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This page lists novels and short story collections that feature the Yorkshire based police detective Alan Banks.

Cover images are, when possible, of the Canadian first edition and a more recent digital or paperback edition.

By Peter Robinson:
- novels, story collections
- omnibus editions
- digital short stories/novellas

Gallows View

Peter Robinson

1987

An Inspector Banks novel.

"A Peeping Tom is frightening the women of Eastvale; two glue-sniffing young thugs are breaking into homes and robbing people; an old woman may or may not have been murdered. Investigating these cases is Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, a perceptive, curious and compassionate policeman recently moved to the Yorkshire Dales from London to escape the stress of city life. In addition to all this, Banks has to deal with the local feminists and his attraction to a young psychologist, Jenny Fuller. As the tension mounts, both Jenny and Banks’s wife, Sandra, are drawn deeper into the events. The cases weave together as the story reaches a tense and surprising climax."

A Dedicated Man

Peter Robinson

1988

An Inspector Banks novel.

"The body of a well-liked local historian is found half-buried under a drystone wall near the village of Helmthorpe, Swainsdale. Who on earth would want to kill such a thoughtful, dedicated man? Penny Cartwright, a beautiful folk singer with a mysterious past, a shady land-developer, Harry’s editor and a local thriller writer are all suspects–and all are figures from Harry’s previous, idyllic summers in the dale. A young girl, Sally Lumb, knows more than she lets on, and her knowledge could lead to danger. Inspector Banks’s second case unearths disturbing secrets behind a bucolic facade."

A Necessary End

Peter Robinson

1989

An Inspector Banks novel.

"Violence erupts at an anti-nuclear demonstration in Eastvale, leaving one policeman stabbed to death. At first there are over a hundred suspects, but then things narrow down to the people who live on “Maggie’s Farm”, an isolated house high on the daleside: Seth Cotton, the quiet, strong owner; Mara Delacey, his girlfriend; Paul Boyd, a young drifter with a violent background; Zoe Hardacre, an astrologer; and Rick Trelawney, an artist with strong Marxist leanings. Also among the suspects is Dennis Osmond, a social worker involved with Jenny Fuller, Inspector Banks’s friend. As if this isn’t enough to cope with, Banks finds his freedom hampered by the politically-motivated appointment of an old enemy, Detective Superintendent Richard “Dirty Dick” Burgess, to head the investigation. Finally, warned off the case, the only way Banks can salvage his career is by beating Burgess to the killer."

The Hanging Valley

Peter Robinson

1989

An Inspector Banks novel.

"A faceless, maggot-ridden corpse is discovered in a tranquil, hidden valley above the village of Swainshead. When the identity of the body is discovered, so is a possible connection with an unsolved murder in the same area five years ago. Among the annoyingly silent suspects are the Collier brothers, the wealthiest and most powerful family in Swainsdale; John Fletcher, a taciturn farmer; Sam Greenock, cocky owner of a Local guest house; and his troubled wife, Katie, who knows more than she realizes. When the Colliers use their influence to slow down the investigation, Inspector Alan Banks heads to Toronto to track down the killer."

Past Reason Hated

Peter Robinson

1991

An Inspector Banks novel.

"It should have been a cosy scene – log fire, sheepskin rug, Vivaldi on the stereo, Christmas lights and tree. But appearances can be deceptive. For Caroline Hartley, lying quietly on the couch, has been brutally murdered. Inspector Alan Banks is called to the grim scene. And he soon has more suspects than he ever imagined. As he delves into her past, he realizes that for Caroline, secrecy was a way of life, and her death is no different. His ensuing investigation is full of hidden passions and desperate violence."

Wednesday's Child

Peter Robinson

1992

An Inspector Banks novel.

"When a well-dressed couple, claiming to be social workers, appear at Brenda Scupham’s door, saying they must take her seven-year-old daughter, Gemma, into care after allegations of abuse, Brenda is confused and intimidated enough to hand the child over. But when the couple, Mr Brown and Miss Peterson, fail to bring Gemma home, Brenda realizes she has made a terrible mistake. As the days go by, Detective Chief Inspector Banks begins to lose hope of finding Gemma alive. Then a rambler finds a body in the ruins of an old lead mine, and the two cases begin to converge in a terrifying way, leading Banks to a showdown with one of the most chillingly evil criminals he has ever come up against."

Dry Bones that Dream

Peter Robinson

1994

An Inspector Banks novel. Published in the US as Final Account.

"One May evening, two masked gunmen tie up Alison Rothwell and her mother, take Keith Rothwell, a local accountant, to the garage of his isolated Yorkshire Dales farmhouse, and blow his head off with a shotgun. Why? This is the question Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks has to ask as he sifts through Rothwell’s life. Rothwell was generally known in the area as a mild-mannered, dull sort of person, but even a cursory investigation raises more questions than answers. When Banks’s old sparring partner, DS Richard 'Dirty Dick' Burgess, turns up from the Yard, the case takes yet another unexpected twist, and Banks finds himself racing against time as the killers seem to be dogging his footsteps."

Innocent Graves

Peter Robinson

1996

An Inspector Banks novel.

"One foggy night, Deborah Harrison is found lying in the churchyard behind St Mary's, Eastvale. She has been strangled with the strap of her own school satchel. But Deborah was no typical sixteen-year old. Her father was a powerful financier who moved in the highest echelons of industry, defence and classified information. And Deborah, it seemed, enjoyed keeping secrets of her own . . . With his colleague Detective Constable Susan Gay, Inspector Alan Banks moves along the many suspects, guilty of crimes large and small. And as he does so, plenty of sordid secrets and some deadly lies begin to emerge."

Dead Right

Peter Robinson

1997

An Inspector Banks novel. Published in the US as Blood at the Root.

"The broken body of Jason Fox has been found in a dirty alleyway. At first it looks like a typical after-hours pub fight gone wrong. But Inspector Alan Banks soon realizes that the truth is rarely so straightforward . . . Jason was a member of the Albion League, a white power organization. And there are many people who might have wished him dead: the Pakistani youths he had insulted in the pub that evening; the shady friends of his business partner; or someone within the Albion League itself. And just as Banks begins to get a grip on the case, an unexpected discovery forces him to reconsider everything he believes."

Not Safe After Dark And Other Stories

Peter Robinson

1998

A collection of short stories that includes four Inspector Banks stories.

"Not Safe After Dark is a complete collection of Peter Robinson’s short crime tales including four stories featuring Inspector Banks, a private-eye story set in Florida, a romantic Parisian mystery, and the modern classic, Innocence."

• Fan Mail
• Innocence
• Not Safe After Dark
• Anna Said ...
• Just My Luck
• Lawn Sale
• Good Partner
• Carrion
• Some Land In Florida
• Summer Rain
• Wrong Hands
• Two Ladies Of Rose Cottage
• In Flanders Field

• Summer Rain
• Fan Mail
• Innocence
• Murder In Utopia
• Not Safe After Dark
• Just My Luck
• Anna Said ...
• Missing In Action
• Memory Lane
• Carrion
• April In Paris
• The Good Partner
• Some Land In Florida
• The Wrong Hands
• The Two Ladies Of Rose Cottage
• Lawn Sale
• Gone To The Dawgs
• In Flanders Fields
• The Duke's Wife
• Going Back

In a Dry Season

Peter Robinson

1999

An Inspector Banks novel.

"During a blistering summer, drought has depleted Thornfield Reservoir, uncovering the remains of a small village called Hobb's End – hidden from view for over 40 years. For a curious young boy this resurfaced hamlet is a magical playground . . . until he unearths a human skeleton. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is given the impossible task of identifying the victim – a woman who lived in a place that no longer exists, whose former residents are scattered to the winds. Anyone else might throw in the towel but DCI Banks is determined to uncover the murky past buried beneath a flood of time."

Cold is the Grave

Peter Robinson

2000

An Inspector Banks novel.

"Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks has reached a turning point. With his wife now living with another man in London and his career in the doldrums thanks to Chief Constable Riddle, it is time to ring the changes. Perhaps a move to the National Crime Squad? Perhaps a second chance with Sandra? But then late one night he is summoned to Riddle's house - and his plans take a surprising new turn. For the Chief Constable's sixteen-year-old daughter Emily has run away and for once Riddle wants Banks to use his unorthodox methods to find her without fuss."

Aftermath

Peter Robinson

2001

An Inspector Banks novel.

"One early morning in May, Banks is called to a steep, overgrown street in Leeds, where two police officers answering a domestic call have stumbled on a scene of unbelievable horror. In the cellar of 35 The Hill, two people are dead, a third is dying, and behind a door more bodies lay buried. This seems to be the end of a grisly case Banks has been working on for some time, but ironically it turns out to be only the beginning. It is apparent who the murderer is, but Banks quickly finds out that nothing in this case is quite as straightforward as it seems. Many people are entangled in this crime–some whose lives are shattered by it, and some with unspeakable secrets in their pasts. The dead, Banks learns, are not the only victims, and the murderer may not be the only person to blame."

The Summer that Never Was

Peter Robinson

2003

An Inspector Banks novel. Published in the US as Close to Home.

"A skeleton has been unearthed. Soon the body is identified, and the horrific discovery hits the headlines. Fourteen-year-old Graham Marshall went missing during his paper round in 1965. The police found no trace of him. His disappearance left his family shattered, and his best friend, Alan Banks, full of guilt. That friend has now become Chief Inspector Alan Banks, and he is determined to bring justice for Graham. But he soon realizes that in this case, the boundary between victim and perpetrator, between law-guardian and law-breaker, is becoming more and more blurred."

Playing with Fire

Peter Robinson

2004

An Inspector Banks novel.

"In the early hours of a cold January morning, two narrow boats catch fire on the dead-end stretch of the Eastvale canal. When signs of accelerant are found at the scene, DCI Banks and DI Annie Cabbot are summoned. But by the time they arrive, only the smouldering wreckage is left, and human remains have been found on both boats. The evidence points towards a deliberate attack. But who was the intended victim? Was it Tina, the sixteen-year-old who had been living a drug-fuelled existence with her boyfriend? Or was it Tom, the mysterious, lonely artist? As Banks makes his enquiries, it appears that a number of people are acting suspiciously: the interfering 'lock-keeper', Tina's cold-hearted step-father, the wily local art dealer, even Tina's boyfriend . . . Then the arsonist strikes again, and Banks's powers of investigation are tested to the limit."

Strange Affair

Peter Robinson

2005

An Inspector Banks novel.

"When Alan Banks receives a disturbing message from his brother, Roy, he abandons the peaceful Yorkshire Dales for the bright lights of London, to seek him out. But Roy seems to have vanished into thin air. Meanwhile, DI Annie Cabbot is called to a quiet stretch of road just outside Eastvale, where a young woman has been found dead in her car. In the victim’s pocket, scribbled on a slip of paper, police discover Banks’ name and address. Living in Roy's empty South Kensington house, Banks finds himself digging into the life of the brother he never really knew, nor even liked. And as he begins to uncover a few troubling surprises, the two cases become sinisterly entwined."

Piece of My Heart

Peter Robinson

2006

An Inspector Banks novel.

"As volunteers clean up after a huge outdoor rock concert in Yorkshire in 1969, they discover the body of a young woman wrapped in a sleeping bag. She has been brutally murdered. The detective assigned to the case, Stanley Chadwick, is a hard-headed, strait-laced veteran of the Second World War. He could not have less in common with - or less regard for - young, disrespectful, long-haired hippies, smoking marijuana and listening to the pulsing sounds of rock and roll. But he has a murder to solve, and it looks as if the victim was somehow associated with the up-and-coming psychedelic pastoral band the Mad Hatters. In the present, Inspector Alan Banks is investigating the murder of a freelance music journalist who was working on a feature about the Mad Hatters for MOJO magazine. This is not the first time that the Mad Hatters, now aging rock superstars, have been brushed by tragedy."

Friend of the Devil

Peter Robinson

2007

An Inspector Banks novel.

"When Karen Drew is found sitting in her wheelchair staring out to sea with her throat cut one chilly morning, DI Annie Cabbot, on loan to Eastern Area, gets lumbered with the case. Back in Eastvale, that same Sunday morning, 19-year-old Hayley Daniels is found raped and strangled in the Maze, a tangle of narrow alleys behind Eastvale's market square, after a drunken night on the town with a group of friends, and DCI Alan Banks is called in. Banks finds suspects galore, while Annie seems to hit a brick wall - until she reaches a breakthrough that spins her case in a shocking and surprising new direction, one that also involves Banks. Then another incident occurs in the Maze which seems to link the two cases in a bizarre and mysterious way. As Banks and Annie dig into the past to uncover the deeper connections, they find themselves also dealing with the emotional baggage and personal demons of their own relationship."

All the Colours of Darkness

Peter Robinson

2008

An Inspector Banks novel.

"A beautiful June day in the Yorkshire Dales, and a group of children are spending the last of their half-term freedom swimming in the river near Hindswell Woods. But the idyll is shattered by their discovery of a man's body, hanging from a tree. DI Annie Cabott soon discovers he is Mark Hardcastle, the well-liked and successful set designer for the Eastvale Theatre's current production of Othello. Everything points to suicide, and Annie is mystified. Why would such a man want to take his own life? Then Annie's investigation leads to another shattering discovery, and DCI Alan Banks is called back from the idyllic weekend he had planned with his new girlfriend. Banks soon finds himself plunged into a shadow-world where nothing is what it seems, where secrets and deceit are the norm, and where murder is seen as the solution to a problem. The deeper he digs the more he discovers that the monster he has awakened will extend its deadly reach to his friends and family. Nobody is safe."

The Price of Love And Other Stories

Peter Robinson

2009

A collection of short stories that includes three Inspector Banks stories and an Inspector Banks novella.

"In addition to the brand new novella that fills in the gaps in Banks's life before Yorkshire, Peter Robinson gives us ten more brilliant and eclectic stories."

• Cornelius Jubb
• The Magic Of Your Touch
• The Eastvale Ladies' Poker Circle
• The Ferryman's Beautiful Daughter
• Walking The Dog
• Blue Christmas
• Shadow On The Water
• The Cherub Affair
• The Price Of Love
• Birthday Dance
• Like A Virgin

Bad Boy

Peter Robinson

2010

An Inspector Banks novel.

"When Juliet Doyle finds a gun in her daughter's bedroom, she turns to old friend DCI Alan Banks for advice. But Banks is on a much-needed holiday, and it's left to DI Annie Cabbot to deal with the removal of the firearm. No one can foresee the operation's disastrous consequences, or that the Doyles will not be the only family affected. Banks's daughter Tracy has fallen for the wrong boy. Her flatmate's boyfriend is attractive, ambitious, and surrounded by an intoxicating air of mystery. He's also very dangerous. When Tracy warns him the police might be on his tail, he persuades her to go on the run with him, and flattered by his attention, she agrees."

Watching the Dark

Peter Robinson

2012

An Inspector Banks novel.

"Detective Inspector Bill Quinn is killed by a crossbow in the tranquil grounds of a police rehabilitation centre, and compromising photos are found in his room. DCI Banks, brought in to investigate, is assailed on all sides. By Joanna Passero, the Professional Standards inspector who insists on shadowing the investigation in case of police corruption. By his own conviction that a policeman shouldn't be deemed guilty without evidence. By Annie Cabbot, back at work after six months' recuperation, and beset by her own doubts and demons. And by an English girl who disappeared in Estonia six years ago, who seems to hold the secret at the heart of this case."

Children of the Revolution

Peter Robinson

2013

An Inspector Banks novel.

"Ex-college lecturer Gavin Miller is found dead; his distorted body strewn across a disused railway track near his home. There's no sign of a struggle, and no concrete evidence except for one distinguishing package: £5,000 of cash, tucked inside the man's pocket. But when DCI Banks delves into Miller's past, he uncovers a troubled existence tarnished by accusations of abuse and misconduct which throws up an array of puzzling questions. What really occurred at the college where the victim used to teach? How was he embroiled in political activism at Essex University, over forty years ago? And what links him to an upstanding pillar of the community, who also harbours a dark secret from her past?"

Abattoir Blues

Peter Robinson

2014

An Inspector Banks novel. Published in the US as In the Dark Places.

"When DCI Banks and his team are called to investigate the theft of a tractor from a North Yorkshire village, they're far from enthusiastic about what seems to be a simple case of rural crime. Then a blood stain is found in an abandoned hangar, two main suspects vanish without a trace, and events take a darkly sinister turn. As each lead does little to unravel the mystery, Banks feels like the case is coming to a dead end. Until a road accident reveals some alarming evidence, which throws the investigation to a frightening new level. Someone is trying to cover their tracks - someone with very deadly intent."

When the Music's Over

Peter Robinson

2016

An Inspector Banks novel.

"Two young girls. Two unspeakable crimes. Fifty years separate them - their pain connects them. When the body of a 15-year-old is found in a remote countryside lane, beaten and broken, DI Annie Cabbot is brought in to investigate how the child could possibly have fallen victim to such brutality. Newly promoted Detective Superintendent Alan Banks is faced with a case that is as cold as they come. Now in her 60s, Linda Palmer was attacked aged 14 by celebrity entertainer Danny Caxton, yet the crime has never been investigated - until now. As each steps closer to uncovering the truth, they'll unearth secrets much darker than they ever could have guessed."

Sleeping in the Ground

Peter Robinson

2017

An Inspector Banks novel.

"A shocking mass murder occurs at a wedding in a small Dales church and a huge manhunt follows. Eventually, the shooter is run to ground and things take their inevitable course. But Banks is plagued with doubts as to exactly what happened outside the church that day, and why. Struggling with the death of his first serious girlfriend and the return of profiler Jenny Fuller into his life, Banks feels the need to dig deeper into the murders, and as he does so, he uncovers forensic and psychological puzzles that lead him to the past secrets that might just provide the answers he is looking for."

Careless Love

Peter Robinson

2018

An Inspector Banks novel.

"A young local student has apparently committed suicide. Her body is found in an abandoned car on a lonely country road. She didn't own a car. Didn't even drive. How did she get there? Where did she die? Who moved her, and why? Meanwhile a man in his sixties is found dead in a gully up on the wild moorland. He is wearing an expensive suit and carrying no identification. Post-mortem findings indicate he died from injuries sustained during the fall. But what was he doing up there? And why are there no signs of a car in the vicinity? As the inconsistencies multiply and the mysteries proliferate, Annie's father's new partner, Zelda, comes up with a shocking piece of information that alerts Banks and Annie to the return of an old enemy in a new guise."

Many Rivers to Cross

Peter Robinson

2019

An Inspector Banks novel.

"When the body of a teenage boy is found stuffed into a wheely bin on the East Side Estate, Banks and Annie have a homegrown murder case to solve. But Banks's attention is also on Zelda, who in helping him track down his old enemy, has put herself in danger and alerted the stonecold Eastern Europea sex traffickers who brought her to the UK."

Wednesday's Child / Dead Right

Peter Robinson

1997

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels Wednesday's Child and Dead Right.

Meet Inspector Banks

Peter Robinson

2001

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels Gallows View, A Dedicated Man and A Necessary Man.

Inspector Banks Investigates

Peter Robinson

2003

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels The Hanging Valley, Past Reason Hated and Wednesday's Child.

The Return Of Inspector Banks

Peter Robinson

2004

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels Final Account, Innocent Graves and Dead Right.

A Necessary End / Past Reason Hated

Peter Robinson

2004

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels A Necessary End and Past Reason Hated.

Gallows View / A Dedicated Man

Peter Robinson

2004

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels Gallows View and A Dedicated Man.

In A Dry Season / Dry Bones That Dream

Peter Robinson

2004

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels In A Dry Season and Dry Bones That Dream.

Strange Affair / Playing With Fire

Peter Robinson

2005

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels Strange Affair and Playing With Fire.

The Hanging Valley / Innocent Graves

Peter Robinson

2005

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels The Hanging Valley and Innocent Graves.

Not Safe After Dark / A Necessary End

Peter Robinson

2005

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels Not Safe After Dark and A Necessary end.

The Summer That Never Was / Cold Is The Grave

Peter Robinson

2008

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels The Summer That Never Was and Cold Is The Grave.

Dry Bones That Dream / The Hanging Valley

Peter Robinson

2011

An Inspector Banks omnibus.

An omnibus edition that combines the novels Dry Bones That Dream and The Hanging Valley.

Going Back

Peter Robinson

An Inspector Banks story originally published in The Price Of Love.

"In this novella, never before published in the United States, Banks returns home for a family reunion, only to find it taking a decidedly sinister turn."

Blue Christmas

Peter Robinson

An Inspector Banks story originally published in The Price Of Love.

"Just when Banks thought it was going to be a dull Christmas, he stumbles upon a case."

The Eastvale Ladies' Poker Circle

Peter Robinson

An Inspector Banks story originally published in The Price Of Love.

Like a Virgin

Peter Robinson

An Inspector Banks story originally published in The Price Of Love.

"In Like a Virgin Banks revisits the period in his life and the terrible crime that led him to leave London for Eastvale."

Summer Rain

Peter Robinson

An Inspector Banks short story.

"Banks confronts one of the most puzzling cases of his career— when a tourist claims that several decades earlier, in a previous life, he witnessed a murder committed nearby. Banks doesn't believe in the supernatural. Or superstition. But when evidence of a crime comes to light, he begins to wonder: How did this mysterious visitor know about a killing possibly committed before he was born?"

The Good Partner

Peter Robinson

An Inspector Banks story.

"The lowering sky was black as a tax inspector’s heart when Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks pulled up outside 17 Oakley Crescent at eight o’clock one mid-November evening. An icy wind whipped up the leaves and set them skittering around his feet as he walked up the path to the glass-paneled door. Detective Constable Susan Gay was waiting for him inside, and Peter Darby, the police photographer, was busy with his new video recorder. Between the glass coffee table and the brick fireplace lay the woman’s body, blood matting the hair around her left temple. Banks put on his latex gloves, then bent and picked up the object beside her. The bronze plaque read, Eastvale Golf Club, 1991 Tournament. Winner: David Fosse. There was blood on the base of the trophy. The man Banks assumed to be David Fosse sat on the sofa staring into space."