What do you think?
Rate this book
Inspector Banks
Summer Rain
A mystery from the past bursts in upon the present in this gripping Inspector Banks short story-- featuring an excerpt from Peter Robinson's new novel In the Dark Places ("Thrilling"--Louise Penny).
Acclaimed by Michael Connelly as "a man for all seasons," Inspector Alan Banks is among the most beloved characters in contemporary fiction. And now 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?
Ingenious, atmospheric, and poignant, 'Summer Rain' is perfect for both longtime Peter Robinson fans and those who have yet to discover one of the world's most popular mystery writers.
Acclaimed by Michael Connelly as "a man for all seasons," Inspector Alan Banks is among the most beloved characters in contemporary fiction. And now 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?
Ingenious, atmospheric, and poignant, 'Summer Rain' is perfect for both longtime Peter Robinson fans and those who have yet to discover one of the world's most popular mystery writers.
36 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2015
About the author
Peter Robinson
289 books2,289 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Peter Robinson was born in Yorkshire. After getting his BA Honours Degree in English Literature at the University of Leeds, he came to Canada and took his MA in English and Creative Writing at the University of Windsor, with Joyce Carol Oates as his tutor, then a PhD in English at York University. He has taught at a number of Toronto community colleges and universities and served as Writer-in-Residence at the University of Windsor, 1992-93.
Series:
* Inspector Banks
Awards:
* Winner of the 1992 Ellis Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 1997 Ellis Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 2000 Anthony Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 2000 Barry Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 2001 Ellis Award for Best Novel.
Peter Robinson was born in Yorkshire. After getting his BA Honours Degree in English Literature at the University of Leeds, he came to Canada and took his MA in English and Creative Writing at the University of Windsor, with Joyce Carol Oates as his tutor, then a PhD in English at York University. He has taught at a number of Toronto community colleges and universities and served as Writer-in-Residence at the University of Windsor, 1992-93.
Series:
* Inspector Banks
Awards:
* Winner of the 1992 Ellis Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 1997 Ellis Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 2000 Anthony Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 2000 Barry Award for Best Novel.
* Winner of the 2001 Ellis Award for Best Novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 24, 2021
For me, this plot was a great deception because it was no thrilling at all! Scribd.com's English text, and translation for Portuguese + audio in English from Google Translate. Continuing the Project Learning English by myself.
May 23, 2015
Summer Rain – an Inspector Banks short story by Peter Robinson is a 2015 William Morrow Impulse publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This super short Inspector Banks story centers around a man's claim that in a former life he believes he may have been murdered. When he takes this theory to the police, Banks looks into the situation mainly out of shear boredom. However, it looks as though there may be something to the man's claims after all.
This book offers up an interesting theory about Deja Vu and reincarnation, which fits the crime in this case perfectly, plus I learned something new in the process. However, as far as the mystery goes, it was pretty lightweight and ultimately anti-climatic in the end. Still, it shouldn't take the average reader more than thirty minutes to read this story, so it makes a nice “lunch break” diversion. Of course, there is a sneak peek into Mr. Robinson's next book, due out in August of 2015, which is nearly as lengthy as the story was. Overall, this gets 3 stars.
This super short Inspector Banks story centers around a man's claim that in a former life he believes he may have been murdered. When he takes this theory to the police, Banks looks into the situation mainly out of shear boredom. However, it looks as though there may be something to the man's claims after all.
This book offers up an interesting theory about Deja Vu and reincarnation, which fits the crime in this case perfectly, plus I learned something new in the process. However, as far as the mystery goes, it was pretty lightweight and ultimately anti-climatic in the end. Still, it shouldn't take the average reader more than thirty minutes to read this story, so it makes a nice “lunch break” diversion. Of course, there is a sneak peek into Mr. Robinson's next book, due out in August of 2015, which is nearly as lengthy as the story was. Overall, this gets 3 stars.
July 2, 2018
Quite light, fast and enjoyable, I think I might give the whole series a try!
February 4, 2016
When Jerry Singer announces that he was murdered 32 years ago, DCI Banks is skeptical, to say the least, but it's a boring day so he decides to look into this highly questionable event. After all, what if this purported murder really did happen? Besides, Inspector Banks would much rather sniff around a possible cold case than do paperwork.
The mystery here is slight but Summer Rain is a nice introduction for a reader new to the series. Mr. Robinson unquestionably has a way with words and his description of the Yorkshire Dales takes me back to the one trip I made there many years ago. The Inspector Banks novels can be comfortably read as standalones and I have, in fact, missed a few here and there but I'm really looking forward to In the Dark Places, coming out in August.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, July 2015.
The mystery here is slight but Summer Rain is a nice introduction for a reader new to the series. Mr. Robinson unquestionably has a way with words and his description of the Yorkshire Dales takes me back to the one trip I made there many years ago. The Inspector Banks novels can be comfortably read as standalones and I have, in fact, missed a few here and there but I'm really looking forward to In the Dark Places, coming out in August.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, July 2015.
October 18, 2016
This is really just one short story, but Kindle sells it as an individual book, so I'm counting it! Inspector Alan Banks, one of my favorite series detectives, investigates a young American's insistence that he was murdered nearby in a past life. The past life was in the 1960s, which makes me feel old. Of course Yorkshire is just as much a character in the story as the humans involved. If you have any uncertainty about whether you want to read Peter Robinson's work, this story would be a good place to try it out. Recommended.
February 25, 2022
I didn’t intend to list this as a book, but my iPad apparently let Goodreads know I read it. The piece was actually a short story and was not very inspiring. I saw it when I was looking for a diversion late one night.
October 23, 2023
Out of the ordinary
This short story concerns reincarnation and past memories. Banks is bored and decides to look into the case for something to do besides paperwork. It's A short but interesting story.
This short story concerns reincarnation and past memories. Banks is bored and decides to look into the case for something to do besides paperwork. It's A short but interesting story.
February 24, 2024
The best showcase of the fact that length does not matter in making a novel engaging.
This short story is just over 20 pages long, and yet packs a punch with heart. The twist is easily guessable, no doubt. Still, it does reiterate the age old lesson of 'Think before you act'.
85/100
This short story is just over 20 pages long, and yet packs a punch with heart. The twist is easily guessable, no doubt. Still, it does reiterate the age old lesson of 'Think before you act'.
85/100
April 7, 2018
This felt very familiar. Which is not surprising seeing as it is part of the Not Safe After Dark: And Other Stories collection which I read in July 2016.
November 12, 2018
4*
The story was well written and did bring the idea of reincarnation. I felt that it was too short to totally get engrossed within the story itself but fully enjoyable
The story was well written and did bring the idea of reincarnation. I felt that it was too short to totally get engrossed within the story itself but fully enjoyable
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2021
A short story from early in Banks Swainsdale career, as a visitor from the USA trigger a look at a death from 30 years earlier.
January 28, 2025
KINDLE
December 30, 2020
Short story involving Inspector Banks
June 25, 2015
There's not a lot of detecting in this short story, but since the alleged crime occurred decades earlier, Inspector Banks is hard put even to find records and witnesses.
An American man arrives at the Yorkshire station claiming that he was murdered nearby in a previous life. With not much else to go on, Banks, for once not too busy, is intrigued enough to start checking it out - just in case.
Mainly we are getting the atmosphere in this tale, one shared by Stephen Booth's series set in the nearby Peak District. Farming has always been a hard life here, with agile sheep, drystone walls and incessant rain. As young people leave the land old couples are left to struggle on shrinking farms while tourism or historical sites become bigger earners.
The short is a good introduction to the famous Inspector Banks series, if you have not read any. Some people worry about picking up a series in the middle but with Peter Robinson I find that each book can be read as a standalone, while advancing the main character arcs. After the short is a first chapter to promote the latest full length book In The Dark Places which promises to be a cracker.
An American man arrives at the Yorkshire station claiming that he was murdered nearby in a previous life. With not much else to go on, Banks, for once not too busy, is intrigued enough to start checking it out - just in case.
Mainly we are getting the atmosphere in this tale, one shared by Stephen Booth's series set in the nearby Peak District. Farming has always been a hard life here, with agile sheep, drystone walls and incessant rain. As young people leave the land old couples are left to struggle on shrinking farms while tourism or historical sites become bigger earners.
The short is a good introduction to the famous Inspector Banks series, if you have not read any. Some people worry about picking up a series in the middle but with Peter Robinson I find that each book can be read as a standalone, while advancing the main character arcs. After the short is a first chapter to promote the latest full length book In The Dark Places which promises to be a cracker.
May 21, 2015
All the characters in the novel are really well drawn. I could almost see Jerry Singer sitting in the DCI's office explaining how he had been reincarnated from a 1960's era hippie.
This story is like an amazing appetizer. You thoroughly enjoy it and then wish there were more when it is gone.
I gave it 4 stars because the ending was a little predictable. But it was a quick fun ride that took about a 1/2 hour to read.
This story is like an amazing appetizer. You thoroughly enjoy it and then wish there were more when it is gone.
I gave it 4 stars because the ending was a little predictable. But it was a quick fun ride that took about a 1/2 hour to read.
September 21, 2015
When a man goes to the police claiming to have been killed fourteen times, eyebrows raise. As he explains the circumstances of his most recent former life and death, he asks the police to investigate something better explained as deja vu. The case ends up in Inspector Banks' hands because he's avoiding a stack of paperwork.
Not much detecting here aside from one interview and some poking around in old files. Nicely written but very, very short.
Not much detecting here aside from one interview and some poking around in old files. Nicely written but very, very short.
July 3, 2015
A good short story just wish it was longer.
As usual DCI Banks has enough boredom from paperwork so a good puzzle is just what he jumps in to solve. An American young man comes in to report his own murder in a past life. So Banks must look at the case facts and figure out who was murdered if it really happened at all.
As usual DCI Banks has enough boredom from paperwork so a good puzzle is just what he jumps in to solve. An American young man comes in to report his own murder in a past life. So Banks must look at the case facts and figure out who was murdered if it really happened at all.
October 17, 2015
Peter Robinson and his Inspector Banks mysteries are our favorites. We haven't missed one, and feel that we have grown up along with Alan Banks. This was a good one, very satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews