The Price of Love and Other Stories

by Peter Robinson

Overview

From the New York Times bestselling author comes a riveting collection of short fiction, marked by the piercing psychological insight and brilliant characterization that are hallmarks of his acclaimed novels

Ever since the publication of his first mystery featuring Detective Inspector Alan Banks, Peter Robinson has been steadily building a reputation for compulsively readable and perceptive novels that probe the dark side of human nature. Plumbing the territory that he has so successfully staked, The Price of Love and Other Stories includes two novellas and several stories featuring the Yorkshire policeman at his finest.

In the novella "Going Back," never before published in the United States, Banks returns home for a family reunion, only to find it taking a decidedly sinister turn. In "Like a Virgin," written especially for this volume, Banks revisits the period in his life and the terrible crime that led him to leave London for Eastvale. And in between, the disparate motives that move us to harm one another, from love and jealousy to greed and despair, are all explored with fascinating depth.

Edgy and smart, thrilling and suspenseful, this remarkable collection is a must-have for Robinson fans—and any fan of compelling crime fiction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061809491
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/24/2010
Pages:	356
Sales rank:	626,958
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

One of the world’s most popular and acclaimed writers, Peter Robinson was the bestselling, award-winning author of the DCI Banks series. He also wrote two short-story collections and three stand-alone novels, which combined have sold more than ten million copies around the world. Among his many honors and prizes were the Edgar Award, the CWA (UK) Dagger in the Library Award, and the Swedish Crime Writers’ Academy Martin Beck Award.

Editorial Reviews

The writing is, as always with Robinson, colorful and evocative, and the characters are brilliant in their unpersonable way. This book is a must for Peter Robinson completists, of course, but also for anyone who appreciates good stories well told.

Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Bestseller Robinson (All the Colors of Darkness) proves that Yorkshire coppers aren't his only worthwhile subjects in this outstanding story collection. Crime in its myriad forms runs throughout, from an American GI falsely accused of rape during WWII in “Cornelius Jubb” to a detective remembering his childhood role in bringing down a gang of robbers in “The Price of Love.” The settings range from the familiar Eastvale of the Inspector Banks series to Robinson's current home in Toronto. He even tries his hand at noir in “The Cherub Affair,” complete with a down-on-his-luck PI and a beautiful woman in need of help. Banks fans will be delighted with the inclusion of two short stories and two novellas starring the Yorkshire detective chief inspector, one of which, “Like a Virgin,” is original to this book. For those unfamiliar with Robinson's work, this serves as an excellent introduction to one of the best voices in contemporary crime fiction. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Close on the heels of Robinson's latest Inspector Alan Banks mystery (All the Colors of Darkness) comes this collection, with nine stories (two of them featuring Banks) bracketed by two Banks novellas. With the exception of the final novella, all were written at the request of an editor, usually for a crime anthology published in the last six years, often taking Robinson in new directions as he tackled a literary form that he finds more difficult than a novel. While the emphasis is on police procedurals, at which Robinson excels, there are elements of horror and the supernatural in "The Magic of Your Touch," with its bow to Poe, and explorations of the human condition, as in "Shadows on the Water," a story of honor and courage told by a World War II soldier in a foxhole. In the final novella, "Like a Virgin," which brings Banks up-to-date, the dogged inspector learns that justice delayed need not be justice denied. VERDICT This collection distinguishes itself from recent crime anthologies by emphasizing Inspector Banks; the final novella is a deeply satisfying procedural that hints at the possibility of Banks's renewing an old romantic relationship. Until the next Banks mystery comes along, fans can get their fix here. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 6/1/09.]—Michele Leber, Arlington, VA

Library Journal

The writing is, as always with Robinson, colorful and evocative, and the characters are brilliant in their unpersonable way. This book is a must for Peter Robinson completists, of course, but also for anyone who appreciates good stories well told.” — Globe and Mail (Toronto)

“Outstanding story collection....Banks fans will be delighted....An excellent introduction to one of the best voices in contemporary crime fiction.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This collection distinguishes itself from recent crime anthologies....The final novella is a deeply satisfying procedural.” — Library Journal

From the Publisher

"The writing is, as always with Robinson, colorful and evocative, and the characters are brilliant in their unpersonable way. This book is a must for Peter Robinson completists, of course, but also for anyone who appreciates good stories well told."

Globe & Mail (Toronto)