Published: 2019
The 26th book in the hit DCI Banks series.
I have very much enjoyed the DCI Banks books since M.r Robinson wrote his first, all those years ago. I have not read them all yet, but seek them out whenever I can. It’s one of those series’ that I feel I will enjoy each offering, and won’t close the book disappointed.
As a side note, whenever I read a book from this series since I have watched ITV’s DCI banks, I do picture the character as Stephen Tompkinson. Unfortunately, it does seem ITV have no plans to continue with their adaptation.
Anyway, back to the review, and Many Rivers To Cross is a police procedural I did very much enjoy. You could enjoy this book as a standalone mystery by all means, but depth is added if you are familiar with the returning characters and their histories. Plus, although the books main advertised mystery is solved, a side story bubbles throughout the book involving Zelda, and this will no doubt be continued into the next book. I finished the book intrigued to wonder what’s next for this formidable lady.
So, this story kicks off when a body of a teenage boy is found stuffed into a wheely bin on the East Side Estate, At the same time, DCI Banks also has his attention on Zelda, who is helping him track down his old enemy, has put herself in danger and alerted a powerful group of sex traffickers- the ones who brought her to the UK.
I do think Peter Robinson is a great writer. Like other thriller series’ such as Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, even of one particular book is not doing it for you, you’ll likely appreciate and enjoy the solid writing.
This books eventual conclusion, after some solid detective work, is not groundbreaking or full of massive twists. The red herrings are planted, and some of you may guess them to be of such, as otherwise the crime would be too easily resolved. But in fairness, it is always understandable why the law is following a certain path, and so never feels too convoluted.
Sure, whilst the books ending may satisfy some and others not so much, it certainly was enough to keep me reading each page, and I think would for the most, too.
Overall for me, this was a solid thriller, with likeable characters, and a well written and developed plot. I like how the writer does not forget to let us in on Banks’ home life, as I think this adds a lot to the overall roundness of the character. Like many other authors, Peter Robinson likes his pop culture references, which are mostly used to paint more of DCI Banks’ character.
So, all in all, I’d recommend the book to anyone who wants to read a solid thriller, maybe on a smaller scale then some past books, that deals with plenty of real-life considerations, and is a good page-turner. A definite thumbs up from me, and I look forward to reading the 27th book.
The next fiction book I will be reading is Stephen King’s classic Salem’s Lot. I have never read this before, so will be interesting to see how it stands up for me all these decades after it was written, and having read so many other King works. Until next time…
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