[1] A former member of the London Metropolitan Police, Inspector Alan Banks leaves the capital for a quieter life in the Dales.
The novel follows Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, a perceptive, curious and compassionate policeman recently moved to the Yorkshire Dales from London to escape the stress of city life.
His first cases involve a Peeping Tom frightening the women of Eastvale; two glue-sniffing young thugs breaking into homes and robbing people; and an old woman who may or may not have been murdered.
The novel follows the case to solve the murder of Caroline Hartly, whose body of is found one evening before Christmas by her lover, Veronica Shildon.
Inspector Banks's fifth case is an ironic, suspenseful tale of family secrets, hidden passions and desperate violence.
The novel is widely acclaimed as Robinson's best, a large step forward in ambition from previous books, and this was reflected in its critical and commercial response.
The novel follows Inspector Banks as he investigates the murder of Officer DI Bill Quinn, who has been shot through the heart by a bolt from a crossbow while convalescing at the St. Peter's Police Treatment Centre.
Assigned to assist DCI Banks is Professional Standards Inspector Joanna Passero, and as the investigation progresses, they uncover a link with a cold case that takes them to Tallinn, Estonia to unearth the truth.
[13] In July 2010, ITV commissioned a television adaptation of the novel Aftermath with Stephen Tompkinson playing the role of Banks.
[20] The viewing figures were successful enough for three more adaptations to be commissioned–Playing With Fire, Friend Of The Devil, and Cold Is The Grave–under a series title DCI Banks showing as six one-hour episodes, which started airing on 16 September 2011.