Playing with Fire by
Peter Robinson
hbk out January 04
Published by Macmillan
at £15.99
The fourteenth in the famous 'Inspector Banks' series, noted for their
accuracy in matters of police procedure and forensic detail. Like many
other writers, Peter Robinson takes West Yorkshire as his scene and again
a Detective Chief Inspector is the lead figure, with a woman subordinate
as the main female interest. This is always DI Annie Cabbot, who was his
former mistress, but in this book has taken an attractive art expert to her
bosom, much to DCI Banks' rumbling jealousy.
Two narrow-boats on a disused canal go up in flames and a corpse is
found in each of them. Later on a caravan is also engulfed, again with an
incinerated body inside. As the author shows, with a great deal of fire-
service expertise, all are arson attacks but there seems little to link the
various incidents. One, a young girl drug addict, appears to be an
incidental victim, perhaps eliminated as a witness, but her boy-friend is
potentially in the frame.
Written with the style and assurance that has won Peter Robinson many
literary awards and accolades from critics, this new one will once again
satisfy his many fans.
(
Bernard Knight
ex Home Office Pathologist and author of the highly acclaimed Crowner John series)
Playing with Fire by
Peter Robinson
