Not Dark Yet

Inspector Banks #27

by Peter Robinson

Librarian note: An alternative cover for this ISBN can be found here.

Murder is only the beginning for Banks and his team . . .

The gruesome double murder at an Eastvale property developer's luxury home should be an open and shut case for Superintendent Banks and his team of detectives. There's a clear link to the notoriously vicious Albanian mafia, men who left the country suspiciously soon after the death. Then they find a cache of spy-cam videos hidden in the house - and Annie and Gerry's investigation pivots to the rape of a young girl that could cast the murders in an entirely different light.

Banks's friend Zelda, increasingly uncertain of her future in Britain's hostile environment, thinks she will be safer in Moldova hunting the men who abducted, raped and enslaved her than she is Yorkshire or London. Her search takes her back to the orphanage where it all began - but by stirring up the murky waters of the past, Zelda is putting herself in greater danger than any she's seen before.

And as the threat escalates, so does the danger for Banks and those who love Zelda . . .

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, British Literature, Procedural

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 18, 2021

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[James Thane · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my review of the last book in this series, Many Rivers to Cross, I complained about the fact that the series seems to have strayed significantly from the early books in the series which were leaner and more tightly focused on a particular crime, with the protagonist, DCI Alan Banks, always at the center of the action. Along the way, Robinson has introduced a number of new characters and apparently feels obligated to give them all extended time in the novels. As a result, Banks often disappears for pages at a time.

Sadly, at least to my mind, the trend continues here. As the book opens, a wealthy property developer named Connor Blaydon is found brutally murdered at his mansion, along with one of his associates. The investigation falls to DC Annie Cabbot and DC Gerry Masterson. Technically, they are working under the direction of Banks, but after an initial visit to the crime scene, he basically hands off the investigation to his subordinates and takes little or no part in the further developments.

Meanwhile, much of the story is given over to Zelda, a character Robinson introduced two books earlier, and who has had a very difficult life after being a victim of sex trafficking as a young girl. Now three books into this story, Zelda is still determined to administer her own justice to the men responsible for kidnapping her and selling her into the sex trades.

I confess that I was pretty tired of Zelda's story by the end of the last book, but it constitutes at least half of this book as well. Banks has a strange fascination with the woman and so tries to stay in touch and protect her, but Zelda operates pretty much on her own and Banks is in and out of this story as well.

Basically, there are two entirely separate stories in this book that have absolutely nothing to do with each other and very little to do with Alan Banks for the most part. Much of the "Zelda" story is told from her POV, with a number of digressions into the POV of other characters connected with her story. Meanwhile Cabbot and Masterson investigate the Blaydon murder, which is complicated by the discovery of a video showing a violent rape. The book jumps back and forth from one story to the other, even within the same chapter, and never really develops any tension.

All in all then, I found this book to be pretty disappointing and again, not up to the standards of the earlier books in the series. Barely a three-star read for me, rounded up because this is a series that I used to really like a lot.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to believe that this is the 27th novel featuring detective Alan Banks, but it really is! Thankfully this one is an improvement on the previous weak entry (Many Rivers To Cross) & has a much stronger plot.
I still feel that stretching the story of Banks' friend Zelda over three books has been too long & drawn out. However, by starting this novel with alternate locations & stotylines (featuring Banks & Zelda) Robinson gives the reader a much faster paced story.
At times Banks appears to behave a little out of character, but perhaps after all these years he's becoming a different person. Peter Robinson's characters (old & new) are as well drawn as ever, but there's one mystery left. Does the final page of the novel really mean what I think it does ? Time will tell.
It's a 3.5 rating, but rounded up to 4. It is Banksy, after all.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's very sad to see a once excellent series reduced to this.Interesting side story about the rape,but the rest? Repetitive,scenery,meals and music descriptions ad nauseum,boring.What happened to the likable Banks investigating murders? I' m thoroughly sick of Zelda,and while I won't be reading any more Banks,hope for the sake of other readers she's gone for good.

[Ceecee]

DNF - no rating.

It’s a long time since I read this series and it was pretty good, not in the same league as a Rankin or a Val but decent reads. What on earth has happened? The style is utterly ploddy and about as inspiring as a wet and windy weekend in Blackpool. Sorry Blackpool. Who cares what music Banks is listening to or what he’s eating? Just give me the plot. Entertain me, don’t send me to sleep. Actually if you’re suffering from insomnia herein lies the cure. It’s like the author isn’t bothered anymore and is as bored as I am. I’m done. Thankfully the book only cost 50p from the charity shop and it’s going straight back.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Dark Yet is the 27th Inspector Banks mystery. But it’s the first that I’ve read. And therein lies the problem.
I initially felt that Banks came across as a rather bland main character. I couldn’t help but wonder if, after 27 books, Robinson was assuming his readers know what Banks is like and he didn’t need to waste time fleshing him out. Because he certainly created a compelling character in Zelda. I loved the moral ambiguity of her ethics. Towards the end of the book, I revised my impression about Banks when he faces his own bit of moral dilemma and I could see the shades of his personality.
The story is a strong one. Banks is investigating the death of a property developer and his “butler”. During the investigation, Banks discovers that the man was secretly filming the wild parties he held, including cameras in the bedrooms. And what shows on one of the tapes is a brutal rape.
Meanwhile, a major part of the story involves Banks’ friend, Zelda, who was abducted in her teens and held as a sex slave for a decade. She’s intent on exacting revenge on those who harmed her. The book moves at a brisk pace, flipping back and forth between the two storylines and uses an omniscient POV.
I was definitely impressed by the story and will seek out more of this series. But my advice would be to go back a least a few books in the series rather than start with this one. Too much backstory that I felt I needed.
I listened to this and was impressed with Simon Vance as the narrator.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has a rather complicated plot. When you take into consideration that the author has inserted many passages into an otherwise interesting storyline that describes scenery, meals, and musical selections, although still "interesting"...they seemed to be tedious and unnecessarily. The usual characters…Alan, Annie, and Gerry were their usual captivating and capable selves, but not much was touched on about their personal lives which is usually a big part of this series. This was only addressed and touched on in passing. While after reading what I have said, it seems trivial. However for myself, it caused this remarkable police procedural series to lack the depth, subtlety, and superior writing that has made the earlier Inspector Banks books such very good reading.

[j · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suspect book #30 or some number in the future will have Banks puttering around his place in retirement giving us page after page of music commentaries and reviews of various wines and single malts. No mystery. And that will be the entirety of the ‘novel.’ But this one, #27, was yet another disappointment (except for the last few pages). My path to the Banks stories started with #9, and I so enjoyed it, I went back to #1 and read the rest in succession. Those were focused, enthusiastic murder mysteries, and I looked forward to a new one every year. But, lately, the tales are tired and flat. I read them to sit down with old friends, with very low expectations.

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crooked property developer Connor Blaydon and his butler are found murdered at the former’s Eastvale mansion. They are known to have links to the Albanian mafia but the discovery of spy-cam videos depicting a rape indicate the motive needn’t be simply a falling out of thieves.
Meanwhile, Ray Cabbot’s friend Zelda is still hunting for the men who abducted her from a Moldovan children’s home and enslaved her. It soon becomes clear that Zelda’s search and what happened at Blaydon’s could be linked. Zelda is fearful, not only of her former captors, but also the authorities who might discover her French passport isn’t valid.
The narrative alternates between Annie Cabbot and Gerry Masterson’s investigation into Blaydon’s murder, Zelda’s search and Banks’s attempts to help Zelda and Ray. The novel ends on a very sad note but also provides some resolution.
Hard to believe this is the 27th book in the Banks series. Although there was a drop in form a few books ago, things have since picked up and Not Dark Yet is one of the best.

[Jill H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Inspector Banks series but this one didn't live up to my expectations, In fact, the one I read previously didn't either. Am I just getting tired of them or did they decline as the series aged?

In this mystery, the story is all over the place with too many characters and can't decide if it wants to be about a Neo-Nazi group, drug running, or Banks' personal life. If that isn't enough, Banks gets put on suspension and his wife leaves him.

I am not giving up on this series but am hoping that maybe I am just having a bad day!

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be assuming too much, but NOT DARK YET seems to be the run-up to the conclusion of Peter Robinson’s series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks of the Eastvale, Yorkshire police force. Robinson has depicted Banks’ aging naturally (for the most part), so this latest installment finds the iconic protagonist somewhat faded, if not weary, as the world around him moves ahead with him. As a result, this book --- the 27th entry in the series --- marks a number of personal passages for Banks, as well as the resolution of a couple of professional cases that have formed an extended story arc over several prior novels.

NOT DARK YET is primarily and unsurprisingly driven by a murder investigation. The deceased, Connor Clive Blaydon, is a shady real estate developer with a penchant for holding wild parties with his even shadier friends in attendance. An initial search of the premises reveals that someone --- Connor’s righthand man, no less --- had strategically placed concealed video cameras in certain areas of his home, including the bedrooms, undoubtedly for blackmail purposes.

The case takes a horrific turn when a review of the video files determines that a rape took place. Banks is tasked with finding Connor’s killer, as well as identifying the rape victim, who might have been motivated to murder him herself. He does not realize that an assailant is much closer to him and his team than they can possibly suspect. There are a number of twists and turns in the investigation, one of which intersects with Banks’ past and a longstanding nemesis of his.

Meanwhile, Banks cannot bury himself in his work and ignore developments on the home front. His son, who has been part of an extremely popular rock band, is doing a farewell tour, while his daughter is getting married. These events cause Banks to take a couple of wistful strolls down memory lane, generating some woolgathering over those he has loved and lost, even as he seems to realize that he is simply unfit for romantic relationships and is better off without them. Banks also says goodbye to one, possibly two, recurring characters, though many are left standing by the story’s satisfying end.

The book’s title may indicate that Robinson is not through with DCI Banks just yet. Longtime readers of the series will happily note that this installment, as well as those that have preceded it, is full of references to musicians and albums both obscure and nearly forgotten, forming a soundtrack for reading in the present and contemplating in the future. That Banks ultimately approves of his daughter’s new husband as the result of his musical taste made NOT DARK YET worth reading almost by itself. Robinson’s continued ability to reveal a mystery and a solution where you least expect it should make fans hopeful that this series will carry on for a while.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to greatly enjoy Peter Robinson’s novels, but now I find his rambling prose and constant references to his characters’ choices of music and brands of alcohol quite tiresome.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read book 26 and met Zelda, you will want to read this one. However...back in January 2020 when I enjoyed being introduced to the character Zelda was many moons ago. I would say you had best read the books serially. For this much time to pass and having read many better police/crime books in the interim, this book does not hold up. It seems like a load of drivel to me. Sad truth.


Library Loan

[Linda Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read all 27 books in this series, and thoroughly enjoyed the first 24. #25, Careless Love, introduced what I think of as the Zelda theme, which I didn't much like. Many Rivers to Cross continued it, and I slogged through it with no pleasure. I almost didn't bother with this latest one, and only did because I know how good Peter Robinson can be.

I read fiction for enjoyment. I'll pass up Peter Robinson, sadly, if he continues in this vein. I prefer mysteries to serial melodrama.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The music references, although just as tiresome, were less frequent which enabled me to give this book one more star than last time. But generally this storyline is tired now, the main character not that likeable, I wasnt that bothered what had happened to her to be honest. Time for Banks to retire I think.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads more like a Stephen Leather Thriller than Banks, he is almost a shadow in his own book the most interesting thing he does is go to his daughter's wedding.
This set before C19 in 2018 you find proof of that much later in the day. The sex parties and York tourism is prof enough. The big difference in this book is Robinson has produced darker book. He is known to come to Richmond and drink Mad Hatter's tea at his favourite cafe walk around and almost see Banks in Herriot country. But in 2020 he could not do that and it came in pages of this angry book.
Burgess his old friend in the book says we're is old Banksy. It is true he does not really appear till page 200.
The other big problem is that not book for casual reader it is full spoilers. Main story Is Zelda and return. Lot fans have asked for answers. Well here you are.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Peter Robinson. The Banks series moves between almost cozy mysteries to all-out thrillers. This, and the previous two in the series, fall squarely into the thriller realm. Not a seat of your pants, artificially coerced thriller. But a careful examination of characters pushed to a limit.
The past three novels have formed a kind of trilogy. Although you could read any of them alone, together they form a cohesive whole that tell an even deeper story. The sections focusing on Zelda feel very different in scope than previous Robinson novels. And yet, at the same time, they are very much a Robinson novel. In that the dilemmas, the story, and the twists, are all based on character.
It will be a sad day when Banks eventually retires.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Peter Robinson's books and I have to say that this is my least favourite. For one thing I find the subject of human trafficking most distressing and for another, Zelda is my least favourite character. I would be quite happy if she never appears in another book. The book is well written as always and the plot well developed, but I did not really like it.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the free ARC.) Not Dark Yet is definitely a dark police procedural that tests the boundaries of what a detective can do when an investigation comes close to harming someone he cares for. Alan Banks, in his 27th appearance, finds himself in the midst of leading simultaneous investigations into murder, rape, and a missing person - with one common thread linking them all together.

I've only read one other novel in this series (#11), so for much of the time I felt a bit confused. The plot drops one right in the middle of an ongoing narrative, with a little explanation of what has gone on in books past. There are a LOT of secondary characters to keep track of. So if you don't have a lot of experience with the Banks series (like me), I don't necessarily recommend this as a good place to start.

This book also has a LOT of triggering content: graphic descriptions of murder and violence, sex trafficking, and rape, to name a few. Banks is hunting down evil men with evil intentions towards everyone around them, especially women. He and his team must untangle the lies that people tell to protect themselves and those they love, and it's messy. It definitely pushed the bounds of what I am comfortable with.

But Banks also is such a relatable human: he is an avid audiophile, playing a wide range of music whenever he can; he has a complicated love life with women; and he is torn between his duty as a police officer and his desire to protect a woman who has already experienced immense suffering in her life. He is deeply flawed and a deeply empathetic character.

[Ian Mapp · Rating 2 out of 5]

A two-star rating means "this was ok" - so even it sounds a touch harsh for what has been a quality series, this seems fair.

We've got into "plodding mode" of writing the same book again. This one doesn't even appear to have a mystery associated with it and is simply a continuation of the character Zelda - the super recogniser (whatever that is), recovering sex worker - as she continues her angel of revenge mission against the sinister Albanains.

Thats about it really - the rest is the usual stuff - Bank's love of music (now classical, not indie), the whisky he drinks, he meals he eats. The supporting characters are all there plodding along - with the exception of one who takes a bow out.

Its easy reading but you feel that Robinson is bored to death with the whole series himself. It must be frustrating as a writer (Rankin, Child etc) to just keep turning out the same style of book year after year.

I suppose the fans/publishers won't tolerate anything else.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have 1/12th left and I don’t even care about finishing it. Meh. I’ll finish it now but I’m so bored.

Insulting Americans in the 26th was annoying, but I still read it, but now the storyline is just tedious and dull. I’m not interested in melodrama or the Zelda line ... meh, boring.

Sadly, Peter Robinson has shifted his storytelling in such a way that I no longer consider him my favorite author. He had been my favorite for several years, so I’m in mourning.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Not Dark Yet, Police Superintendent Alan Banks and his team are investigating a double murder of a corrupt developer and his butler as well as a possible rape. The developer is linked to the Albanian mob which places Zelda, the victim of sex trafficking, high on the list of suspects. As Banks investigates the murders, Annie and the rest of his team work to identify the rape victim and it soon becomes clear the two cases are linked. Banks is sure Zelda is not involved but her strange behaviour after she returns from Croatia is hard to ignore. And then she disappears.

Peter Robinson is one of my favourite writers of the mystery genre in general and police procedurals in particular and Not Dark Yet is an example of why. It is, as always, well-written and well-plotted and if it is more violent and darker than earlier books, it is also just as intelligent with characters who age and grow with each book. And, of course, there are the usual music references, everything from classical to classic rock including the title which, if you're wondering, is from a Dylan song. A fine addition to a great series.

Thanks to Netgalley & Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing to have to post negative thoughts about a favorite author. This series drew me in from first reading, and the character of Banks along with intriguing mysteries in the Yorkshire locations has held me for each installment. However, in this case the mystery was forced, the plot elements cliched, and even Banks, with his eclectic musical taste and preference for a smoky single malt, seemed tired.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOT DARK YET has a fascinating protagonist, great settings and an author with excellent skills in dialog, plotting and pacing. But this was my first book in this series and for the first third, I had no idea what was going on; just no idea at all. There are two parallel tales, one makes sense but the other seems to be based on the outcomes of earlier cases and I just couldn’t make head or tails of who or what was under discussion. This is not a stand alone book but I’m not even sure how far back in the series a reader would need to go to capture the story arc. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Eadie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Property developer, Connor Clive Blaydon, is found dead. DCI Alan Banks investigations and finds out that the murder may be tied to a rape by Blaydon. Zelda, a friend of Banks, is determined to bring the men who abused her to justice. Banks believes that stirring up the murky waters of the past will put Zelda in far greater danger than ever before. This book 27 of the series can act as a standalone but starting at book 1 will give you a better understanding of the characters. Besides, the earlier books are more exciting and interesting and it's probably time for Robinson to move on from this series.

[Valenti Degas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only gave this one star because I’m giving up on these Banks stories. Once again I was intensely irritated but the constant never ending music references. It just drive me nuts. Sorry. No more.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wealthy Yorkshire property developer and his butler are found murdered on the developer's estate. The developer, Connor Blaydon, had his belly ripped open and had been left to die in his own swimming pool. Subsequent investigation reveals a video recording made in Blaydon's house showing a woman being raped; it is not known whether this has any connection to the murders. The recording is of poor quality, and the police are unable to identify the rapist or his victim. The primary police investigators are Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot and Detective Constable Geraldine Masterson, known as Gerry.

Annie and Gerry report to Detective Superintendent Alan Banks, the central character in this series by Peter Robinson. Banks is principally concerned with other issues at this time. Part of this deals with Banks' personal life; his daughter is getting married and his highly successful musician son is switching to a different kind of career. Professionally, Banks' chief concern is the disappearance of his friend Nelia Melnic, who commonly goes by the name Zelda. Zelda is one of the principal characters in a three-book arc. The earlier volumes are Careless Love and Many Rivers to Cross; Not Dark Yet seems to wrap up the matters left unfinished in the previous two books.

Zelda plays a very prominent role in all of these books. She had been brought up in an orphanage in Moldova following her parents' death. She left the orphanage when she was seventeen; she was immediately kidnapped and kept as a sex slave for the next ten years. She had finally freed herself by killing her captor. She had eventually made her way to England, begun working as an artist, and met Banks' friend Ray Cabbot, also an artist, and the father of Banks' colleague Annie Cabbot. Despite Ray being significantly older, he and Zelda had joined in a relationship. It had been noted that Zelda was a "super-recognizer," a person with a remarkable ability to recognize faces, whether in person or from a reproduction. Because of this, Zelda became a consultant to a British government office.

In the previous book, Many Rivers to Cross, Zelda had hunted down and killed one of the two brothers who had kidnapped her years before. I had thought when I read that earlier book that it seemed that Zelda might have easily been identified as the killer, and I had been surprised that this obviously highly intelligent woman had been so careless, but nothing much had been made of that carelessness in that book. In Not Dark Yet, Zelda is quickly located and abducted once again.

Much of the book concerns that abduction and the subsequent abduction of another important character. The material concerning the rape is almost totally separate. That is much more of a standard police procedural tale. There are some especially fine characterizations in this part of the book.

Indeed, the characterizations throughout this entire series are quite good; I often find them as enjoyable as the unraveling of the mysteries. Continuing characters grow and change, as they would in life.

There are some things about this book that I did not like. Banks runs afoul of the Police Conduct division (evidently the British equivalent of Internal Affairs departments in the United States), who suspect that he might have been involved in some nefarious activity. There does not seem to be any particular reason for this, and I think - or hope, at least - that this is exaggerated.

There is so much attention given in the earlier books in this arc to Zelda's ability as a super-recognizer that it seems odd and disappointing to me that this plays no part in solving the problems in Not Dark Yet.

Entries in the Banks series frequently include many passages about music. This is not a subject about which I am especially knowledgeable, and I am generally not interested in these.

I had felt that the previous two books in this series were not as good as previous volumes. They both had cliffhanger endings, leaving too much unresolved. I had concluded my review of Many Rivers to Cross here on Goodreads as follows:

Both this book and the preceding volume Careless Love leave matters unsettled, evidently hoping that these cliffhanger endings will ensure that readers will want to read subsequent books. I probably will, but, if it matters, I will do so resentfully.

I think that Not Dark Yet is considerably better. I suspect that a reader not familiar with the earlier books might find this one confusing, but for readers who have read the earlier books, there should not be a problem.

This is the twenty-seventh book in the Banks series and, I believe, one of the best.

[Zelda FeatzReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

How have I never read a Peter Robinson book before? I have no idea how I have managed to miss out on this series. Not Dark Yet is the 27th Alan Banks book and only the first one I have ever read. Since I loved this character, I have some catching up to do.
Thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for sending me this review copy. This was a brilliant crime novel filled with twists and turns and a shocking ending…. believe me, every time you think you know where this story is going to go, the next page manages to prove you wrong.
As mentioned, this was my first encounter with Peter Robinson and I have already added the other twenty-six books in the series to my TBR. I enjoyed the writing and loved the characters. The regular reference to music had me reaching for my Spotify account to hear what the fuss was about. I cannot wait to spend more time with Alan Banks.
This crime novel has everything needed to get you hooked and deeply emerged in the story. Putting this book down before you are finished is no easy feat. Starting with a gruesome murder, the investigators soon discover proof of an unreported rape, drugs and gangsters. This story also ties in with Zelda’s past and her search for the people who abducted her at the age of seventeen. Not Dark Yet will keep you glued to the pages as the two stories intertwine.
I cannot believe that I have not come across this author before. I loved his writing and the characters were amazing. It’s not often that one of the main characters is called Zelda – of course, I loved that even if it was a little weird reading about someone with my name. Especially when she is very different to me.
Alan Banks is a brilliantly crafted character and I cannot wait to spend time reading more of the book in the series, so keep an eye out, there is sure to be more of Peter Robinson’s books featured on the blog in the future.
Not Dark Yet is a crime thriller with loads of twists and turns and is guaranteed to keep you entertained as you lose yourself in the story. There are lots of music references and a colourful mix of characters. This book is well worth checking out even if, like me, you are new to the series and to Peter Robinson, you will find it to be a great read. Yes, you guessed, I loved this book.

[BOOKLOVER EB · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Not Dark Yet" is the twenty-seventh installment in Peter Robinson's long-running Alan Banks series. Now a Detective Superintendent in North Yorkshire, Banks was once a heavy smoker, drinker, and ladies' man. He still enjoys alcohol within limits, but has since quit smoking and, at the moment, has no romantic entanglements. The heroine is a beautiful and mysterious woman named Zelda, who spent her formative years in an orphanage in Moldova. After she left the facility at the age of seventeen, she was abducted and physically abused. This horrendous experience left Zelda traumatized, but instead of internalizing her rage, she resolved to punish those who cruelly mistreated her.

The complicated plot involves the rape of a young girl at a wild party and five weeks later, the murder of two men—one the host of the party and the other his employee. Further acts of mayhem ensue. DS Banks, DI Annie Cabbot, and DC Gerry Masterson chase down leads, interrogate witnesses, and come to believe that their case may have roots in the past. The most unsettling aspect of this novel is the pleasure that the villains take in torturing and demeaning women. Zelda stands out for her desire to define herself not as a victim, but as an avenger. Although she deserves kudos for courage and daring, not all of her exploits ring true. Complicating matters is the unconventional relationship between Zelda and Ray, Annie Cabbot's father. Ray, an accomplished artist in his seventies, adores Zelda, who cares for him deeply, as well.

In "Not Dark Yet," Banks and company attempt to bring down arrogant and immoral thugs who are engaged in drug dealing, human trafficking, arson, and kidnapping. The plucky Zelda is the most intriguing character, followed by Charlotte Westlake, an events planner who knows far more than she is willing to reveal. Impatient readers may find the author's passages describing scenery, meals, and musical selections to be unnecessarily long and tedious. In addition, although Alan, Annie, and Gerry perform their jobs capably, Robinson touches on their personal lives only in passing. Alas, this unremarkable police procedural lacks the depth, subtlety, and superior writing that made some of the earlier Banks tales so compelling.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. That said, I have read all of the Inspector Banks series. This book is much better read if the book immediately previous, Many Rivers to Cross, is read first. This book picks up where that book ends.
The main storyline follows one of the newer characters, Zelda. I found the story to be compelling and it held my interest throughout. There is a lot of tie-up from previous books, which I appreciated. Not everyone is a fan of the insertion of new characters and their accompanying stories, but I am not in that camp. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Looking forward to the next one!

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues very much from the previous books in the series, with few new plot lines, but does maintain momentum throughout