past secrets that might just provide the answers he is looking for.
When the surprising truth becomes clear, it is almost too late.'
Review
What an opening chapter!
Usually it takes me a few chapters of reading before I become fully immersed in a story, but those first twelve pages of “Sleeping In The Ground” are absolutely riveting.
There is the shocking incident of the shootings at the wedding, which is attended by Terry Gilchrist whose military experience returns in force as he hears the first shot, Terry is there with Winsome, who gets injured by the shooter.
Moving on to Banks, who, at the time, is attending the funeral of his first love, he is deeply immersed in thoughts of times past, but eventually news of the terrible shootings reach him and he rushes to the scene of the horrifying crime.
Then there is Ray, hippy artist father of Banks’ sidekick, Annie Cabbot, Ray rocks up at her tiny cottage telling her he wants to move up from Cornwall, to find a place close to her.
All this, just in the first few pages, and it beautifully sets up the whole story line.
At this point I should say that I am so happy to have read most of the Inspector Banks series, as I honestly don’t think a reader could fully appreciate the storyline if not familiar with these characters who have been involved with past story lines.
Moving on again to a bit later in the story; when the investigation of the shootings is underway, Jenny Fuller, the consulting crime psychologist returns from Australia and joins the team, she is a woman who featured in Banks’ life when he was still married. They had worked together and had become close, but the relationship ended before it had barely begun.
At this point I’m thinking that Banks should wake up and smell the coffee, he is divorced now so why doesn’t he just get things moving with Jenny! I couldn’t wait to read on to see how that panned out!
That’s what I mean by being thankful for having followed the series, as new readers might well miss out through lack of back story.
Moving on again to the main story; the shooting and “who dunnit", well, as usual, there is the evidence, and then there is Banks and his gut feel for the case. He picks up on and pontificates about the smallest of details, and, of course, puts many small details together to eventually solve the case.
An excellent story which, for me, is at times a tad too long winded when it comes to describing the police procedures, but nevertheless, it is a real page turner of a mystery.
However, Banks can be a little irritating with his aspirations of becoming a little more highbrow, his music, his attempts to learn more about poetry, somehow, to me, it all seems a little forced and not entirely in keeping with his natural character.
Still, that is just personal opinion, and it didn't stop me from loving the book, it is a wonderfully entertaining and satisfying story and I am so looking forward to reading the next episode in the life of Inspector Banks. It is definitely not yet time for him to retire!
Highly recommended.
Review copy provided by Hachette Australia
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