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Book Review By doug mcqueen
Strange Affair by Peter Robinson

Strange Affair is another book in Peter Robinson's popular Inspector Banks series. Banks has lost his home to a fire. Coupled with his previous divorce and a failed romance, this event plunges Banks into a depression that isolates him from his freinds and co-workers. He is jolted into action by the disappearance of his only brother.

Following a series of clues that takes him to London, Banks uncovers evidence that his brother may have been involved in gun smuggling. His investigation takes him into the murky world of London crime. Banks finds himself and those around him placed in danger by his actions.

At the same time Inspector Annie Cabot's investigation of a roadside murder leads her to the same people being investigated by Banks. The two must work together while dealing with the awkward reality of being former lovers.


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 80%
Misc. Murder Plotlets - "All in the family" murder
Kind of investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 40's-50's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
The antagonists are: - foreign organized crime
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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