Many Rivers to Cross by Peter Robinson is the twenty-sixth instalment of the internationally bestselling DCI Banks series.
On the Eastside Estate in Eastvale, Yorkshire, dustbin men have found the dead body of a young boy, aged 12 or 13. He has been crammed into a bin belonging to an elderly lady, who put her rubbish out at 10pm the previous night.
DS Alan Banks and DI Annie Cabbot are sent to investigate. The boy appears to be of Middle Eastern origin. A bag of white powder is discovered in his pocket. Upon further examination four stab wounds are found on his body. Investigations reveal that no-one on the estate had ever seen him.
Is the dead boy an illegal immigrant and can his origins be traced?
Could his death be linked to that of a middle-aged heroin addict, who lived on another Eastvale Estate, and was found dead from a drug overdose?
As Banks and Cabbot proceed with their investigations they find possible links to Connor Clive Blaydon, a bent property developer, who has made millions from selling inferior properties to house the poorer members of the community. Blaydon is also known to surround himself with disreputable characters such as the Kerrigans, who are connected to criminal activities, such as drugs, prostitution and people trafficking.
Meanwhile, in London, Banks’ friend, Zelda, who is a civilian consultant, working as a super-recogniser for the National Crime Agency, returns to work to find her boss, Trevor Hawkins, is dead. Interrogated by Paul Danvers and Deborah Fletcher, who also work at the agency, she discovers that Hawkins died in a fire at his home.
Could his death be linked to his meeting with Keane, a known criminal who got away?
Can Zelda face the demons of her past and survive?
This is another wonderfully intriguing crime novel by Robinson, featuring the well-loved characters of Banks and Cabbot.
The twists and turns of their investigation alternate with the continuing story of Zelda, aka Nelia Melnik, whose partner is Annie’s father, Raymond.
Nelia has a dark past, about which we discover more, as her story continues. And that dark past will have the reader on the edge of their seat as Zelda risks all in the name of vengeance. Will she survive while putting others at risk?
The slower nature of Banks’ investigations, as he draws together the threads of evidence, contrasts well with the faster paced action in London. It gives the reader a chance to catch their breath!
A highly recommended read, especially for fans of Banks and Cabbot.
Pull up a chair, turn off the phone and enjoy the exhilarating ride!
ISBN: 9781444787030
Many Rivers to Cross is available in paperback, hardback and audiobook
About Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson’s DCI Banks is a major ITV1 drama starring Stephen Tompkinson (Wild at Heart, Ballykissangel) as Inspector Banks, and Andrea Lowe (The Bill, Murphy’s Law) as DI Annie Cabbot.
Peter’s standalone novel BEFORE THE POISON won the IMBA’s 2013 Dilys Award as well as the 2012 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel by the Crime Writers of Canada. This was Peter’s sixth Arthur Ellis award. His critically acclaimed DCI Banks novels have won numerous awards in Britain, the United States, Canada and Europe, and are published in translation all over the world.
Peter grew up in Yorkshire, and now divides his time between Richmond and Canada. Peter keeps a website at www.inspectorbanks.com.
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