Peter Robinson Books In Order

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Publication Order of Inspector Banks Books

Publication Order of Inspector Banks Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Akashic Noir Books

Publication Order of Bibliomysteries Books

Chronological Order of Bibliomysteries Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Peter Robinson was a prolific mystery thriller write who lived in Canada, but wrote about characters in his homeland of England. Although the author of several short stories, novels, poems, and essays, Robinson was best known for his Inspector Alan Banks series. This creative string of novels has been adapted into several riveting television shows, and has been translated into over fifteen (15) different languages.

Early Life

Peter Robinson was born in Britain on March 17, 1950 in Armley, Leeds, and passed in October 2022. Like many great British authors before him, Robinson attended the prestigious University of Leeds. Here he received his bachelors of art in English Literature. After college, he emigrated to Canada in 1974, where he attended the prestigious University of Windsor. There he attained a master’s degree in Creative Writing and English and was fortunate enough to have writer, Joyce Carol Oates has his mentor.

After graduation, Robinson headed to Toronto and received from York University his PhD in English. He served as a professor in multiple colleges in Toronto and served as a Writer-in-Residence for the University-of-Windsor from the year 1992 to 1993. Although a successful author, Robinson still occasionally teaches crime-writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies.

Peter Robinson’s Career

Peter Robinson is most known for his Inspector Banks series, set in Yorkshire town of Eastvale. His very first-novel, Gallows-View premiered in the year 1987, and introduced the world to Detective-Chief-Inspector-Alan Banks. The novel was a hit, and was one of the nominees for the John-Creasey-Award in the United Kingdom. It has also been nominated as best first-novel award for the Crime-Writers-of-Canada.

A Dedicated Man written in the year 1988 was the next novel in the series and is also nominated for the Crime-Writers-of-Canada award. The next two Inspector Banks novels both received critical acclaim and star rankings in Publishers-Weekly in the United States. The fourth novel in the series, The Hanging Valley, was one of the nominees for an Arthur. Peter Robinson’s fifth novel, Past-Reason-Hated, won the Arthur-Ellis Award in the Best Novel category in 1992.

The sixth book, Wednesday’s Child, was nominated for the Edgar Award, and Final Account (the seventh novel) won an Author’s Award in 1994. Innocent Graves (1996) was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the best-mysteries of 1996, and was called the “page-turner of the week” by People Magazine. The tenth novel, In-a-Dry-Season, won the Anthony-and-Barry awards for best-novel. In the year 2001, it won the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere award of France, along with Sweden’s Martin-Beck-Award.

Cold-is-the-Grave, marked a turning point in Robinson’s career. The eleventh novel in the series not only won the Arthur-Ellis Award, it has been nominated for the L.A. Times Book Award. The twelfth book, Aftermath which was published in the year 2002, ranked in the top ten of the bestsellers lists in both the United Kingdom and Canada. It then moved to number one. Though Peter Robinson is known for his fantastic serial writing, Robinson was also able to published numerous short stories.

His short story, “Innocence”, published in the year 1991 won the CWC-Best Short Story Award. In April 1997, Robinson’s “The Two-Ladies of Rose-Cottage,” appeared in Malice-Domestic-6, and was edited by Anne-Perry. It also garnered the Macavity-Award. In the year 1998, Peter Robinson published his first-collection of short-stories, Not-Safe-After-Dark and Other Stories.

The nineteenth (19th) Inspector-Banks-novel, All the Colous of the Darkness, appeared in Canada in October of 2008, in the United Kingdom in August of 2008, and in the United States in February of 2009. In 2006, Peter Robinson was invited to be a part of the elite organization, The Detection Club in the year 2006. Robinson now spends his days teaching and living in Toronto, Richmond, and North Yorkshire.

The Inspector Banks Series

The series is set in the fictional town of Eastvale in Yorkshire, England. Alan Banks is a former member of the London Metro Police. Detective Inspector Alan Banks leaves London for a more peaceful existence in the Dales. Most of the first twelve (12) novels of the Inspector-Banks-series revolves around crime investigation conducted by Banks.

In the year 1999, Robinson shocked fans with novel, In-a-Dry-Season that focused on the Inspector’s divorce from his wife Sandra, once their children leave the family home. Later novels in the Inspector-Banks-series focus on his romance with Detective Sergeant Annie Cabbot. Her first appearance is in the same novel where Inspector-Banks and hi- wife get divorced. She meets him while investigating an accusation of murder by someone in Banks’ team. She later joins his team and the two have an off and on relationship.

Gallows View

Readers are introduced to Inspector Alan Banks. Fresh from the London Metropolitan Police force, DCI Banks investigates a series of incidences in the small town of Eastvale including: a peeping tom, and a possible murder of an elderly woman. In addition to this, Banks has to wrestle with his attraction to young-psychologist, Jenny-Fuller. As tensions mount, the cases come closer and closer to Banks’ family.

A Dedicated Man

The second novel in the Inspector-Banks-series finds Banks investigating the death of a beloved local historian found buried in a wall. He has several suspects, all of whom have their own reasons for wanting the thoughtful historian dead. Meanwhile a young girl, Sally Lumb, is in grave danger because she knows more than what she claims.

Television Adaptations

ITV commissioned the television rights of the novel Aftermath in July of the year 2010. Playing Inspector Banks was the British actor Stephen Tompkinson. On September 27 and October 4 of 2010, the adaptation aired as a two part series. The ratings were very high. As a result, ITV commissioned three more novels: Playing With Fire, Cold-is-the-Grave, and Friend-of-the-Devil. ITV chose to air the three novels as a group of six one hour episodes.

The episodes began airing on September 16, 2011. Peter Robinson was a prolific writer, whose mystery novels have shocked and thrilled reader for decades. Though a Canadian, Robinson was schooled in the English tradition of creative writing. His vivid descriptions, lively characters, and intricate storylines, have made his works a permanent fixture of the English, Canadian, and American literary world. The character of Inspector Banks will be a contribution to the mystery genre for all time.

Book Series In Order » Authors » Peter Robinson

4 Responses to “Peter Robinson”

1. Ian Preddy: 3 months ago

   I’ve just read Peter’s last two books. The last one, Standing in the Shadows, was unusual in jumping between two different time periods. This was hard going at first but it eventually became clear why. Great ending.

   I always found Peter’s references to his music choices a bit of a bore and I could guess what his political views were. That apart, worth starting at the beginning and watching his characters develop. He’ll be missed.

   Reply
2. Beverley Hatcher: 3 years ago

   I was anxiously waiting a new Inspector Banks book and kept checking to see if there would be one published soon. But when I last looked I was so very sad to hear of his passing. He truly wrote the best novels and I have read everyone.
   I don’t know if anyone will see this but I want to pass on my condolences to his wife and family. I hope good memories will help you in this dark time.
   It truly will be a loss for all of Peter’s fan. I do see that there is a completed book, so I will look forward to reading it. You know I found that the Banks series continued to be relevant and never disappointed us with clever plots and great character development.
   Sincerely,
   Bev

   Reply
3. Beverley Hatcher: 3 years ago

   Are there plans for a new Inspector Banks book? I’m trying to wait patiently.
   But there is an ongoing storyline and I am anxious to see how it develops.
   Also any plans for a book tour in southern Ontario?
   Thank you in advance,
   Bev

   Reply
4. Carl: 6 years ago

   After reading/listening to over 20 of the Banks series, I was pretty disappointed at the transformation of the idealized version of Banks from a humanized policeman into a realistic cop in Aftermath. It doesn’t make for an entertainment experience.

   Reply