Robinson, Peter. All the Colors of Darkness.Robinson is usually one of my favorites, but this Inspector Banks novel was a disappointment. The entire novel seems a departure from Robinson's usual style.
The MI6 angle grated on me for some reason; the murder-suicide plot was convaluted on its own and didn't need the additional complications. The Banks/Sophia relationship was uncomfortable from the beginning and becomes more uncomfortable as the story evolves. The musical references have become stale, and yet there are even more in this novel.
I found this novel darker and somehow less authentic in regard to characters and plot. There seems to be a personal bitterness involved, but nothing rang true for me.
Fiction. Mystery/Police Procedural. 2009. 356 pages.
So sorry to hear this one is a disappointment. I've read the first 11 of the series so far. I still have a ways to go before I get to this one. It's been a very enjoyable series over the years.
ReplyDeleteThis was only the second book of his I've read. I had difficulty believing the spy stuff in this one.
ReplyDeleteSuziQ - This is the first of Robinson's that I've read that I didn't like. He has always been in my top 3 for this genre.
ReplyDeleteBooksPlease - I didn't care for the spy stuff, either; this novel just didn't measure up for me.
I haven't read much of Robinson's work but last week I picked up one of his books as an unabridged set of CDs and having just finished 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' as a download I'm moving on to Robinson this evening. It isn't the latest one (can't remember what it is!) so perhaps I shall have better luck.
ReplyDeleteAnn - I really have to try listening to books; I could do some quilting or embroidering while I listened! Hope you enjoy whichever Inspector Banks you have on CD!
ReplyDelete