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All the Colours of Darkness | 
| Author: Peter Robinson
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Category: Book
New (21) Used (6) Collectible (2) from £8.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 8601
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.5
ISBN: 034083692X
EAN: 9780340836927
ASIN: 034083692X
Publication Date: August 7, 2008
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 Terrible November 29, 2008
I've said in previous reviews that Peter Robinson is an expert in plot. So what happened here? This was nowhere near his usual standard. The plot was paper thin and all disjointed. The MI5 / MI6 element was very unconvincing. There were other sub-plots which I thought would eventually tie in to the main plot but they didn't. I expected there to be some kind of surprise at the end but there wasn't. In order to remind myself of Peter Robinson's abilities I re-read one of his earlier works, "Dry Bones That Dream" which is a top-class detective novel with a brilliant twist at the end. It shows that he is capable of writing better than this - a lot better.
Needed to be much better than this November 26, 2008
I became a huge fan of the Inspector Banks novels after picking up Aftermath in a second-hand shop a few years ago. However I totally agree with most other reviewers that this book falls a long way short of the rest of the series.
It's commendable that there are no repetitions of old storylines throughout the Banks series, however, it seems that Peter Robinson is starting to run out of ideas for plots that can be set in North Yorkshire, with which he is obviously familiar and Banks and his colleagues are well established. Much of this novel is set in London and involves Banks undertaking investigation of MI6 activities when he's supposed to be on leave, despite orders from his superiors not to. He's also witness to a fictional terrorist attack, which appears to have no relevance whatsoever to the rest of the book. And how likely is it that Banks would be able to request to stay in the same hotel room as a suspect did a couple of weeks previously, then find a clue on a piece of paper dropped behind the radiator?
Banks does find time to get back to Yorkshire and solve a murder and suicide that are highly improbably centred around an Othello plot, yet he somehow manages to latch straight onto when he sees a production at his local theatre. The ending is completely far-fetched and I agree with a previous reviewer that it seems rushed.
Robinson also seems to be running out of ideas for Banks' relationships - when we were first introduced to him he was married, then seemingly out of the blue his wife left him and a romance with Annie Cabbot started. Soon afterwards that ran out of steam and now his relationship with new girlfriend Sophia also seems to be failing. Am I the only one getting a bit bored with this?
Almost every book I buy I keep for a second read, and maybe a third. This one I gave away to a friend straight after finishing it. I think that probably says it all.
 Hopefully a little breather October 22, 2008
I am a great fan of Peter Robinson's Alan Banks novels. I have read all, except one, and would rate him as one of the five best crime writers of all time. However, this one was a real disappointment.
The atmosphere, the conversations and the characters are as good as ever, but the plot is just plain poor and dull. The result is that it reads quite a bit like a 'contractual obligation novel'. The ideas are just not there, just the characters, setting and the skills of a seasoned writer.
Grappling about in All the Colours of Darkness October 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Well, I have to say I'm disappointed! I've loved all the other Insp Banks I've had the pleasure of reading, and this is such a let down! I don't mean to be rude, Peter Robinson is clearly a fantastic writer, and is perhaps just exploring his creativity, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to work! I agree with another reader in that this book just doesnt ring true.
Banks is called back from his dirrty weekend with his beautiful, young girlfriend Sophia to investigate two deaths. A murder/suicide - case closed. But he disagrees and goes off on a one-man crusade to prove them all wrong. He sets off back to London to single-handedly investigate and solve what happened, and the events that led to the couple who died.
For it being such a big book, it seems incredible that Robinson has created so many pages out of so thin a plot. Banks relies entirely on a hunch that HE alone is right, despite being told not to pursue the matter by his superiors. And as for the ending, its right out of a James Bond film.
As much as I hate to say it, I was wholly disappointed with the entire book, it was just such a flimsy plot! Although saying that I am intrigued as to what will become of his relationship with Sophia, and when will he get back together with Annie?? I await the next installment with the hope that he returns to form as the best DCI out there!
utter rubbish October 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have read all the DCI Alan Banks books and have enjoyed most of them, apart from the last two. I agree with the majority of the other reviewers. I liked the characters portrayed in the previous books but this book was so bad that I felt nothing for them or what may happen to them. Sophie and her family were non starters; Cabot and Winsome were irritating and why did the new character have to be constantly referred to as Harry Potter, once would have been enough. At one point I felt that the book had been written by someone else as it bore no resemblence to previous books. As one reviewer wrote, Robinson never repeats stories from his other books, but he refers to certain incidents in the past without explanation. If this had been my first Banks novel that would have annoyed me. The terrorist attack was totally out of place as was the vile description of the aftermath. I felt that Robinson had put this in to bring his book "up to date" and show that he was aware of what was going on in the world. Not necessary, we can all read the papers and watch the news. He also had a dig at the Muslim community, again not necessary. The whole book lacked suspense, the storylines were very weak or a complete waste of page space and when it ended my reaction was "Is that it"!!!! Quentin Jardine books have gone the same way and I will not anymore of his books, I'm afraid that may be the same for any future Alan Banks book.
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