ISBN: 1-4035-3860-X Order from: Recorded Books
A skilled and interesting investigation, with interesting characters and a twisty plot; suffering from a bit too much angst and multiple narrative threads.
Reviewed by David on May 22, 2004
Genre: Mystery (Procedural)
Synopsis: Chief Inspector Banks cuts short a much-needed vacation when the discovery of an old corpse solves a decades-old mystery of the disappearance of Alan's boyhood friend, Graham.
Alan's offer of help is not greeted with any fondness by the investigating district. However, as he continues to poke around, it appears that the original investigation into the boy's disappearance was rather superficial, and even now, somebody is reluctant to find who murdered Graham.
Full Review: The book is skillfully written, and filled with many complex and well-described characters. Both the past and the present unroll in vivid detail, and complication and dangers of the plot add interest. The book is enlivened by the murder investigation of another boy—Luke Armitage—the son of rich family in Banks's own district. Unofficially helping in one investigation, and advising and later supervising Annie Cabbot (Banks's former lover) allows Banks to find parallels in the fates of two boys.
While fascinating in their own right, the three people here: Banks, Cabbot, and the newly introduced Inspector Michelle Hart, interleave with intrusive breaks. The breaks are sometimes deliberately abrupt, as in a TV sitcom. Alas, this breaks the reader's concentration, and diminishes emotional involvement with the respective characters.
Banks' and others self-reflection is sometimes excessive, spending more effort, as it were, on doubts and regrets than on pursuing the investigation.
Despite several flaws, this is still an enjoyable, complex and emotionally involving book.
Sources: recordedbooks.com|97290, Amazon.com|0061031097, BarnsAndNoble.com|0061031097
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 6; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 2003, Recorded Books, 2003, Audio Cassette, 12 cassettes
ISBN: 1-4035-3860-X Order from: Recorded Books