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Standing in the Shadows

the FINAL gripping crime novel in the acclaimed DCI Banks crime series

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About this listen

 The twenty-eighth book in the number one bestselling Alan Banks crime series - by the master of the police procedural.

Late November, 1980. Student Nick Hartley returns from a lecture to find his house full of police officers. As he discovers that his ex-girlfriend has been found murdered in a nearby park, and her new boyfriend is missing, he realises two things in quick succession: he is undoubtedly a suspect as he has no convincing alibi, and he has own suspicions as to what might have happened . . .

Late November 2019. An dig near Scotch Corner unearths a skeleton that turns out to be far more recent than the Roman remains the archaeologist is looking for. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks and his team are called in and, as an investigation into the find begins, the past and the present meet with devastating consequences.

'The best mystery-procedural series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong' STEPHEN KING

'The master of the police procedural' MAIL ON SUNDAY

(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2023 Eastvale Enterprises Inc. Crime Thrillers Fiction Historical Mystery Police Procedural Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Crime Thriller Banking Suspense

Critic reviews

The ending, in which the two narratives join, is a stunner
Peter Robinson's new novel is a publishing event . . . The novel feels elegiac . . . Robinson's plots were always superb and this final novel is a haunting tribute to a fine writer
It is bittersweet to crack open the 28th , and final, Inspector Banks novel. The mighty Peter Robinson, who died last year, created one of the most convivial, compelling detectives in Alan Banks: compassionate, intelligent and music-loving, he was the sort of man you wanted to spend time with. Standing in the Shadows is a worthy addition to the Banks canon . . . It is a pleasure to be back in Banks's company, whether it's watching him with his friends and colleagues, listening to his thoughts on music or waiting for his intuition to kick in. Robinson was an author at the top of his game, and Banks a detective at the top of his. Both will be sorely missed by their readers
A fond and fitting farewell
Robinson delivers an impeccably structured, engagingly spun performance . . .Robinson was a master of the police procedural and his thoughtful, nuanced work will endure
In the realm of crime fiction, the late Peter Robinson has etched his name with a distinction as pronounced as the 27 novels that have preceded his latest creation . . . Standing in the Shadows, stands testament to his unwavering prowess in crafting intricate and seductive narratives. With each turn of the page, a whirlwind of astonishments awaits, as the story elegantly navigates between the lives of inhabitants dwelling within a bustling student abode and their poignant journey toward academic culmination... Robinson's artistry lies in his dexterous placement of clues, whispered secrets lying dormant or boldly paraded in plain sight. The seamless choreography of police procedure, rendered with an authenticity that underscores the writer's mastery, unveils a police force willing to bend the rules in the pursuit of justice... Within this literary tapestry, suspense and intrigue are woven deftly.. , Characters are luminous conduits through which the narrative unfurls, bursting forth vividly under Robinson's hand. This sorcery of characterization allows the story to coalesce around their palpable presence, creating an immersive experience that ignites the imagination... Standing in the Shadows is his final enigma... the last page turns, a pang of melancholy mingles with elation, as you realise you're reading the last words of a crime fiction great.
All stars
Most relevant
As far as last books go this one is OK but then I get the feeling that Mr Robinson did not know that this one would be his last. What disappointed me hugely was the last 4 or 5 minutes of narration. Simon Slater, who I think has always done an excellent job in this series, has a monologue about the publishers etc but does not take a minute or two to salute the passing of one of the pre eminent writers of detective fiction of the past 20 years? I know that it wasn't SS fault but it seem quite shoddy to me to treat poor old PR like this after all he has done.
Anyway, the book is OK, I would say not his best especially after the build up given in the last couple to people smuggling etc but, it is certainly readable.

A Fitting End, yet...?

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