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. 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. This is the final book of a trilogy involving European gangsters. If you haven’t read the first two, some of the references and the huge cast of characters to get to know throughout may confuse you. There are sometimes several points of view in each chapter too. Banks fans familiar with the characters may find this easier to read. 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.

The gruesome double-murder at an Eastvale property developer’s luxury home should be an open-and-shut case for Superintendent Alan 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 murder. When Banks and his team find a cache of spy-cam videos hidden in the house, the investigation pivots to another violent crime that could cast the murders in an entirely different light. The case of the murder of a bent property developer and his factotum a week earlier is proving frustrating, although he has a chief suspect in his sights. The victim’s business partner appears to be a member of the Albanian mafia and fled the UK straight after the vicious killing. DI Annie Cabot and DC Gerry Masterson, on Banks’team, discover a video recording of a suspected rape while searching the murder scene. It was seemingly filmed at a booze and cocaine-fuelled party attended by hordes of young women a few weeks earlier. The investigation into the gruesome murders of Eastvale property developer Connor Clive Blaydon and his factotum Neville Roberts at Blaydon’s luxury home reveals a cache of hidden SD cards that cast the murders in an entirely different light. Instead of showing Blaydon’s murderer, the grainy and blurred footage reveals a brutal rape. If Annie and Gerry can discover the identity of the rapist and his victim, it could lead them to the whoever wanted Blaydon dead.

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.

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. 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. Robinson is an author with amazing empathy, a snare-trap ear for dialogue, and a clear eye for the telling detail."--Michael Connelly Inspector Banks books are meant to be savored. The story moves along well, but at a thoughtful pace that allows the reader to ruminate along with Alan. I enjoy his honest self contemplation and his love of music. (I often search out his playlists) He seems world weary in this latest - I hope it doesn't herald the end of Banks....The gruesome double-murder at an Eastvale property developer's luxury home should be an open and shut case for Superintendent Alan 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 murder. When Banks and his team find a cache of spy-cam videos hidden in the house, Annie and Gerry's investigation pivots to another violent crime that could cast the murders in an entirely different light. I don’t want to say too much over the phone, but I think we should meet and compare notes. Are you seriously busy?”