| Peter Robinson has written another Inspector Alan Banks mystery. The police culture in England has changed over the years. In the 21st century Alan Banks discovers that the local hoods don't seem to have the police in their pockets in order to maintain power over their small town constituency. This discovery opens his case wide open.
Alan and his friend Graham saw a lot of action together that summer in 1965. Teenagers love the fair, the beach, records, dances and girls. He remembers that Graham always had money, which allowed them the freedom to have fun. As an adult, Inspector Banks seems to remember a lot of things about his friendship with Graham, especially after bones are found in a grave when a local building is razed. The coroner identifies the remains as those of Allan's friend, Graham, who had mysteriously disappeared over 35 years ago. The author takes the reader on an investigation roller coaster as he portrays a current missing persons case within the jurisdiction where Allan Banks works. A young teenage boy, Luke Armitage, has disappeared. Finding him reveals secrets similar to the ones Inspector Banks discovers about his boyhood friend. Luke and Graham become one. Two kids lost in a grown-up world where needs and emotions are bigger than theirs; stronger and more complex than they can comprehend. Alan Banks discovers for himself that many of those adolescent emotions do not die, even as we become adults, unless they are acknowledged and assuaged. | ||
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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? - 60% Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot? descript. of violence and chases - 10 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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