Another great book by a great author, but unfortunately the last of the series. I picked this up after only randomly reading a few others in the series and getting sucked in. This author does an excellent job of creating amazing stories that keep the reader interested.

If you are a first-time reader of Peter Robinson’s DCI Alan Banks criminal procedurals, you might be forgiven for thinking that a connection between an unsolved murder in 1980 and the discovery of a body in 2019 will be made through diligent police investigation. Yes, but, because music and memories underscore the plot of every DCI Banks mystery.

28 November 1980. Nicholas “Nick” Hartley is an English major at Leeds University in 1980. He is still in love with fellow student Alice Poole who broke up with him after two years because she thought he was a political dilettante, insufficiently committed to the causes she held dear. Nick has no use for Mark Woodcroft, her new older boyfriend. One day the police show up, asking after Alice—referring to her in the past tense, Nick notices. He tells them he saw her the night before, leaving the building. A few days later Alice’s body is found; she’s been murdered. The police treat Nick as the prime suspect even though Mark has gone a cropper. Nick is sure Mark killed Alice, but the police don’t care to hear his theories. Leeds is undergoing troubling times, what with the Yorkshire Ripper on the loose and continuous political demonstrations that are on the brink of morphing into lethal unrest. The cops begrudgingly clear Nick’s name, but they’re inexplicably loath to pursue further investigations. Nick finds comfort in his academic work, music, plus what weed and alcohol he can afford. After he graduates, building from a humble entry level job at a regional newspaper, Nick “embarks on a career in investigative journalism” although finding Alice’s murderer is the subtext of his life.

N.B., in the early 1970s, Peter Robinson “studied English literature at the University of Leeds, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with honours,” so the accuracy with which Nick’s life is portrayed is no accident.

24 November 2019. English law demands that archeologists be given first crack at ground that is designated for commercial use. Digging at a “quiet, deserted area” of a farm sold to developers, archeologist Grace Hutchinson uncovers not a Roman bead or shard of pottery but a contemporary corpse. She calls in her discovery and Banks meets her at the remote site: “There was no immediate access to or from the motorway, but it wouldn’t have been too difficult for whoever had dumped the body to do so from the lane where Banks was standing.” The area is covered with gnarled, twisted trees.

Most still had a few leaves left clinging to their branches and twigs. Banks thought they seemed creepy in the louring twilight and half expected one of them to start moving like the Ents in Lord of the Rings.

The coroner establishes that death came through the aegis of some hard blows to the skull. After the turbulence of the past few years, which culminated in the events of Not Dark Yet, Banks welcomes an outwardly straightforward investigation. In his off hours, he’s diligently working his way through the LP collection left to him by his friend Ray Cabbot.

There were some duplicates, of course, but he would sort that out later. Nobody needed two copies of Trout Mask Replica or the Fugs’ Golden Filth. He was, however, grateful for Gong and the 13th Floor Elevators, missing from his collection for too long. To be fair to Ray, though, it wasn’t all sixties rock, psychedelia and prog; there were a few jazz LPs, from Bechet to Bird.

The police do a stellar job of identifying the corpse. They discover that the dead man was a fit 50/60-something with a penchant for high-end threads. He was buried in a Tom Ford suit (think Daniel Craig in his first Bond films) and bespoke leather shoes. They release a sketch to the media, but no one steps up to identify the missing man.

DC Gerry Masterson and DS Winsome Jackman interview Harold Gillespie, the farmer who “used to own Wilveston Farm, Eastvale,” (Eastvale is a fictional Yorkshire town) where the body was discovered. It’s a pro forma conversation but it later emerges that Gillespie was a former policeman who retired at a high rank. He did not share this during the interview. Can it be a coincidence? Banks thinks not, particularly after he speaks with Dirty Dick Burgess. The well-connected Burgess proves helpful in digging into dark corners where access is limited. Burgess says his current work is “nothing very interesting,” but it dovetails with inquiries Banks is trying to pursue.

“At the moment, I’m up to my neck in this inquiry into undercover policing. You know, the SDS, as it was at first—Special Demonstration Squad—and they weren’t demonstrating washing-up liquid.”

“Weren’t they disbanded?”

“That’s right. 2008. ‘Lost their moral compass,’ according to one of them. As if they ever had one.”

If Gillespie didn’t exactly retire under a cloud, there were rumors clinging to him from early in his career when he was privy to an undercover operation where police infiltrated radical student organizations. Armed with this knowledge, Banks senses there may be a connection between the moribund inquiry into Alice Poole’s death, and the body found in Gillespie’s field.

Even after a confession that wraps up all the loose ends, Banks can’t leave well enough alone. “They had a solid case, motive, means, confession, so what was wrong?” From Banks’s perspective, it’s all too tidy. Readers well know that Banks’s passion for justice and fairness impels him to keep poking away.

Sadly, Peter Robinson died on October 4th, 2022. His unique voice will be missed by his many fans including Stephen King who called this mystery series, “the best now on the market.” If Standing in the Shadows is your first DCI Banks mystery, you can take solace in reading the twenty-seven police procedurals that come before Standing in the Shadows.

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.