Abattoir Blues

How many exciting mystery novels begin with a stolen tractor? Perhaps just one, Peter Robinson’s “In the Dark Places” (2015).

The team of detectives led by Inspector Banks usually gets assigned to murder investigations, but it being a slow season for murder in mostly rural Eastvale, Annie Cabot is dispatched to investigate, as she puts it, “a bloody stolen tractor.”

But at about the same time, a wounded British army veteran discovers what appears to be a substantial amount of blood in an abandoned building. The two incidents turn out to be related: the man who stole the tractor is the murder victim, his body discovered in a most grisly fashion. That’s one of the “dark places” Robinson takes us. Another is more literal: show more deep into a cavern, where the novel reaches its climax.

This is another exceptional entry in this series of novels featuring Banks, a music-loving police officer still attempting to cope with his broken marriage. As usual in these stories, the lives of Banks and the members of his team prove to be as interesting as the mystery they attempt to solve. This time a prominent role goes to Winsome, the Jamaican-born young officer who begins a love affair and later enters that cavern with the villain at her heels.

Don’t miss this one. show less

When Homicide and Major Crimes is called out to investigate a stolen tractor, they’re not exactly thrilled. But the new police commissioner considers rural crime a priority so they just have to suck it up. However, when it is linked to a possible murder in a vacant hangar at an abandoned WWII airfield, the disappearance of two local lads, and a gruesome discovery at the scene of a crashed lorry, the case becomes a lot more interesting for DCI Banks and his team.

In the Dark Places is the 22nd Inspector Banks novel by author Peter Robinson and he still knows how to write a compelling and intelligent police procedural. The thing I like about Robinson – he’s never flashy, there are no wild car chases through major thoroughfares, his show more characters, though well-rounded, aren’t extraordinarily beautiful, witty, or able to solve crimes with little more than a random throw-away line apropos seemingly of nothing and the use of their little grey cells. They investigate crime scenes and follow the clues and put hard work into solving the case. There is, to be sure, some graphic and rather disturbing violence here especially as much of the story is set in abattoirs but this violence fits into the story and never feels gratuitous. Like the other books in the series, this entry is grounded in real possibility. There are lots of twists and the occasional dumb but human mistake by a character but it never stretches the credulity of the reader.

Banks himself is missing for part of the story and, this time, it is the lasses who get to have most of the fun especially DS Winsome Jackman who may have found a possible love interest. When Banks is present, his signature music obsession is also in evidence and, to be honest, I kind of prefer the Canadian and British title Abattoir Blues. It seems more fitting because it references not only the setting but the song by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (great song) which links it nicely to the last DCI Banks novel (and my favourite T-Rex song), Children of the Revolution. But, regardless of title, this is a well-written, intelligent, and satisfying mystery and I recommend it highly. show less

Peter Robinson's Inspector Alan Banks series is a total winner. This is number 22, and the series has not gone stale one little bit. In fact, this is one of the most impactful books so far. The tension never lets up and there is enough blood and death and scary people to fill two books. Banks and his crew are on the trail of a very elusive protagonist as two missing young men come to their attention. The more they investigate, the more they all realize that these are not regular missing persons enquiries. It takes Annie and Winsome on tours of local abattoirs and farms deep into the Yorkshire dales and onto little known country tracks and places them in incredible danger. The scenery of the Yorkshire hills and dales is described so show more vividly, and even on these particularly cold March days during the timeframe of the book, it sounds breathtaking, This book absolutely vibrates with tension and fear. This book is a white-knuckle read from beginning to end. Love this series! Love Peter Robinson. show less

A cracking story which had me guessing to the end: because Peter Robinson has not been scared to kill off, or seriously wound, major characters, one never knows how the action will conclude.

At the same time, he is clever enough to know that he doesn't need to top the level of carnage in each book. Sometimes everyone gets through, other times, a favourite won't make it. I shall not spoil the tension by revealing which scenario triumphed in this tale.

These tales get better and more smoothly written with each outing and, when you consider the high standard of the early works, that's quite an accomplishment. I can't wait to read the next instalment; so I won't!

Lovely and competent romp with inspector Alan Banks. Utter perfection. As mysteries go, these are one of my very favourites - characters are so well drawn, the mysteries are complex and yet believable, the landscape always plays a key role, and I always feel like getting a pint at a pub afterwards.

Abattoir Blues is the 22nd book in the DCI Allan Banks series of police procedurals. This is a solid entry in the series and the author certainly makes good use of the North Yorkshire setting. DCI Banks and his team are investigating a series of rural robberies which involves expensive farm equipment and some animals disappearing. The working theory is that the stolen goods are being shipped to Eastern Europe to be sold on the black market. When two young men are reported as missing, and the dismembered remains of one of them shows up mixed in with animal carcasses, the case is elevated to a murder investigation.

Although this particular book doesn’t focus much attention on DCI Bank’s private life, it is fairly apparent that his show more current relationship is on the wane and he will soon be at loose ends in the romance department, but this looks to be a matter for another book. Both team member Annie Cabot and Winsome Jackson are featured in this book and one of them embarks on a new and interesting relationship.

With Abattoir Blues I found the plot both satisfying and believable. The story was clever with just enough twists to keep the reader engaged. The Eastvale team, with it’s mix of genders and ethnicity strike the right note and although I get a sense that this series is winding down, the author is still producing some very good work. show less

This book was much better than the last one. Be warned, there is another title for this book – the U.K. version is titled Abattoir Blues so don’t purchase that title and this title. I wonder why they have different names for the same book?

This plot was gritty and well written. A stolen tractor, a murdered man, a theft ring and more. The descriptive scenes would just about make a vegetarian out of you if you aren’t one already. That’s not the entire book, mind you, just the interviews at the slaughterhouse. It was necessary to the plot and worked well.

Winsome is back and has a big role in this book. I love her character – she is a hellva detective and I hope she is in more books. Annie Cabbot is also featured. One day I hope show more she and Banks will get together and he stops diddling around with younger women. Ok, one young beauty interested in him in a previous book was fine but seriously….there is another young attractive woman mentioned in the beginning of this book as well.

As for the mystery – it all ties up neatly near the end. You are left guessing who is the thief and who is the murderer up until the last few chapters. I like it when it can’t be figured out early on.

Food mentions are frequent as British detectives do some of their meetings in pubs. But we also have Winsome Jackman out on a date. Check out the passages in the photos.

We have Beef and Mushroom Pie and haddock, served with fries / chips.



Now this meal below....I could go for a glass of Rioja and a cheese plate.





Next up is book #23 and I will be caught up until the July publication. show less