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Past Reason Hated: An Inspector Banks Mystery |  | Author: Peter Robinson
Publisher: Avon
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy New: $4.45
as of 3/15/2010 20:27 CDT details
You Save: $3.54 (44%)
New (26) Used (26) from $1.99
Seller: pbshop
Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 62495
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 384
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0380733285
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780380733286
ASIN: 0380733285
Publication Date: October 1, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A picturesque Yorkshire village is dressed in its finest for the upcoming Noel. But one of its residents will not be celebrating this holiday. Chief Inspector Alan Banks knows that secrecy can sometimes prove fatal'and secrets were the driving force behindCaroline Hartley's life…and death. She was a beautiful enigma, brutally stabbed in her own home three days prior to Christmas. Leaving her past behind for a forbidden love affair, she mystified more than a few. And now she is dead, clothed only in her unshared mysteries and her blood. In this season of giving and forgiving, Banks is eager to absolve the innocent of their sins. But that must wait until the many facets of a perplexing puzzle are exposed and the dark circle of his investigation finally closes…and when a killer makes the next move.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 18
 abridged or not? October 6, 2009
Janet Boese (Kilmarnock, VA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
just purchased an audio CD of this book and found it to be just 3 hours long! Then I saw it was abridged. I typically do not buy abridged books but saw nothing on the product details that said it was cut. Caveat emptor! Wouldn't it be best if the seller had to note that the book was either unabridged or not?
A satisfying look at varying lifestyles May 17, 2009
Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This isn't the strongest of the Slan Bans novels and probbly isn't the best for anyone who hasn't read any in the series yet. However, for those who have already been introduced to the lead chaaracter, this is a well plotted and thoughtful addition to the series. We are given a good look at the different aspects of lesbian relationships and also at the amateur theatrical world. Understanding of both help the reader in speculating on the murderer's identity, and Peter Robinson is very skillful in planting clues for the alert reader who treats mysteries as puzzles to be solved while still providing a satisfying variety of characters and well thought out plot for the more casual reader. Psychological profiles of the suspects as well as of Banks and, in this case Susan Gay add considerable depth to this as is the case in most of the author's books. Mystery lovers wil appreciate the sly reference to Inspector Dagleish, one of the several humorous sidebars here. Those who are familiar with Reginald Hill, Charles Todd, and P.D. James will probably add Peter Robinson to their favorite author lists, but again, one's better off being already familiar with Alan Banks before reading this.
Explores all sorts of issues. November 5, 2008
S. Schwartz (alberta canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book explores all sorts of issues. The issue of family violence, the issue of sexuality, the issue of a troubled psyche. And we have the wonderful Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks trying to find his way through the minefield. Inspector Banks is a wonderful character. He is very real, and he is such an ordinary guy. That is part of his appeal. This book is set around the Christmas season in the northern part of England (Yorkshire) where Banks has taken up residence. A young woman is found dead in her flat. She has been brutally stabbed to death and Banks and his team try to find the murderer. There are far too many suspects, and far too many motives for Banks' liking, but he does manage to get to the answer in the end. Mr. Robinson knows how to write a British procedural, and I really am enjoying this series.
 Start elsewhere if you want to appreciate Peter Robinson August 12, 2008
John Cain (Tacoma, WA)
"Past Reason Hated" is the only book I have read by Peter Robinson. I won't read another unless I'm stuck on a island and one washes up on the shore and I am out of matches.
I understand that his later works are better than his earlier works. One reviewer recommends "In a Dry Season." I can only recommend that this not be the first of his books to read. The plot is slow, the sentences are cumbersome and the characters are poorly developed, and he is not funny.
The only reason I finished the book was so I could write this review and warn others not to waste their time. I wanted to be sure that I didn't miss out on a great ending. I am now certain that the ending is not work the labor of the read. Next time the urge to read a British mystery comes upon me as it does from time to time I will go to R. Hill or P.D. James, but I will not return to Mr. Robinson. This is one book you should take your time reading selected pages before you purchase. If you like it, buy it, read it, review it and let me know what other books you like. Life is short and I like to know about other books I should avoid.
 "What the hell was it about the music that bothered him? Why did it have to mean something?" October 11, 2007
Sebastian Fernandez (Tampa, Florida United States)
With this novel in the Inspector Banks series, Robinson has taken his work to the next level. His magnificent ability to use everyday situations in his plots, to provide insights regarding the motivations of his characters, and his cleverly-crafted mysteries are complemented with a deeper look at the main characters. This last element is the one that does the trick for me and lifts this effort from very good to excellent.
Inspector Banks has to find Caroline's killer, which is not an easy task, especially due to the number of people that had both opportunity and motive for committing the crime. The fact that she was living as a life-partner with another woman, who is not yet divorced, complicates matters and allows for some very interesting insights into the prejudices of some of the characters involved. When you add a piece of music playing repeatedly at the crime scene, which seems to have a clear symbolism, the elements are set for a compelling mystery.
This novel has all the characteristics that have made this author one of my favorites in the genre, but it goes even beyond that. This is the first time I see several passages with some fine humor, which works very well to provide the story with variety and to lighten the mood. Since before this work Robinson has been compared repeatedly with P. D. James, he just could not refrain himself and I almost started to laugh out loud when Banks thinks to himself: "I'm getting just like that Dalgliesh fellow..."
Robinson also makes great strides in terms of the development of the main characters, giving them even more depth. Not only we get a glimpse of some of Banks' reasons for leaving London and settling on the countryside, but there is considerably more material dealing with the personal relationship among the characters than there was in the previous novel, The Hanging Valley. Another aspect that helps is the inclusion of a new character. Susan, a new constable that has just joined the Eastvale team, possesses a complex personality and a few prejudices that allow for some enlightening contrasts with Banks. She reminds me a little of Sergeant Barbara Havers, the beloved character in the series by Elizabeth George.
There is no question in my mind, this is the best book in the series so far and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 18
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