Customer Reviews

The Price of Love and Other Stories LP

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Peter Robinson is back with a collection of short fiction, a rare find in the world of publishing. Not many authors are given the opportunity to compile a slew of short stories and novellas. It seems like a dying art, until now.

In "The Price of Love", Robinson returns with riveting and insightful stories to shape the human heart. In the title story, "The Price of Love," the author structures his characters around the dark side of human nature. Tommy, the protagonist, stumbles across a law-enforcement badge while playing on the beach during one summer. The treasure, as he calls it, is a sign and a remembrance of his late father. With sharp, clever writing, Robinson does not disappoint in this new outing. His characters are well-drawn and interesting, as is the case with Tommy.

Robinson marks his signature web of storytelling with two novella-length stories featuring the infamous Yorkshire Inspector Alan Banks: "Going Home" and "Like a Virgin." The Inspector, thanks to a well crafted hand, is at his best in this collection. The Inspector's return home for a family reunion turns disastrous in more ways than one. In "Like a Virgin," Robinson takes his main character back to a time of deja vu, where the road leads to a world of crime. The gifted talent of Robinson continues in other Alan Banks short fiction as well: "The Eastval Ladies' Poker Circle," and "Blue Christmas."

The non-Alan Banks stories compiled between these pages also shine in their lumnious prose: "Cornelius Jubb" and "The Magic of Your Touch" deal with the issue of race. "The Cherub Affair", starring Inspector Lang seems like a character Robinson could develop in a new series. "Shadows on the Water" is a creepy outing and one of the highlights in the book. Other non-Banks stories include: "The Ferryman's Beautiful Daughter," "Walking the Dog," and "Birthday Dance."

"The Price of Love and Other Stories" is filled with life's explorations of love, greed, and the unimaginable. Robinson weaves a hand of humility and sacrifce between the pages, and the reader is left with a compelling finale each and every time. Rich with smart and nervy prose, "The Price of Love" is a remarkable endeavor and one that Robinson should be very proud of.

T.B. Grant

10/3/09

Peter Robinson is best known for his book-length work concerning the exploits of Detective Inspector Alan Banks of the London Major Crimes Unit, which makes THE PRICE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES a much-anticipated and most welcome treasure.

Banks is somewhat low-key, possessed of an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a tendency to be unlucky in love. He is also, to the criminal mind, a quite lethal adversary. Robinson's sharp characterizations of not only Banks but also of his supporting cast combine with intriguing plots to make this series a revered one among mystery aficionados. The 12 shorter works that comprise THE PRICE OF LOVE do not all concern Banks, but exhibit the same high quality of craft as do their better known (and longer) cousins.

THE PRICE OF LOVE is wisely and delightfully bookended by two Inspector Banks novellas. "Going Back" opens the volume; it had never been published in the United States before, though portions of it appear in CLOSE TO HOME. The story deals with Banks's somewhat reluctant return home for a family reunion occasioned by his parents' golden wedding anniversary. Robinson does not begin with pyrotechnics; instead, he pulls off the neat trick of perfectly capturing the tediousness of coming back to a small town and the awkwardness of an adult child around aged parents with whom contact is infrequent and irregular. Even so, Robinson somehow manages to quietly ratchet up the suspense in increments.

"Like a Virgin," the novella that closes the collection, was written especially for THE PRICE OF LOVE. Banks revisits the horrific event that resulted in his transplant from London to Eastvale. While suspenseful, it is the cerebral aspects of "Like a Virgin" that ultimately make the story what it is. The manner in which Robinson slices in and out of life and the emotions, constructive and otherwise, define our humanity. As with so much of his work, he mines deep territory without burying the reader in the gravitas of the subject matter. It is a perfect way to end the book.

And what about the material that lays between the beginning and end? These stories --- even the eight pieces that don't feature Banks --- are also worth reading. One does not think of Robinson as a writer of dark fantasy, yet "The Magic of Your Touch" is just that --- and perfect to boot. Fans of the genre will see what's coming within the first page or two, yet the joy of the journey is such that you will not mind. "Birthday Dance," on the other hand, tiptoes slowly to a bad place that is revealed about two-thirds of the way through; even after its surprising revelation, Robinson saves the best for last, a shocking scene that is only a sentence or two in length yet stays coiled in the mind.

With so many good stories --- not a bad one in the pack --- it's hard to choose a winner. Actually, on second thought, it's not. "Blue Christmas," a Banks story written for a limited edition work, is worth the price of admission all by itself. While it is very different from most of the tales appearing in the Banks canon, anyone unfamiliar with Robinson's work will immediately seek out each and every volume that he has written based on this short and simple account dealing with the interruption of Banks's Christmas by a missing persons case.

Robinson is simply incapable of writing anything badly. And THE PRICE OF LOVE features 12 self-contained examples of writing done right.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

I'm not normally a fan of short stories, but I'm a huge Peter Robinson fan so I bought The Price of Love. I loved it. Some of the stories have already been described by other reviewers so I'll just say I liked every one and I think you will too. I liked the Inspector Alan Banks stories as they gave new insight into his past. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story.

This twelve story collection proves Peter Robinson has a wider range than just the Banks police procedural novels though the great Detective Inspector stars in some of the entries. Banks stars in two bookend novellas, "Going Back" which affirms you can go home even when it turns nasty and "Like a Virgin" in which he left London for Eastvale following a horrific crime he investigated. Both are terrific as are banks' short entries. However what make the anthology even more engaging is the other stories that run the gamut of time and place. During WWII in Yorkshire, Black American GI "Cornelius Jubb" is accused of rape more so because of the color of his skin; also in WW II, but on the continent a soldier relates his fears as "Shadows on the Water" has him wondering whether he has the red badge of courage. In "The Cherub Affair" a Noir downtrodden tough guy private eye hooks up with a femme fatale in need. With a suspense that crosses into horror and two more Banks shorts, THE PRICE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES is a winner especially for fans of the Yorkshire DCI as "Like a Virgin" is new and "Going Back" never published in America.

Harriet Klausner

Like all Peter Robinson's admirers, I look forward for every new book from the English-Canadian writer and I almost never get disappointed. I had become interested in his works even before I read my first Alan Banks' novel. I still remember how fascinated and deeply impressed I was after reading for the first time his award winning short story "Innocence" back in 1991. "Innocence" is a harrowing story about a man whose life was ruined only because he happened to be in the wrong place in the wrong time. The subject is not new or original but if you read the story, you will never forget it. "Innocence" was published in the collection of the best mystery short stories of 1989, I believe. The book consisted of about fifty first class works but "Innocence" was the only one that has stayed with me for all these years. Since that moment, I became a fan of everything Peter Robinson has written. It is my great pleasure to comment on the second short stories collection written by him.

If you have been following the books of Robinson as loyally as I do, it will be impossible to put The Price of Love down before you finish it. Then, you may want to open the book and to read some of your favorites again. Robinson is widely known and admired for 17 novels with the main character, Yorkshire Chief Inspector Alan Banks who is a successful and shrewd crime investigator and also a very intelligent man, the great fan of good music and English literature that we got to know very well since the first Banks novel, Gallows View was published in 1987. All Banks novels are not only the first -rate crime stories but also very well written works of literature.

Of twelve stories that their creator chose to include in the volume, three feature Eastdale DCI Alan Banks. The closing novella, Like a Virgin, finally shed light on the often mentioned in many novels case from long years ago that young Detective Inspector Alan Banks investigated as for the London Major Crimes Unit. The case had such impact on Banks that he decided to change his life drastically and took the position up in Yorkshire, for Eastdale PD. He never returned to London. We will also learn where the scar besides his right eye came from. If you happened never have read any book of Peterson and this collection is your introduction to him, I genuinely envy you. It is such a great starting point to begin to explore the writings of one of the very best contemporary authors who chose to write the mystery books. His books are good not only because of their subject matter, investigating of often horrific crimes, and finding out whodunit. They are good because their language is wonderful; the characters are fully fleshed, because they are human and compassionate. All these qualities you'll find in each of twelve first rate examples of short prose. Robinson will surprise you with the unexpected and clever twists more than once. He will take you on the dark alley where the devil will tempt the weak mortal with an offer that can't and won't be refused. He will twist the familiar biblical plot and mix it with the mafia element. He will prove to be an expert in noir genre and "the murder in the locked room" case. He will leave the lasting impression and make you sad for a character who was accused of rape based only on the color of his skin, and angry that it had happened more than often in reality. It is not easy to choose the favorite story. The one which truly moved me, almost brought the tears to my eyes, is the short Alan Banks story "Blue Christmas". Robinson mentioned in the After notes that he was challenged to write a Banks story without crime in it. What can I say? He succeeded admirably. Christmas could be the most joyful and happy time of the year or the loneliest, saddest, and hopeless. Robinson explores both sides of the most wonderful time of the year and comes up with a little bright gem of the story, bitter-sweet, hopeful and simply perfect.

I want to finish my review by quoting Globe and Mail (Toronto): "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."

Dear reader of this and the other reviews,

We can't all be wrong. Please read this book. It should not be missed.

Like all Peter Robinson's admirers, I look forward for every new book from the English-Canadian writer and I almost never get disappointed. I had become interested in his works even before I read my first Alan Banks' novel. I still remember how fascinated and deeply impressed I was after reading for the first time his award winning short story "Innocence" back in 1991. "Innocence" is a harrowing story about a man whose life was ruined only because he happened to be in the wrong place in the wrong time. The subject is not new or original but if you read the story, you will never forget it. "Innocence" was published in the collection of the best mystery short stories of 1989, I believe. The book consisted of about fifty first class works but "Innocence" was the only one that has stayed with me for all these years. Since that moment, I became a fan of everything Peter Robinson has written. It is my great pleasure to comment on the second short stories collection written by him.

If you have been following the books of Robinson as loyally as I do, it will be impossible to put The Price of Love down before you finish it. Then, you may want to open the book and to read some of your favorites again. Robinson is widely known and admired for 17 novels with the main character, Yorkshire Chief Inspector Alan Banks who is a successful and shrewd crime investigator and also a very intelligent man, the great fan of good music and English literature that we got to know very well since the first Banks novel, Gallows View was published in 1987. All Banks novels are not only the first -rate crime stories but also very well written works of literature.

Of twelve stories that their creator chose to include in the volume, three feature Eastdale DCI Alan Banks. The closing novella, Like a Virgin, finally shed light on the often mentioned in many novels case from long years ago that young Detective Inspector Alan Banks investigated as for the London Major Crimes Unit. The case had such impact on Banks that he decided to change his life drastically and took the position up in Yorkshire, for Eastdale PD. He never returned to London. We will also learn where the scar besides his right eye came from. If you happened never have read any book of Peterson and this collection is your introduction to him, I genuinely envy you. It is such a great starting point to begin to explore the writings of one of the very best contemporary authors who chose to write the mystery books. His books are good not only because of their subject matter, investigating of often horrific crimes, and finding out whodunit. They are good because their language is wonderful; the characters are fully fleshed, because they are human and compassionate. All these qualities you'll find in each of twelve first rate examples of short prose. Robinson will surprise you with the unexpected and clever twists more than once. He will take you on the dark alley where the devil will tempt the weak mortal with an offer that can't and won't be refused. He will twist the familiar biblical plot and mix it with the mafia element. He will prove to be an expert in noir genre and "the murder in the locked room" case. He will leave the lasting impression and make you sad for a character who was accused of rape based only on the color of his skin, and angry that it had happened more than often in reality. It is not easy to choose the favorite story. The one which truly moved me, almost brought the tears to my eyes, is the short Alan Banks story "Blue Christmas". Robinson mentioned in the After notes that he was challenged to write a Banks story without crime in it. What can I say? He succeeded admirably. Christmas could be the most joyful and happy time of the year or the loneliest, saddest, and hopeless. Robinson explores both sides of the most wonderful time of the year and comes up with a little bright gem of the story, bitter-sweet, hopeful and simply perfect.

I want to finish my review by quoting Globe and Mail (Toronto): "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."

Dear reader of this and the other reviews,

We can't all be wrong. Please read this book. It should not be missed.

Anything written by Peter Robinson is good-very cohesive writing. I have ordered almost all of his books for my kindle.

I am a huge fan of the Inspector Alan Banks series, and when I saw this book for sale I was very curious to see how well Peter Robinson's talents carried over into the world of short stories. It quickly became apparent that Robinson is just as gifted a short story writer as he is a full-length novelist.

This book contains twelve short stories, four of which feature Inspector Banks. The opening story, "Going Back", has Banks visiting his parents' home for their golden wedding anniversary celebration. As a Banks fan I was interested to meet his parents (whom I have not yet encountered in the full-length books) and get to know his charming but sociopathic brother Roy (whom I had met only very briefly in one of the novels). The story gets off to a quiet start ("Alan, lovely to see you. come on in, love") but, as I find to be the case whenever I read a Banks book, was very hard to put down as the story got underway and Banks uncovered astonishing evil in the apparently quiet housing estate. And of course the advantage of reading a short story that I can't put down is that I can finish it and still get a good night's sleep. Somehow Robinson is able to tell the main story and even incorporate a couple of subplots (involving Banks meeting his first childhood girlfriend, and some obnoxious next door neighbors) without the novella ever feeling rushed.

"The Eastvale Ladies' Poker Circle" is a hugely enjoyable Banks short story that strikes me as Agatha Christie-esque; English countryside gentility concealing a horrifying secret for Banks to uncover. "Like a Virgin" is *essential* reading for all Banks devotees; it is an excellent story in its own right, but it also tells the story of Banks' move from London to Yorkshire; it includes Banks' first meetings with Gristhorpe and "Dirty Dick" Burgess; and it explains how Banks got the scar near his eye. "Blue Christmas", the fourth Banks short story in the collection, was written by Robinson in response to a specific request for a Banks story that contains no violence or bad language, and is a low-key story but just as compelling as any Banks story.

For me, $9.99 would be a perfectly fair price just for the four Banks stories. But this collection also contains another eight short stories, none of which is boring or disappointing. Readers of "In a Dry Season" will be familiar with Robinson writing about Yorkshire during the Second World War; this he does again, in the highly enjoyable "Cornelius Jubb". "The Magic of Your Touch" is a haunting and memorable story with supernatural elements. In all of the stories it is a pleasure to experience Robinson's talents in genres different from the Banks police procedural.

Essential for Banks fans; highly recommended for everyone.

I really enjoyed this collection of ten short stories and a novella.

All of the stories have their very different twists and turns, and there is a good variety of unexpected endings. Some of the stories are fillers in the life of Alan Banks, the fictional detective for whome Peter Robinson is most renowned. The settings are mainly Toronto and Yorkshire: places where the author has lived.

I particularly enjoyed "The Magic of your Touch" for its light supernatural element, and "Shadow on the Water," as there is a reflection of my own life in this one, and an example of how childhood events can affect adult behaviours.

My favourite of all of these stories is the title story, "The Price of Love." This brings out the deep feelings of a young lad whose father, a policeman, is murdered in the line of duty. The subsequent actions of the adults who surround his private and personal world are made in total ignorance of the effects that they are having on poor Tom's life.

I shan't say any more about any of the stories for fear of spoiling them for you.

Finally, and this is just the nicest touch imaginable for me, the author rounds of the book with his own short explanations of each of the stories. His personal thoughts and motivations for each of them, and insights into how they came about. These explanations just add an extra spark.

This book is well worth my five star rating.

The days of slick magazines are gone, and authors usually do not write short stories, but occasionally an established author will contribute a story to a special anthology, and occasionally (as the case here) an author will publish a collection of stories in book form. This collection has 12 stories, two of which are longer novellas. Four of the stories feature Inspector Banks. The stories can be read in any order, and provide some shorter reading when you have some time during an evening. I started with "The Eastvale Ladies' Poker Circle" which had an interesting title. Things are not always as they seem. As in many Brisish crime stories, weapons often tend not to be guns. A fireplace poker may be suitable for the job.

I would note that the last story, "Like a Virgin," is a novella original to this collection. It is when Banks worked for the police in London, and includes his first visit to Eastvale to interview for the DCI job. The story itself is an investigation into the deaths of young women working as exotic dancers with some prostitution on the side. Hard times in Yorkshire made many employees redundant (known as a reduction in force in the USA), and many young women traveled to London to find work of any kind.