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Summary
A Peeping Tom is frightening the women of Eastvale; two glue-sniffing young thugs are breaking into homes and robbing people; an old woman may or may not have been murdered. Investigating these cases is Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, a perceptive, curious and compassionate policeman recently moved to the Yorkshire Dales from London to escape the stress of city life. In addition to all this, Banks has to deal with the local feminists and his attraction to a young psychologist, Jenny Fuller. As the tension mounts, both Jenny and Banks’s wife, Sandra, are drawn deeper into the events. The cases weave together as the story reaches a tense and surprising climax.
Press Reviews
“Peter Robinson’s first, and extremely well-fashioned, police procedural. An expert plotter with an eye for telling detail, Mr. Robinson can also make acute social observations.” — Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review
“The considerable appeal of this first novel, an English village police procedural, lies in Robinson’s updating of the genre with realistic treatment of contemporary violence and sexual issues, while maintaining the charm and civility of the setting.” — Publishers Weekly
“Like Rendell’s Kingsmarkham…Robinson’s Eastvale and Banks and his family could be around for a good while. It’s a more than competent beginning.” — Charles Champlin, Los Angeles Times
“Robinson writes with authority….Deservedly, this book has been nominated for major awards.” — Margeurite Johnston, Houston Post
“This is a first novel that does not read like one; he has established his leading character with such confidence that we find ourselves looking forward to meeting him again in the next Inspector Banks mystery.” — Cambridge Evening News
“Mr. Robinson has created a credible policeman and his characters are sharply drawn. A nice climax, too, and it is good news that another Banks adventure is in the offing.” — Derek Naylor, Yorkshire Evening Post
“A good, solid story, full of carefully-observed characters and credible detail. Inspector Banks and his creator look like valuable additions to crime fiction.” — F.E. Pardoe, Birmingham Post
“The sort of mystery novel which keeps the reader, willing-unwilling, turning the pages far into the night….Readers will find this a fast-moving, gripping mystery story, with an authentic description of the village and its inhabitants.” — Janet Saunders, Winnipeg Free Press
“His book offers all the suspense and local colour that anyone could expect, plus a few surprises….The climax, choreographed to a furious pace, should fill the land with the sound of pages turning.” — Ken Adachi, Toronto Star
“What makes Gallows View such an impressive debut novel is Robinson’s decision to balance his mystery with a vividly drawn set of characters….That he succeeds in resolving the mystery…as skilfully and believably as any ‘established’ mystery writer merely adds more promise to what one hopes will be a prolific career.” — James Mennie, Montreal Gazette
“Solidly constructed and with some acute insights into the psychology of adolescent viciousness and middle-aged lust–a remarkable first novel which should have many successes.” — Eric Wright
“This is a first novel that will knock you over with its maturity.” — Howard Engel
Peter Robinson 