Final Account

The victim, a nondescript "numbers cruncher," died horribly just yards away from his terrified wife and daughter, murdered by men who clearly enjoyed their work. The crime scene is one that could chill the blood of even the most seasoned police officer. But the strange revelations about an ordinary accountant's extraordinary secret life are what truly set Chief Inspector Alan Banks off -- as lies breed further deceptions and blood begets blood, unleashing a policeman's dark passions ... and a violent rage that, when freed, might be impossible to control.

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Average Robinson, 2008-06-10
This is a worthy book by Peter Robinson, only it's not his best. It's typical in that Inspector Banks works the clues and interviews to find the killer of a boring accountant. And the ending is a big surprise, but one that borders on unreality. But Robinson is a journeyman author and he never lets the book get away from him. You can always count on Robinson to provide a solid, steady book that holds your interest throughout. I just feel, however, that this is not his best effort.


0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Solid, but not gripping, 2008-04-05
This is a good book that kept my attention. It wasn't a gripping whodunit that it couldn't put down, but it is a solid story with some interesting twists and turns.

It is the first Peter Robinson I've read (I think?) and I found the story telling a bit off. For instance, there's one character who sort of appears out of nowhere and yet takes on this mythical quality for no apparent reason simply because he's associated with the intelligence services and he and Banks, the lead character, have some history that's vaguely alluded to.

Similar gaps appear in the storyline itself. Stuff happens fairly frequently that is poorly explained and seems almost to be stated as a question or hypothesis, but then somehow it becomes fact and then something happens on top of that, etc., etc. You just have to roll with it and keep on reading.

Any mystery is like that, I suppose, and Robinson does it better than many, but not as well as some - at least in this book for me.

And, in my opinion, this isn't really a 'procedural' detective story as many have characterized it. It doesn't follow the kind of logical, systematic investigative process you'd expect for that genre. And, maybe it is just me, but I expect the lead guys in such stories to be driving things forward - that's not the case here. Stuff happens around Banks and his colleague, but they seem to have little control or influence over them.

Final comment is that there is a bit too much ruminating going on by Banks for my taste. Do I really care that much about him? Not based on the character development done here.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

"Why should anyone try to execute an accountant?", 2007-11-22
I believe that this novel will have a very different appeal for different people, and the reason behind this is simple. In this book, Robinson focused a lot more on the development of Inspector Banks and the events that are affecting his personal life and psyche, than in the case at hand. Therefore, people that are fans of the series and that have come to empathize with the main character are rewarded by the author's choice, but the people that are just picking up a mystery novel and have not heard of Banks before, will likely be disappointed.

Mystery-wise, Banks has to investigate the death of an accountant, who was murdered execution style. The particularities of the case dictate that most of the investigation has to do with unearthing secrets about the victim, who we quickly realize, was not as boring or as typical as we thought at first. For this task, Banks counts with the help, among others, of Hatchley, who I was happy to see return to the spotlight. The large ex-rugby player may be blunt and abrasive, but provides the readers with a picturesque view of life.

As I mentioned before, most of this book is about Inspector Banks and the effect that different events are having on his life. As we started seeing in the previous installment, his relationship with his wife has changed after the kids left home, and this has led him to once again be tempted by other women. But maybe even more importantly, the case he is working on will have a profound impact on the way he is looking at his job as well as his view of authority and of what is right and wrong. The fact that Superintendent Burgess, with whom Banks has clashed in the past, is also part of the case, does not make things easier in the least. Fans of the series will have a great time, and will probably want to know what is going to happen with our esteemed inspector in the next book.


3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

You have to watch books originating in Britain, 2007-07-11
I've noticed that more than one of Peter Robinson's books have two titles. I just figured it is because British books often have different titles than they have in the US. I had to check the author's page on line to keep the order straight, but I found the extra effort worth it.


4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Sixth Book in the Series, 2007-05-23

It was the middle of the night when Chief Inspector Alan Banks arrived at the barn and saw Keith Rothwell for the first time or perhaps it would be better to say what was left of him. A short time earlier two masked men had brought the quiet accountant out of his farmhouse and blasted him with a shotgun

It was pretty obvious that this was a pre-meditated killing, the sort that a large wad of cash could buy, no questions asked, but Rothwell was not the sort of person to make enemies, certainly not ones that wanted to kill him. The investigation only muddies the water even more.

The deeper Banks digs the more he wanders what lies beneath the surface of the apparently happy and contented Rothwell family. When is old sparring partner Detective Superintendent Burgess arrives from Scotland Yard, the case takes yet another unexpected turn . . .

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