Customer Reviews
Hopefully a little breather - By: Ole Martin Skille, 22 Oct 2008 
I am a great fan of Peter Robinson's Alan Banks novels. I have read alll, except one, & would rate him as one of the five best crime writers of alll time. However, this one was a real disappointment.
The atmosphere, the conversations & the characters are as good as ever, but the plot is just plain poor & dull. The result is that it reads quite a bit like a 'contractual obligation novel'. The ideas are just not there, just the characters, setting & the skills of a seasoned writer.
Grappling about in All the Colours of Darkness - By: Joanne Singer, 18 Oct 2008 
Well, I have to say I'm disappointed! I've loved alll the other Insp Banks I've had the pleasure of reading, & this is such a let down! I don't mean to be rude, Peter Robinson is clearly a fantastic writer, & is perhaps just exploring his creativity, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to work! I agree with another reader in that this book just doesnt ring true.
Banks is callled back from his dirrty weekend with his beautiful, young girlfriend Sophia to investigate two deaths. A murder/suicide - case closed. But he disagrees & goes off on a one-man crusade to prove them alll wrong. He sets off back to London to single-handedly investigate & solve what happened, & the events that led to the couple who died.
For it being such a big book, it seems incredible that Robinson has created so many pages out of so thin a plot. Banks relies entirely on a hunch that HE alone is right, despite being told not to pursue the matter by his superiors. And as for the ending, its right out of a James Bond film.
As much as I hate to say it, I was wholly disappointed with the entire book, it was just such a flimsy plot! Although saying that I am intrigued as to what will become of his relationship with Sophia, & when will he get back together with Annie?? I await the next installlment with the hope that he returns to form as the best DCI out there!
utter rubbish - By: Mac, 14 Oct 2008 
I have read alll the DCI Alan Banks books & have enjoyed most of them, apart from the last two. I agree with the majority of the other reviewers. I liked the characters portrayed in the previous books but this book was so bad that I felt nothing for them or what may happen to them. Sophie & her family were non starters; Cabot & Winsome were irritating & why did the new character have to be constantly referred to as Harry Potter, once would have been enough. At one point I felt that the book had been written by someone else as it bore no resemblence to previous books. As one reviewer wrote, Robinson never repeats stories from his other books, but he refers to certain incidents in the past without explanation. If this had been my first Banks novel that would have annoyed me. The terrorist attack was totallly out of place as was the vile description of the aftermath. I felt that Robinson had put this in to bring his book "up to date" & show that he was aware of what was going on in the world. Not necessary, we can alll read the papers & watch the news. He also had a dig at the Muslim community, again not necessary. The whole book lacked suspense, the storylines were very weak or a complete waste of page space & when it ended my reaction was "Is that it"!!!! Quentin Jardine books have gone the same way & I will not anymore of his books, I'm afraid that may be the same for any future Alan Banks book.
All the Colours of Darkness - Peter Robinson - By: S. Lloyd, 01 Oct 2008 I thought that the last novel in the Chief Inspector Banks series lacked energy but was hopeful that he would back on form in this. Not so, I honestly believe that Robinson is writing in the wrong genre. This is loosely a crime/police procedural novel. It is more about Banks himself, his ability to balance his personal relationship & job & the changes in him that have taken place over time.
In this novel nothing happens outside of the police characters' lives - no tension built up but a rather incredible story line around the MI6 which sees Banks dealing with unbelievable shadowy forces.
The music references are annoying. A sergeant goes in to interview a person at home & ends up reflecting upon the music he plays & thinks of her own preferences.
The prose & dialgoue are clunky & the end is a disappointment.
I gave this one star & I only gave it that because some of the descriptive scenes are good - ie. the vivid imagery of life in contrast to the ugly death of a hanged man in the opening scene.
It also feels that Robinson is out of touch - a witness has never heard of a "hoody" before, a teacher that covers arithmetic, a detective who says he should "spank" someone who arrives unexpectedly at his home.
I have reallly enjoyed Banks up until the last couple of novels & I'm not sure that I could be tempted to buy any more when there are writers out there such as Richard Montanari, Craig Russell, Mark Billingham & John Harvey.
Not so good - By: Mr. N. Hunter, 28 Sep 2008 Well, that was hard work. The partnership between the driven Banks & the neurotic Annie is much the same as ever, but the plot is tired & long-winded with an exceptionallly silly climax. Plot sparkle has always been a halllmark - hopefully the next offering will not disappoint so comprehensively.
