When the Music's Over

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.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Terrific plot and characters

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

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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....

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

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.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Still Banks, But Disappointing

Would you try another book from Peter Robinson and/or Simon Prebble?

I have read or listened to all of these books, and will keep doing so.

If you’ve listened to books by Peter Robinson before, how does this one compare?

This one misses the mark. No mention is made of his 2 children and next to nothing about his personal life. Those are things that make these stories especially interesting.

Which character – as performed by Simon Prebble – was your favorite?

Hard to say. Let's just note that Prebble is a master.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably not. The two crime threads aren't things I want to see. Listening to what those awful people did was enough.

Any additional comments?

I hope future books are more in line with the way earlier episodes of Banks and his famiily are depicted.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent in every aspect

Storyline very timely, characters make you feel their pain and concern. Good to see Banks get a well deserved promotion. Can't wait for the nextBanks story, but will.

2 of 4 people found this review helpful