Inspector Banks Books

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Inspector Banks is a series of novels written by Peter Robinson. Inspector Banks is also the name of the series’ protagonist.

Detective Superintendant Alan Banks first manifested in the literary arena in 1987. The law enforcement officer once lived in London, working with the Metropolitan Police Unsolved Crime Squad.

But then he decided to move to Eastvale, a fictional town in Yorkshire where he would live for the duration of several books with his doting wife and two children. Banks quickly became DCI for the Eastvale police. With his own little office, Banks set about solving crime in Eastvale.

The first book finds Inspector Banks looking into the death of an old woman and trying to figure out if it might be connected to a peeping Tom that is frightening women in Eastvale. The book tackles Banks’ attraction to a young psychologist by the names of Jenny Fuller who, along with Banks’ doting wife, is drawn into the case.

One notable aspect of the inspector Banks series is the fact that Banks grew up in a working-class family and was, thus, taught to nurture a healthy abhorrence for money and wealth. In fact, besides escaping the chaos of the city, inspector Banks also ran away to Eastvale because he did not want to get caught up in the materialism that was rife in the big city.

Inspector Banks might have found an idyllic location within which to raise a respectable family but Eastvale isn’t without its problems. There is more than enough crime to keep Inspector Banks busy.

Banks is written to possess a charming demeanor that not only helps him relate to suspects but also allows him to get answers whenever the need arises. A master at interrogations, the investigator also boasts a unique taste in music.

The Inspector Banks series initially focused solely on the detective aspects of the story, exploring Banks’ approach to solving the crimes that came his way. Overtime and throughout the books, Peter Robinson’s stories took a more dramatic direction, with one particular story in 1999 shocking fans by changing Inspector Banks’ life forever.

Inspector Banks Awards

The Inspector Banks novels are very popular. For his work with this series, Peter Robinson has won awards like the Arthur Ellis Award, the TORGI Talking Book award and the Anthony award, not to mention a Barry Award.

Robinson has also been lucky enough to take an Edgar Award home.

Inspector Banks Books into Movies

The Inspector Banks books were adapted into a television show in 2010. Commissioned by ITV, the first two episodes of the show, adapted from the novel Aftermath, were such a success that even more novels were adapted into a show that was eventually titled DCI Banks.

Stephen Tompkinson was the star of the show, playing the role of Detective Chief Inspector Alan banks. The show was successful enough to take home accolades like the Royal Television society Yorkshire Programme Award.

Best Inspector Banks Books

Peter Robinson has written a lot of Inspector Banks books, with those books most commonly lauded for their quality including the following:

Past Reason Hated: Caroline Hartley was such a beautiful enigma, at least she was alive. Caroline took all her secrets to the grave when she was stabbed in her home. There is a puzzle to be solved; one that Inspector Banks is determined to expose and resolve before a killer makes his move.

This book finds Inspector Banks working at Christmas time, a season were one would expect Eastvale to be peaceful and quiet. However, murder never sleeps, not even in Eastvale. The mystery here isn’t merely the identity of Caroline’s killer but the secrets Caroline herself was hiding.

Dry Bones that Dream: No one understands why anyone would assassinate Kleith. However, that is exactly what happened to the mild mannered accountant. Now it is up to Inspector Banks to figure out who Kleith really was.

The seventh book in the Inspector Banks series starts off with a bang. An accountant is brutally murdered and Inspector Banks wants to know why. His investigation drives him to peel back the layers surrounding the victim’s life, with Banks quickly learning that Kleith Rothwell was anything but ordinary.

Other Book Series You May Like

The “DCI Ryan Mysteries” by L.J. Ross follow Detective Chief Inspector Ryan, a man with a dark past and an even darker future. Ryan tries to not let his demons get in the way of his efforts to solve crimes in North East England. The stories in this series are fast paced and the descriptions are amazing.

“Shetland Island” Series by Ann Cleeves. The Shetlands are a stunning yet isolated location with stark landscapes. Jimmy Perez is an inspector charged with bringing criminals, and typically murderers, to justice in and around the Shetland Islands.

What Is The Next Book in The Inspector Banks Series?

There doesn't seem to be an upcoming book in The Inspector Banks Series. The newest book is Standing in the Shadows and was released on April, 11th 2023.

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