The acclaimed international bestselling author delivers a fast-paced, nail-biting thriller in which Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks must face ...
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reviews
Oct 07, 2011
Gloria
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Murphy’s Law seems to apply to the premise behind this novel. After a well-earned vacation touring the U.S. Southwest and the wonders of LA and San Francisco, DI Banks finds, upon his return to Eastvale, that an old friend has died after police tasered him, Banks’ daughter is missing, and everything is in an uncontrolled mess.
It starts when a former neighbor of Banks discovers a gun which had been hidden by her daughter in her bedroom when visiting her parents. The mother visits the More...
It starts when a former neighbor of Banks discovers a gun which had been hidden by her daughter in her bedroom when visiting her parents. The mother visits the More...
Jul 31, 2011
Ed
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Most notable in this 19th entry to the Chief Inspector Banks series is Superintendent Chambers, in charge of the investigation into a raid by an Authorized Firearms Officer squad that goes horribly wrong. Chambers is a caricature of a self-important lout given too much authority and with no real idea how to use it. He goes after much of the Eastvale police force--at least most of those we have gotten to know over the course of this series. Robinson's dislike of the character is clear his first a
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Jul 01, 2011
Diane
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Even though Peter Robinson's detective novels, featuring Alan Banks and Annie Cabbott, follow the formula for other novels in this genre, Robinson has developed Banks with endearing human frailities without making him hopeless. In Bad Boy, Banks has gone to America for a vacation to sooth his nerves after a harrowing experience with home-grown terrorists. This took place in the previous installment in the Banks saga and was enough to make Banks question his career choice.
The Robinson More...
The Robinson More...
Dec 20, 2010
Ian
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19th in the series. No surprises - usual qualifty of plotting and suspense, with Inspector Banks not making an entrance until half way through the book.
Starts with one of his daughters flat mates taking a gun back to the family home and being discovered by her parents. A friend of Banks, the mother goes to the station but banks is on his jollys in america.
Cue a bothched raid on the home and the tasering of her father and subsquent death.
Robinson does the pol More...
Starts with one of his daughters flat mates taking a gun back to the family home and being discovered by her parents. A friend of Banks, the mother goes to the station but banks is on his jollys in america.
Cue a bothched raid on the home and the tasering of her father and subsquent death.
Robinson does the pol More...
Nov 10, 2010
Debbie
rated it:
Peter Robinson utilities a formula when writing. His novels all begin with a scene evolving sight and smell of England, then the scene labors along the route with the tempo increasing as a character heads toward the conclusion. Alan Banks, Detective Chief Inspector, basks in the sun in California, as he enjoys a holiday/vacation. Back home in England, chaos has erupted with the accidental death of Alan's past neighbor and with the misjudgment of Alan’s daughter, Tracy. Robinson reveals the c
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Oct 22, 2010
Nicola
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Reason for Reading: Next in the series
Peter Robinson is always a character writer. The identities and motivators of his main characters are an important role in each of his novels and each character has developed through the books, especially Inspector Banks who has been with the series for all nineteen novels. Bad Boys relies heavily on the personal stories of the main characters plot wise. There is a crime, a couple really, and they all involve Inspector Banks at a personal level. More...
Peter Robinson is always a character writer. The identities and motivators of his main characters are an important role in each of his novels and each character has developed through the books, especially Inspector Banks who has been with the series for all nineteen novels. Bad Boys relies heavily on the personal stories of the main characters plot wise. There is a crime, a couple really, and they all involve Inspector Banks at a personal level. More...
Oct 13, 2010
Pamela
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I have read Peter Robinson since his first Alan Banks procedural. As with most long series, the first several were excellent. But then the plots became predictable, the writing stale, and the recurring characters boring. I stopped reading him. When I saw “Bad Boy,” I decided that after a several-year hiatus, I would try him again. Unfortunately, that was a mistake.
Robinson’s recurring women characters in “Bad Boy” are immature, trite, and badly drawn. You have his partner and former lo More...
Robinson’s recurring women characters in “Bad Boy” are immature, trite, and badly drawn. You have his partner and former lo More...
Oct 01, 2010
Bad Boy, by Peter Robinson, a-minus, Narrated by Simon Prebble, produced by Harper Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
Inspector Banks has gone on leave to recover emotionally from his last case and is in San Francisco. A woman comes into the Eastvale station and wants to speak only to Allen Banks. Since he isn’t there, Annie Cabot takes the caller. The woman is a former neighbor of Banks and her daughter has an unregistered gun in the house. Annie and the superintendent organize More...
Inspector Banks has gone on leave to recover emotionally from his last case and is in San Francisco. A woman comes into the Eastvale station and wants to speak only to Allen Banks. Since he isn’t there, Annie Cabot takes the caller. The woman is a former neighbor of Banks and her daughter has an unregistered gun in the house. Annie and the superintendent organize More...
Sep 17, 2010
Nancy
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First, my thanks to LibraryThing's early reviewer program and to Morrow for my copy of this book.
Don't do what I did and start this late at night -- you won't want to put it down. Although this book isn't really a whodunit, the tension begins to build very close to the beginning and doesn't let up.
The 19th installment in Robinson's Alan Banks series, Bad Boy begins with the discovery of a gun. Julia Doyle contacts the police to report that she's found a gun in her daug More...
Don't do what I did and start this late at night -- you won't want to put it down. Although this book isn't really a whodunit, the tension begins to build very close to the beginning and doesn't let up.
The 19th installment in Robinson's Alan Banks series, Bad Boy begins with the discovery of a gun. Julia Doyle contacts the police to report that she's found a gun in her daug More...
Sep 14, 2010
Vanda
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This is Peter Robinson's 19th Detective Chief Inspector Banks novel, and it's the first I have read. I really enjoyed it.
Bad Boy starts with DCI Banks in America on holiday and while he is away all sorts of trouble is brewing on the home front. His daughter's best friend triggers a disastrous series of events when she, in a moment of pique, sneaks off with her boyfriend's gun. He is a very charming and dangerous young man and when Tracy Banks, who fancies him, decides to warn Jaff abou More...
Bad Boy starts with DCI Banks in America on holiday and while he is away all sorts of trouble is brewing on the home front. His daughter's best friend triggers a disastrous series of events when she, in a moment of pique, sneaks off with her boyfriend's gun. He is a very charming and dangerous young man and when Tracy Banks, who fancies him, decides to warn Jaff abou More...
Sep 08, 2010
Linda
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The Inspector Banks novels have been growing darker of late, and, number 20, Bad Boy, continues the trend in spades. Jaff McCready is one of those handsome charmers who has never developed a conscience, and when Banks' 20-something daughter falls for him, she fails to recognize the warning signs. Banks himself is on holiday in California, where he has been doing some much needed soul searching while enjoying the spectacular scenery. He returns to England only to find that his partner and one-tim
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Aug 27, 2010
Jmm
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DCI Alan Banks, on leave from the Major Crimes Unit of the Western Area Headquarters in Eastvale, is thoroughly enjoying his visit to the United States, so he isn't there when his former neighbor, Juliet Doyle, arrives at the police station seeking his help over what to do about a gun she has found in her daughter's bedroom. Instead, DI Annie Cabot interviews Mrs. Doyle and that, as they say, makes all the difference.
Jaff McCready, the titular bad boy of this story, is the son of a More...
Jaff McCready, the titular bad boy of this story, is the son of a More...
Aug 19, 2010
Felice
rated it:
You know you can't read better than Peter Robinson.
There are things that you can count on: the yumminess of any sandwich you don't make yourself, that the plows will push more snow onto your side of the road than your neighbors and that Peter Robinson will never let you down. He has what? 97-98 books out there and not a dud in the lot. Okay he has a mere 20 (!) mystery novels out there, but they are all exceptional. Who else can say that?
In the latest Robinson novel, Bad More...
There are things that you can count on: the yumminess of any sandwich you don't make yourself, that the plows will push more snow onto your side of the road than your neighbors and that Peter Robinson will never let you down. He has what? 97-98 books out there and not a dud in the lot. Okay he has a mere 20 (!) mystery novels out there, but they are all exceptional. Who else can say that?
In the latest Robinson novel, Bad More...
Oct 04, 2010
Robin
rated it:
Robinson keeps getting better and better. I literally read this in one sitting - as usual Robinson is able to take a fairly straightforward situation and find every possible shade and nuance within it. A distraught mother comes to the police station to tell Banks she's found a gun in her daughter's room, which, in the UK, would put her in prison. She's hoped to call on an old friend for help, but Banks is out of town and Annie Cabot takes over. Things go terribly wrong when the police go to
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Jul 03, 2010
Kasa
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This book is about smart people making bad decisions and stupid choices that result in dire consequences. Robinson's music loving, introspective Inspector Banks has a reason for his bad mood this time -- several of them which I won't give away. He returns from his holiday in the United States to real and figurative messes. (Side note: from a resident, the man really knows how to enjoy San Francisco as a tourist and stays in one of my favorite hotels in the City.)
The Inspector More...
The Inspector More...
Oct 02, 2010
Trish
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Peter Robinson writes a good mystery. Full stop. However, Bad Boy reminds us of the difficulties of crafting a believable story--keeping the characters true to their natures while adding complications and fixes without adding too many extraneous details. There were a couple times in this novel when I found myself watching Robinson struggle with a plot line. He managed admirably in the end, but the seams did show a bit. Not so much as to put us off him. It's all part of reading a long series.
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Jan 22, 2011
Ron
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Bad Boy is yet another winner in the long list of Peter Robinson stories involving Inspector Banks and his parter DI Annie Cabot. This time Banks' beautiful young daugher Tracy is involved and its her who has her hands full trying to handle the bad boy. Upon returning from a vacation in the U.S. Banks is shocked to learn that his daughter has taken up with a killer and they're both on the run from the law. The whole force is out in full - Banks trys to make sure that, in the police's hard char
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Jul 14, 2010
J.R.
rated it:
Good character development, a riveting plot and fast-paced action. What’s not to like?
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is enjoying a holiday in the American west when a distraught former neighbor and friend comes looking for him at the Eastvale police station. In his absence, Annie Cabbot, Bank’s partner and a former lover, steps in. The visitor explains she’s discovered a loaded gun in her daughter’s bedroom. Possession of firearms is illegal in Great Britain and the mother hope More...
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is enjoying a holiday in the American west when a distraught former neighbor and friend comes looking for him at the Eastvale police station. In his absence, Annie Cabbot, Bank’s partner and a former lover, steps in. The visitor explains she’s discovered a loaded gun in her daughter’s bedroom. Possession of firearms is illegal in Great Britain and the mother hope More...
Sep 20, 2010
Richard
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Wow! I have a new author to follow, but first I have to read his other 19 books. This has great descriptions of places I am not familiar with. The story was very believable, especially in the way the crime kept escalating as pressure was put on Jaff to keep moving in response to the many problems he had.
The descriptions of the behavior and dialogue of the police and the thugs was perfect, building tension like Hitchcock, one small step at a time. You could see the people responding t More...
The descriptions of the behavior and dialogue of the police and the thugs was perfect, building tension like Hitchcock, one small step at a time. You could see the people responding t More...
Aug 28, 2010
Sheila
rated it:
I loved this one! Even by the high standards of Peter Robinson's first-rate suspense series starring Chief Inspector Alan Banks, this latest installment is outstanding. Banks returns from a vacation in the U.S. and finds that his daughter, Tracy, has become involved with a "bad boy" who turns out to be much worse and more dangerous than she thought. It's a thrilling, wonderfully plotted, character-driven story, in which the good guys are confronted with some truly evil villains.
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Oct 23, 2010
I won this book in a goodreads draw and have to admit all I did was skim the last few chapters. I have read the first of this series and was surprised at some of the story changes which had me hunting reviews for what I missed. I have not finished many police procedurals lately and have not DNF'd them on goodreads b/c they are due to my reading mood not writing.
Dh did read this and finished it last night. When asked to review it, I got "it was fine". Due to the length of ti More...
Dh did read this and finished it last night. When asked to review it, I got "it was fine". Due to the length of ti More...
Oct 14, 2010
Carrie
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Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks doesn't surface until the second half of this 19th book in the series, but we get to learn a lot about his 20-something daughter, Tracy, who is bored with her name and disappointed with her life. She comes to the rescue of a truly Bad Boy, and thinks she is off on a well-deserved adventure. Bad Boy turns out to have a gun, which he uses with deadly intent, a couple of kilos of cocaine, and a whole of lot money - all owned by someone else, who very much wants
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Jul 09, 2010
Vivian
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From my review at Bookbrowse.com:
Terrific Surprise!
I hadn't realized that this book was part of a continuing series when I requested it. I prefer to read a series in order, and while this is the 19th entry in the Alan Banks series, I'm happy to say that it works very well as a stand alone book. I did not feel cheated that I didn't know any of the backstory for each character.
The story grabbed me from the first page and never let go. it is an outstanding example of a Brit More...
Terrific Surprise!
I hadn't realized that this book was part of a continuing series when I requested it. I prefer to read a series in order, and while this is the 19th entry in the Alan Banks series, I'm happy to say that it works very well as a stand alone book. I did not feel cheated that I didn't know any of the backstory for each character.
The story grabbed me from the first page and never let go. it is an outstanding example of a Brit More...
Nov 26, 2011
Don
rated it:
Not one of the better ones in this series, this book is more of a suspense novel than a detective/mystery story. Perhaps more than the other books in this series, Bad Boy revolves around the personal lives and relationships of the main characters more than around a particular crime and its solution. Contemporary mystery series seem to increasingly need to rely on the soap opera elements rather than the unraveling of the mystery. It's not a trend that I favor; establishing the right balance of
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Oct 21, 2010
Jane
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 31, 2011
Fionna
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The Alan Banks books are losing their way. Character motivations change to suit the plot, characters (especially of women) are becoming flatter and less believable, apparently meaningful connections between them are forged in a couple of stilted and unconvincing pages. After the genius of Aftermath and Friend Of The Devil, it is disappointing to have such a humdrum book.
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Oct 09, 2011
J.T.
rated it:
Oh dear, I've done it again!
I started reading the Inspector Banks series many, many years ago and despite some reservations about the writing which is pedestrian and clunky in places enjoyed them. Over the years the writing has remained ordinary but somehow the characters and plots have become weak.
I have read all of this series (shows how stupid I really am) and each time I finished the last four or five I vowed not to read the next and keep on finding myself buying it a More...
I started reading the Inspector Banks series many, many years ago and despite some reservations about the writing which is pedestrian and clunky in places enjoyed them. Over the years the writing has remained ordinary but somehow the characters and plots have become weak.
I have read all of this series (shows how stupid I really am) and each time I finished the last four or five I vowed not to read the next and keep on finding myself buying it a More...
May 31, 2011
Teryl
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 16, 2011
kit
rated it:
I stopped and started this book three times, and finally finished it nearly three months after first picking it up. This was the second Inspector Banks book I have read, and while I liked the character, he just didn't feature enough in this book. With the exception of DI Cabbot, I didn't warm to any of the other characters, even the supposed victim, which made reading this something of a slog.
I found a lot of the conversations between characters jarred, or were very obviously for expos More...
I found a lot of the conversations between characters jarred, or were very obviously for expos More...
Jan 11, 2011
Mrsgaskell
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I enjoyed this Inspector Banks mystery more than the previous one (All the Colours of Darkness). It was quite a suspenseful read but not a whodunit. Alan Banks' daughter Tracy, in her mid-twenties now, becomes involved with a "bad boy". This is an understatement - Jaff is evil and violent, a drug trafficker and possible murderer. I found parts of the novel disturbing, some of the events that happen to Tracy as well as to another young woman. It seemed to me that the use of Ecstasy amon
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