This week I read two Peter Robinson books. The first, Piece of My Heart was an Inspector Banks novel. As such it was interesting and enjoyable and I liked getting to know the inspector a bit better. I really read these for that. I like them but they don’t make me need to sit down and read just one more chapter.
Robinson’s Before the Poison was much the same. This had a much different flavor than the Inspector Banks books. It was slower and meandering but the mystery was old and this was more of a romance. The downside was that the main character and the love interest really didn’t seem to have any sparks between them for my read. The idea that he was attracted to her was lost in his own memories of the wife he loved and lost so that fell rather flat. I liked this one but not so much as the Banks novels. I suspect Robinson’s style just doesn’t attract me much but I am still looking around for another author to get excited about.
Martin Walker’s Devil’s Cave was much more to my taste. I read long past the time I should have stopped and was sorry to see the story end. It was satisfying and kept me turning pages. This is number five in the Bruno Chief of Police series and I have read number four. I am not sure why I didn’t immediately get the others as I liked the stories so much. Really suspenseful. Lots of threads that all pull together. Most of all, you like the characters and there is a charm that is missing from the Inspector Banks novels. I look forward to reading more.