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Book Summary and Reviews of Bad Boy by Peter Robinson

Bad Boy by Peter Robinson

Bad Boy

An Inspector Banks Novel

by Peter Robinson

  • Critics' Consensus (0):
  • Readers' Rating (28):
  • Published:
  • Aug 2010, 352 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

A distraught woman arrives at the Eastvale police station desperate to speak to Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. But since Banks is away on holiday in San Francisco, his partner, Annie Cabbot, steps in. The woman tells Annie that she’s found a loaded gun hidden in the bedroom of her daughter, Erin—a punishable offense under English law. When an armed response team breaks into the house to retrieve the weapon, the seemingly straightforward procedure quickly spirals out of control.

But trouble is only beginning for Annie, the Eastvale force, and Banks—and this time, the fallout may finally do the iconoclastic inspector in. It turns out that Erin’s best friend and roommate is none other than Tracy Banks, the DCI’s daughter, who was last seen racing off to warn the owner of the gun, a very bad boy indeed.

Thrust into a complicated and dangerous case intertwining the personal and the professional as never before, Annie and Banks—a bit of a bad boy himself—must risk everything to outsmart a smooth and devious psychopath. Both Annie and Banks understand that it’s not just his career hanging in the balance, it’s also his daughter’s life.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Starred Review. Robinson deftly integrates Banks's personal life with an acute look at British attitudes about police, guns, and violence in this strong entry in a superb series." - Publishers Weekly

"Starred Review. Another outstanding crime novel from Robinson." - Booklist

This information about Bad Boy was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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Ann C. (Roswell, GA)

Peter Robinson's Bad Boy
Admittedly, I am a total Chief Inspector Banks fan and have enjoyed each of the books in this Peter Robinson series. And, this latest entry which features Banks' daughter Tracy and his co-worker Annie is a first rate addition to the series. This is a compelling story and a fascinating character study with plot twists enough to keep the reader involved until the very last pages. I'm waiting eagerly for the next one!

Beth P. (Chester, VA)

Bad Boy
I have to admit that I ordered Peter Robinson's book, "Bad Boy" because my mom is a fan and I knew I could send it on to her. I have to tell you that within a few pages I was totally hooked on the book and am just sorry that I am starting with the latest Inspector Alan Banks book first. I have read many detective stories and what I loved about this book was that the characters came to mean something to me. I cared what happened to them. I rarely find that in a book that is also a nail-biter, one that you really don't want to put down. So now I am off to start reading the 19 other books by the award winning author. If you like British detective novels that will absolutely keep your attention, this book is for you.

Anne G. (Byram, MS)

Bad Boy by Peter Robinson Is Another Winner!
The latest Peter Robinson book featuring DCI Alan Banks is a diversion from the usual Banks investigation into a murder mystery. This novel is primarily a highly entertaining chase and pursuit when Banks enters the hunt for the Bad Boy. All the familiar characters from the Eastvale Precinct are here: DI Annie Cabot, DC Winsome Jackman, Det. Superintendent Gervaise and others that readers will remember.

Characterizations are brilliant, the dialogue is superb, and sense of place is established early on. A central theme asks what happens when all communication breaks down between a mother, a father, and a daughter? Readers are left to ponder the question that so many parents ask themselves every day and wonder what might have been "if only". The chase for Bad Boy starts off slow, builds speed, adds the element of danger to a Banks' family member, and races to a deadly finish that will keep readers up late at night to finish this book. Highly recommended!

Jane N. (Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey)

Bad Boy done Right
This is a great read and a wonderful "who dun it!" I especially enjoyed the female police detective. All of the characters are well developed and the plot line is well though out. This is the first time I have read this author and I know that I will be reading more from him. He is a great find for anyone who enjoys British mysteries!

Linda Z. (Corydon, IN)

Bad Boy
There are 20 books in this series of Inspector Banks and I cannot believe that I have never read any until this one. I have now read 2 others in the series and am starting on the first one. My local public library has 6 of them and I shall have to check the used book stores for the remainder but I intend to read all 20. I do wish there would have been a physical description of Alan Banks but maybe I will find one in the older books. If you like British mysteries, do not miss this author. Lots of twists and turns!

Christine B. (St Paul, MN)

Good Girl- Bad Boy
I thoroughly enjoyed this crime/suspense novel. I had never read any of the earlier Inspector Banks series and I am so glad to have been introduced to them. In this fast paced and quick to read story Alan Banks is thrown into a mystery involving his own daughter - so of course the stakes are high! If you like suspense/police work/murder- this is a must read.

...22 more reader reviews

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Author Information

Peter Robinson Author Biography

Photo: Marion Ettlinger

Peter Robinson was a Canadian crime writer born in Britain. He is best known for his crime novels set in Yorkshire featuring Inspector Alan Banks.

He has also published a number of other novels and short stories as well as some poems and two articles on writing. He was the winner of numerous awards in the United States, Britain and Canada. He died in October 2022 aged 72.

Author Interview
Link to Peter Robinson's Website

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