When the Music's Over

An Inspector Banks Novel

By: Peter Robinson

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 14 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

A baffling murder on a remote country lane puts Alan Banks and his team to the test in the detective's most intense and gripping case yet - from an author hailed by Louise Penny as "a writer at the top of his game".

With Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot investigating the young woman's death, newly promoted Detective Superintendent Banks finds himself taking on the coldest of cases: a 50-year-old assault allegedly perpetrated by beloved celebrity Danny Caxton. Now Caxton stands accused at the center of a media storm, and it's Banks' job to discover the shocking truth.

As more women step forward with accounts of Caxton's manipulation, Banks must piece together decades-old evidence - as the investigation leads him down the darkest of paths....

Suspenseful, powerful, and surprising, When the Music's Over is the finest novel to date from one of the foremost suspense writers at work today.

©2016 Peter Robinson (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Contemporary Social Problems and Poetry

Peter Robinson expertly and sensitively wraps this novel around some very contemporary issues: long buried sexual abuse cases revolving around once popular TV or music icons; modern day sex trade issues involving underage girls, and community/police relations in ethnic communities. Robinson writes about two different cases - one a 50 year old cold case of sexual abuse and the other a current day murder of a young girl involved in the sex trade. As he did with "In a Dry Season", Robinson uses a memoir written by the victim, now a grown woman and well-known poet, to tell her version of the abuse by the music icon many years ago. In crafting the story of the murder related to modern day sex trade, Robinson grapples with issues like racism and community/police relations. Of course, as in all the Inspector Banks novels, musical references abound and exploring the literary references to poetry in this story could create a mini-project for the reader once the book is over. Simon Prebble knows these characters and his voice combined with Robinson's poetic writing style make for an excellent listen.

Moves TOO slowly

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I usually enjoy Peter Robinson but I didn't even finish this book. It got SO tedious and moved so slowly. Very disappointing....

Terrific plot and characters

My first Banks book, very pleased, will start at the beginning and go all the way through the series.

Another plot based on abuse of young women

Would you ever listen to anything by Peter Robinson again?

I like Peter Robinson's writing and I like the character Alan Banks. I'll tune in again when Mr. Robinson comes with a different kind of case for Banks to solve.

Any additional comments?

There are so many novels based on sexual abuse, whether it is heterosexual or homosexual abuse. I'm so tired of them - I can't stomach any more. I always feel like the author couldn't think of another story line.

Probbly accurate, but bleak, story

Peter Robinson's writing is as good as ever. I still enjoy reading about the work of Alan Banks, but the realities of police work are tiring. This may have been an easier 'read' if the 2016 American political world wasn't what it is.

Peter Robinson stumbles badly in this one...

I've read many of the Inspector Banks books, have watched the TV series, and enjoyed them all, so a portion of this book left me feeling a bit shocked. This entry addresses the issue of rape and the grooming of young girls for prostitution. A major part of the book, a story within the story, is a "memoir" written by an adult woman about her experience of being raped by a celebrity at the age of 14. This memoir is written in the first person and is very explicit in describing the rape and the emotions of the victim.

Now what word to use here... irony will do. The "irony" of having a man write, and another man read in a verbal imitation of a woman's voice, the experience of a young girl being raped... Let's just say I found it a bit rich, and wish that Mr. Robinson had had the wisdom to understand that not every story is his to tell.

If this might bother you, too, then you might want to skip this book and move on the next in the series.

Working my way through

I do enjoy and like the Inspector Banks books.
Maybe it's a little much to expect that the series find one outstanding narrator like Simon Pebble and have him stick work his way through as well? Sadly that isn't the case, so we should be thankful for what we have in this book.
Here in the USA we had the shock that went with what was suspected about Michael Jackson and young boys at his home in Never Land. In the UK there was an outrage when the story broke about well known celebrities abusing children over many years. These celebrities had received knighthoods from the Queen and were up until the story broke well known and well loved by many. The follow up brought down many in the BBC and reached as far as the houses of parliament.
Peter Robinson does a good job of remaining currant while not joining the clatter and din of the tabloid press.
This wasn't one of the best books so far but after a while with so many it becomes looking at the whole not just the slice.

Feel sorry for reviewer

I love Simon Prebble's narration, but it's obvious he was struggling with a cold or other voice problems when he did his corrections, because short little passages were delivered in a croaky voice. This novel is quite good, as is the performance, but knowing these passages are there going in might be helpful.

Another great Banks book

A troubling subject and a timely story, but well done. Peter Robinson handles the subjects with sensitivity and objectivity.

Intricate and well-written book.

Another enjoyable Banks novel from the superb Peter Robinson made even better by the talents of the narrator.