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Friend of the Devil

The 17th DCI Banks crime novel from The Master of the Police Procedural

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Friend of the Devil

By: Peter Robinson
Narrated by: Richard Burnip
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When Karen Drew is found sitting in her wheelchair staring out to sea with her throat cut one chilly morning, DI Annie Cabbot, on loan to Eastern Area, gets lumbered with the case. Back in Eastvale, that same Sunday morning, 19-year-old Hayley Daniels is found raped and strangled in the Maze, a tangle of narrow alleys behind Eastvale's market square, after a drunken night on the town with a group of friends, and DCI Alan Banks is called in. Banks finds suspects galore, while Annie seems to hit a brick wall - until she reaches a breakthrough that spins her case in a shocking and surprising new direction, one that also involves Banks.

Then another incident occurs in the Maze which seems to link the two cases in a bizarre and mysterious way. As Banks and Annie dig into the past to uncover the deeper connections, they find themselves also dealing with the emotional baggage and personal demons of their own relationship. And it soon becomes clear that there are two killers in their midst, and that at any moment either one might strike again.


(P)2012 ISIS Publishing Ltd©2007 Eastvale Enterprises Inc. Crime Fiction Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Thriller & Suspense Banking Crime Suspense
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Critic reviews

Watch for those twists - they'll get you every time
Robinson once again puts his skills to work in a police procedural that grips like pliers
Classic Robinson: a labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation
Peter Robinson is good at producing ingenious mysteries, and this one does not disappoint
Readers will be on the edge of their seats
All stars
Most relevant
Another helping of superb writing by Peter Robinson that not only leads you on a winding path to work out the killer but gives a real insight into the internal lives of the teams major characters, making them leap off the page, rather than the some procedural police thrillers where the plot outweighs the character. Robinson keeps you guessing. Can't weight to read the next one.

Gripping and involving

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As always a great DCI Banks story. Probably one of the best. But so spoilt by a terrible performance.
Some of the male characters sounded as though they came from Trumpton and Annie Cabot sounded stupid. Also, there were many instances of incorrect emphasis. What a shame. Not again, thank you!

Good story, badly read.

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What a fantastic story, really well told. The narrator had superb pace and delivery for such a fine tale.

Gripping story

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One of the best Peter Robinson books I have read or listened too. Excellent and well worth trying even if you don't usually read detective books

Excellent book

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Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator, he is hopeless at dialogue. Everyone sounds so ponderous when they are speaking and he obviously has not bothered any research as Annie and Banks are not from yorkshire and should not have Yorkshire accents. Very annoying and the narration generally is awful.

What other book might you compare Friend of the Devil to, and why?

Dont know

Would you be willing to try another one of Richard Burnip’s performances?

Definitely not.

Did Friend of the Devil inspire you to do anything?

No

Any additional comments?

Love Peter Robinson's books. Such a shame no decent narrator

Great book ruined by the narrator

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