Inspector Banks never disappoints. As we have come to expect from this long-running series, the latest by Peter Robinson is well written and populated with complex characters we care about. The investigation is professional and intelligently pursued in the best police procedural tradition. The two timelines are handled smoothly and effectively, and the ending is satisfying.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for a digital advance review copy.

In this 28th in the popular police procedural series (starring Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks in Yorkshire, England.), an archaeology dig uncovers a modern skeleton that ties in to an unsolved cold case.

DI Annie Cabbot, DS Winsome Jackman, and DC Geraldine Masterson (all very strong women) assist in the investigation.

Banks gets a confession, but still has to work to get the full picture of what happened all those years before.

Standing in the Shadows is the 28th DCI Banks procedural mystery by Peter Robinson. Released 11th April 2023 by HarperCollins on their Wm. Morrow imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback is due out from the same publisher in second quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is a very well established series, with a returning ensemble cast of believable characters. The writing is always of such high quality that (despite the longevity of the series) it never ever feels phoned in or less than engaging and worthy. It's told in a dual timeline; 1980s and 2019 and the two stories, seemingly unconnected at first, twine ever closer into a phenomenal resolution and denouement.

DCI Banks is cerebral and clever and genuinely moral and a very good investigator. He takes his remit very seriously, and he has a close team of colleagues. They have their own stories, and the whole is a well woven tapestry which is a joy to read.

The story is woven around real life historical events and politicians active during the period, and it's so skillfully done that it's not always clear where fact shades into fiction. The ending managed a few surprises and the whole was satisfying and self contained. It's possible to read the books in any order, but readers who do so risk small spoilers in the characters' back history.

Although it's not at all derivative, in some good ways, author Peter Robinson's style and the character of Banks himself, remind me of Colin Dexter's Morse. Cerebral and civilized, with a laser insight to humanity and its foibles.

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 9 hours, 59 minutes, and is expertly narrated by series narrator Simon Vance. He has a remarkably versatile voice, switching from gravelly Cockney to refined public school accents in male and female voices in a range of ages. Really one of the better audiobooks of 2023.

Four and a half stars for both the audio and print versions. This would make a superlative binge/buddy read, or a good choice for mystery book club analysis as there's a significant portion of weighty social reform/politics/history involved with a lot of good discussion potential.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Oh how I have missed Inspector Banks. I loved the PBS series and to return to reading the mysteries is a joy. Solid police work and a plot that could be found in a real crime documentary. No outlandish details but a real mystery novel and characters that are well crafted with full lives. Robinson's book are a delight to read.

Land bought by the government for a new shopping center is being excavated first by archaeologists for proof of a possible Roman era settlement. Unexpectedly they find a skeleton buried three feet deep. Too shallow to be of ancient origin, they call the police who in turn call in Bank's team. The first mystery they must solve is the identity of the skeleton who does not seem to be in the missing person's database. If they can't find who he really is they have no hope of finding his killer. By running down the lead and exhausting all sources they are able to find some clues as to who he could be and why he hasn't been reporting missing.

Fans of true crime books and documentaries will adore the Inspector Banks series.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Is there a connection between a 1980 unsolved murder and a skeleton discovered by an archeologist in 2019? You bet there is, but you will have to read this excellent police procedural to uncover the link.

The story is told in two time frames and it was easy to follow the cases. Even though this is the 28th in the series (my first), Standing in the Shadows can be read as a stand-alone.

I had a lot of problems with the back-and-forth timelines. It kept breaking my focus on the story, and I wasn't feeling it. I gave up at 47% and am a bit sad since I have seen a lot of people that loved this book. Because of that, I urge everyone to try it and see if it works for them. I give what I read 3/5 stars since it was well written, even if I wasn't feeling it.

I confess: I had been taking Peter Robinson for granted. I expected to read a whole bunch more Inspector Banks novels. I had always found his mysteries to be well written, often complex stories that I would often purchase, then park in my “ to -be-read” file . Now I have learned that “ Standing in the Shadows” is to be the final book in the series. Thus, I have read with gusto this story, savoring the twin mysteries flipping from the past then flopping to the current time. This book showed Robinson to be in “ mid-season form” and though we know some facts about the murders we still enjoyed the surprises right up to the final chapter.
So thank you NetGalley,and a big thank you to Peter Robinson for the world of Inspector Banks.

My first Peter Robinson book was his first, Gallows View. From this beginning, through a total of twenty-eight titles, I have happily followed Inspector Banks wherever he had led me. The cases have always been intriguing and I loved getting to know Banks, his (ex) wife, parents, brother, children, colleagues and friends. Readers can also learn a lot about music in the series. Those who haven’t read any of the novels have a real treat in store.

Most sadly, Standing in the Shadows, is Robinson’s final book as he died earlier this year. His last book is one to be proud of; it earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly and a high recommendation from me.

The novel unspools in a dual time line. In the earlier period, a young woman has been murdered. Was she killed by the notorious Yorkshire Ripper or was something else in play? How will her ex cope when he has struggled with the end of the relationship?

In the present, Banks has a corpse to deal with. It was discovered on the site of an historical dig but the bones are not ancient Roman ones.

Watching a master like Robinson pull the story together is a real treat. I was so sorry when I turned the last page. I think that I will need to go back to the beginning and reread the series as I am not ready to bid Banks farewell.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson
Book 28 in the Alan Banks series
Reading this book was a bittersweet experience since the author died last year so this will be the last book in this long-running and much loved series.
As always, it was compelling with many twists and turns. There are two plot lines, one from the 1980’s and one from the present day, that are deftly brought together in a satisfying but poignant and somewhat sad conclusion. I have read and enjoyed most, if not all, of the books in this series. I may have to go back to the beginning and re-read sometime soon.

I love Inspector Banks. This book was not my favorite though it very well may be sadly the last. Too many links to connect and things kind of drag in the middle. But the story is worth a read , especially for fans.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Standing In The Shadows is another solid DCI Banks mystery. The characters are well-drawn, and the plot moves quickly between the past and present until it reaches a satisfying conclusion. The pages move very quickly, the setting is richly described. This story is useful to teach character development. RIP Peter Robinson.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced peak. A review will be posted on Amazon once the book is released.

I loved this book. Told in dual timelines, this novel had me flipping pages deep into the night. Both timelines are equally strong and I was fully invested in each which is not always the case. This book is essentially a mystery within a mystery and in lesser hands a plot this intricate could become a convoluted mess, but Robinson’s final product is sheer brilliance. The characters are wonderfully drawn and DCI Banks is one of my favorites in literature. This book can be read as a stand-alone but I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this superb series. This book was a bittersweet read for me as Peter Robinson died unexpectedly last year. So while I loved the book, it was a bit like saying goodbye to an old friend

This book goes back and forth between the past and the present. In the past, November 1980, Nick Hornsby is wondering about the death of Alice Poole. Her body has been found in the park and people are wondering if she was murdered by Yorkshire Murderer. In 2019, a skeleton is discovered at an archeological dig near Eastvale, so DCI Alan Banks is called to investigate. They ascertain that the body was buried between 2009 and 2016. This was an interesting book that had both murders coming together in the end. There’s a lot of twists that happen in the book that keeps the plot moving along. If you like police procedurals with two connecting plots from the past to the present then you would love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for a copy for an honest review. I’m so sad to report that this may be the last book in the series as Peter Robinson has died recently.

I was so sad to read that Peter Robinson had passed away. He was a wonderful writer, and his Alan Banks books have been among my favorite series. Starting with "Gallows View" and continuing through this twenty-eighth entry, Alan Banks and his colleagues diligently work their cases and catch the criminals. Along the way we get a view of the rest of the main characters' lives, which keeps them from being caricatures or stock figures.

"Standing in the Shadows" is vintage Robinson, which makes the fact that this is the last book rather bittersweet. No spoilers from me as I detest them, but suffice it to say that this is a convoluted plot. and Robinson pulls it off and together in a dramatic and satisfying fashion. He was a master at this. Five stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

In 2019 skeletal remains are found on an old, unused farm property which will eventually be then site of a huge new shopping mall.. With barely a trace of identification except the possibility of a gold filling in a tooth, Inspector Alan Banks and his team of detectives will be called in to discover who this person was and then try to solve the case if the remains are the result of a murder since it was obvious that this was a buried body that someone thought would never be found.

In 1980, Nicholas Hartley returns from class to a scene of police cars at the rooming house where he lives while attending university. Nick has no idea what has happened but two detectives immediately take him to his room and begin questioning him about his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Alice who still lived in an apartment on the top floor while not realizing that Alice has been murdered, Nick will soon be their prime suspect even though Alice had a current boyfriend who appears to be missing yet the detectives only seem to be focused on Nick.

The two storylines will interplay throughout the book and eventually the past and present will.coincide to bring about an explosive climatic ending.

What an enjoyable and entertaining police procedural book this was for me. This was my first novel in the series by Peter Robinson yet it was so well-written that I felt as if I met these characters before and they already felt like old friends. The two storylines bounced off each other so well and I never felt lost with the large cast of interesting characters. I enjoyed how realistic and relatable that the characters were conveyed to the reader. The descriptive background and scenery was an extra plus. I just loved Inspector Banks and his warm persona that was portrayed as a good man and a solid, sensitive and fair boss who cared very much for each member of his team while he worked the daily grind as much if even harder than his beloved team. I'm sure I will read many of the past books that I have missed because this seems to be a great series to dive into when you want that feeling of warmth and likability surrounding the characters you are reading about.

I highly recommend this police procedural novel.

I want to thank the publisher "William Morrow" for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given a rating if 4 SOLID AND SATISFYING 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!

Publication Date: April 11, 2023

With the passing of author Peter Robinson, I assume this will be the last Inspector Banks novel, so it’s bittersweet how good this book is! I have to admit that the last couple of books in the series that focused on the side-character, Zelda, were not my favorites. This book has all the things that I love about the series, except I would have loved to have had more of DI Annie Cabbot who is on leave. Besides that, I have no complaints about the book. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks and his team work well together to solve a complex cold case. A skeleton is found on a construction site for a shopping center on the outskirts of Eastvale, England and Banks and team are called in when it’s determined a murder has been committed.

The book has a dual timeline that includes flashbacks starting with 1980. These chapters are told from the point-of-view of a university student, Nicholas Hartley. Nicholas is devastated when his ex-girlfriend, Alice Poole, is murdered. Things get worse for Nicholas when he becomes one of the main suspects. At first as the story goes back and forth, it’s hard to see how these two seemingly separate storylines are related. However, things start coming together in unexpected ways as the story progresses. Each storyline was equally interesting to me and although I had my theories, I wasn’t able to guess the final twists in the case. At one time near the end, Banks and his team have mixed feelings over the resolution of the case. I feel the same about the end of the book. Overall, it leaves the main characters in a good place, but it makes me sad that I have to say good-bye to Banks, Annie, Gerry Masterson, and Winsome Jackman who have given me so much reading pleasure over the years.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The ebook was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Thank you Peter Robinson, William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC e-book. This is the 28th installment in the DCI Alan Banks mystery series. I read it as a stand alone which went as well as good be expected. That said the storyline was very easy to follow as far as the investigation that is originally underway BUT coming in on the 28th installment I was missing much of the background and storyline that surrounded Detective Banks. Even though I felt like I missed out on somethings I absolutely loved this book and plan on beginning the series from the beginning. This is the type of detective mystery I have been searching for.

“Standing in the Shadows“ by Peter Robinson

Dr. Robinson starts us off with a murder in 1980 and then moves on to another mystery in 2019 involving the DCI Banks team and a skeleton found in an archaeological dig. It seems likely to anyone who has read a few mysteries than the 2 stories will come together but the author takes his time in getting us there.

Meanwhile I enjoyed the writing in both stories and my introduction to DS Banks. Before I get much further I should mention the book is “Standing in the Shadows“ by Peter Robinson. It is the 28th in the Inspector Banks series but the first for me.

I thank Netgalley (“https://www.netgalley.com/) for allowing me to read it before publication.

No surprise but the stories do come together. And Peter Robinson provides us with his wonderful writing and plot twists along the way. And there were a series of twists and surprises that I did not see coming.

The book will be published on ApriL 11.

It was a great book. Enjoy.

December, 2019 - a shopping center is being built in the English countryside. Before construction begins, archaeologists are allowed to go through the site just in case there are any remains or relics going back hundreds of years. But before any archaeological discoveries are made, a body (or the bones of a body) are found just 3 feet below the surface. DCI Alan Banks is tasked with leading an investigation into the remains once the autopsy determines that a crime had been committed - the skull showed clear evidence that the dead person had been struck with something. November, 1980 - Nicholas Hartley, university student, returns to his bedsit to find police in the building and learns that his ex-girlfriend, Alice Poole, has been found dead in a nearby park. While suspicion initially falls on him, he is quickly cleared and for the next 35 years, the murder remains unsolved and Nicholas goes on to become a successful news reporter. This story goes back and forth between the two stories as DCI Banks first must identify the remains and then figure out just what happened.

This is the 28th DCI Banks book, but only the 2nd I have read (the other being the 26th in the series). I did not realize that this was a series when I requested the ARC, and it was not necessary to have read the earlier books. Banks is perhaps the typical cerebral British detective, understated, plodding, and of a single-purpose who is easy to relate to. The story itself had me wondering where we were going for a while (again somewhat typical of this genre) but as the timeframes converged, the suspense grew and the ending was fun to get to. My thanks to Wm. Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC due in bookstores on April 11.

It is SO hard to believe that this is book 28 in the series, and that I've been reading it that long! It's an interesting twist this time- an old cold case mixed in with a new one, with seemingly no connection. But as we fans of the series know, there is always a connection, it just has to be found. Banks and his team find their personal lives crossing over to the cases and it's an page turner, as you wait to see how the cases will unfold, and how they end up being connected, in the final roller coaster chapters. Perfect for fans and new readers alike, this is a series you can really get to know the characters from, and see them evolve, as they would in real life!