Past Reason Hated

August 2, 1993
The inhabitants of Robinson's Yorkshire are a far cry from James Herriot's sturdy farmers. In this literate mystery, Chief Inspector Alan Banks must deal with the vicious stabbing death of a young lesbian in a room illuminated by the light of a crackling fire and a Christmas tree, the murder by starvation of an incestuous old lecher, the slashing to ribbons of a Twelfth Night cast's costumes and the near-fatal strangulation of his newest detective constable, Susan Gay. Banks, seen last in The Hanging Valley, subjects all potential suspects--including past and present spouses and lovers, a group of amateur thespians and members of the police force--to an extended (perhaps too extended) psychological investigation. The puzzle's grip is weakened by some unconvincing red herrings and the detectives' lengthy musings; nevertheless, Robinson, a Toronto resident and winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Best Novel award, creates an appealing Yorkshire setting with evocative descriptions of the wintry town, dales and seaside.

July 1, 1993
The Canadian author of A Dedicated Man ( LJ 7/91) continues the Inspector Alan Banks series, set in Yorkshire, England. Banks and the female first-officer-on-the-scene delve into a viciously murdered woman's past.

Copyright 1993 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 1993
The latest in Robinson's Chief Inspector Alan Banks series has Banks and his newest CID trainee, Detective Constable Susan Gay, investigating the murder of beautiful amateur actress Caroline Hartley. Stabbed to death just before Christmas, Hartley could have been the victim of her lesbian lover's jealous ex-husband, a spurned boyfriend, a rival actress, or even her own brother, a nasty, hate-filled punk. For Detective Gay, the case is a chance to prove her professional mettle and earn points with her new supervisor. For Banks, it's just one more confirmation of the human race's predictability. Robinson's got police procedure down pat, and he always manages to come up with an intriguing cast of characters, a skillfully crafted plot, and a climax that's as surprising as it is satisfying. The fact that the murder victim is a lesbian is no more or less important to the story than if she had been a dancer or a carpenter, and the only reason for remarking on it is that Robinson's casual, matter-of-fact approach to this often sensationalized topic is a commendable one. Recommended for the well-rounded mystery collection. ((Reviewed Aug. 1993))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1993, American Library Association.)