Jane M. reviewed on 1/26/2013 + 65 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 3

I've been a fan of Peter Robinson's Chief Inspector Alan Banks series for a long time, so I was sure this stand-alone novel would be well-crafted. I'm not disappointed; he handles the back-and-forth of two time periods quite effectively.

The protagonist is an Englishman who worked successfully in California for decades before returning to the Yorkshire dales to buy the unusual estate where the story unfolds. Robinson is especially adept at setting scenes, which is a huge asset to this atmospheric novel. I also enjoyed the details about current days in England compared to the post-war time period that is evoked.

While this book might be lumped with Robinson's police procedurals, it's not an action-packed thriller or a traditional detective novel. No serial killers, just a puzzle related to a mysterious death that the lead character is compelled to unravel with the help of interesting people he meets along his journey.

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