Not Safe After Dark: v. 1

Usually with those collections, the stories which aren't as good are the ones featuring the author's usual series character (in this case, Inspector Banks). The problem is that the formula of the series novel, in which a recurring protagonist has a mystery presented to them which must then be solved, cannot easily be condensed into short form. Not even if you're an excellent writer of short stories. It just doesn't work, in my view, (unless you're prepared to let a short story run to about 40 pages). However, with collections such as this it's wise to throw in some stories featuring your series character, so readers of said series will more enticed to buy. Despite the fact that they aren't up to the standard of the rest. This is true here. The three Inspector Banks short stories aren't as inspired as some of the others, the mysteries not as interesting or engaging. The first, Summer Rain, which is about a person who's convinced they were murdered in a previous life, is a little bit of an exception, as it manages to shape up very well indeed against most of the other stories. The other two, though, are uninspired.

Though it's possible that's to do with them being quite old. The short stories here are collected from across Robinson's career, which has itself developed spectacularly since his early mysteries.

Some of other stories are good; a few are excellent. April in Paris is exceptional; by far the best of the collection, a wonderful, nostalgic and atmospheric short story more about love than murder, set in late 60's Paris during the student riots. Brilliantly written, elegant, slightly moving, I loved it. There are a couple of Award Winners here as well. Innocence won the Crime Writer's of Canada Best Short Story Award, and is of very high quality indeed. Missing in Action won the American Edgar for Best Short Story, and is also very good.

This collection ranges across the globe, and through time as well. There are stories set in Canada, France, England, and Florida (Some Land in Florida is a very interesting PI story, and another very strong entry), and in times as diverse as wartime London, Shakespearean England, and our own contemporary world. All in all, it is a very varied collection indeed. If you're a fan of the short story, I would recommend Not Safe After Dark to you. It doesn't quite stand up to the great short stories of Rendell of McEwan, but they're entertaining and effective. As I say, if you like crime short stories this book is a good choice.

NB: the final instalment of this collection is an "Inspector Banks novella" called Going Back, roughly 90 pages long, which is about Banks' return to his home town for his parents' wedding anniversary. If you're a reader of Robinson's series, it gives you a very strong reason to get this collection. As a mystery, it's rather luke-warm, but as an entry in the life of Allan Banks, it is a MUST. There's excellent insight into his youth, his parents, how he feels to return home, and we also get to meet his brother Roy. Given that Robinson's next novel revolves around Roy's disappearance, I highly recommend series fans to get this collection so that they can get acquainted with him.


Not Safe After Dark, Peter Robinson   September 30, 2004
 0 out of 2 found this review helpful

Soon, it will be a very hard task to find a crime writer who has not, somewhere in their past, published a work of collected short stories. With Not Safe After Dark, Peter Robinson adds his name to the considerable list. Generally, such collections are a mixed bag. With some excellent short stories mixed in with not quite so good ones - which is the case here.

Usually with those collections, the stories which aren't as good are the ones featuring the author's usual series character (in this case, Inspector Banks). The problem is that the formula of the series novel, in which a recurring protagonist has a mystery presented to them which must then be solved, cannot easily be condensed into short form. Not even if you're an excellent writer of short stories. It just doesn't work, in my view, (unless you're prepared to let a short story run to about 40 pages). However, with collections such as this it's wise to throw in some stories featuring your series character, so readers of said series will more enticed to buy. Despite the fact that they aren't up to the standard of the rest. This is true here. The three Inspector Banks short stories aren't as inspired as some of the others, the mysteries not as interesting or engaging. The first, Summer Rain, which is about a person who's convinced they were murdered in a previous life, is a little bit of an exception, as it manages to shape up very well indeed against most of the other stories. The other two, though, are uninspired.

Though it's possible that's to do with them being quite old. The short stories here are collected from across Robinson's career, which has itself developed spectacularly since his early mysteries.

Some of other stories are good; a few are excellent. April in Paris is exceptional; by far the best of the collection, a wonderful, nostalgic and atmospheric short story more about love than murder, set in late 60's Paris during the student riots. Brilliantly written, elegant, slightly moving, I loved it. There are a couple of Award Winners here as well. Innocence won the Crime Writer's of Canada Best Short Story Award, and is of very high quality indeed. Missing in Action won the American Edgar for Best Short Story, and is also very good.

This collection ranges across the globe, and through time as well. There are stories set in Canada, France, England, and Florida (Some Land in Florida is a very interesting PI story, and another very strong entry), and in times as diverse as wartime London, Shakespearean England, and our own contemporary world. All in all, it is a very varied collection indeed. If you're a fan of the short story, I would recommend Not Safe After Dark to you. It doesn't quite stand up to the great short stories of Rendell of McEwan, but they're entertaining and effective. As I say, if you like crime short stories this book is a good choice.

NB: the final instalment of this collection is an "Inspector Banks novella" called Going Back, roughly 90 pages long, which is about Banks' return to his home town for his parents' wedding anniversary. If you're a reader of Robinson's series, it gives you a very strong reason to get this collection. As a mystery, it's rather luke-warm, but as an entry in the life of Allan Banks, it is a MUST. There's excellent insight into his youth, his parents, how he feels to return home, and we also get to meet his brother Roy. Given that Robinson's next novel revolves around Roy's disappearance, I highly recommend series fans to get this collection so that they can get acquainted with him.


Not Safe After Dark, Peter Robinson   September 25, 2004
 52 out of 56 found this review helpful

Soon, it will be a very hard task to find a crime writer who has not, somewhere in their past, published a work of collected short stories. With Not Safe After Dark, Peter Robinson adds his name to the considerable list. Generally, such collections are a mixed bag. With some excellent short stories mixed in with not quite so good ones - which is the case here.

Usually with those collections, the stories which aren't as good are the ones featuring the author's usual series character (in this case, Inspector Banks). The problem is that the formula of the series novel, in which a recurring protagonist has a mystery presented to them which must then be solved, cannot easily be condensed into short form. Not even if you're an excellent writer of short stories. It just doesn't work, in my view, (unless you're prepared to let a short story run to about 40 pages). However, with collections such as this it's wise to throw in some stories featuring your series character, so readers of said series will more enticed to buy. Despite the fact that they aren't up to the standard of the rest. This is true here. The three Inspector Banks short stories aren't as inspired as some of the others, the mysteries not as interesting or engaging. The first, Summer Rain, which is about a person who's convinced they were murdered in a previous life, is a little bit of an exception, as it manages to shape up very well indeed against most of the other stories. The other two, though, are uninspired.

Though it's possible that's to do with them being quite old. The short stories here are collected from across Robinson's career, which has itself developed spectacularly since his early mysteries.

Some of other stories are good; a few are excellent. April in Paris is exceptional; by far the best of the collection, a wonderful, nostalgic and atmospheric short story more about love than murder, set in late 60's Paris during the student riots. Brilliantly written, elegant, slightly moving, I loved it. There are a couple of Award Winners here as well. Innocence won the Crime Writer's of Canada Best Short Story Award, and is of very high quality indeed. Missing in Action won the American Edgar for Best Short Story, and is also very good.

This collection ranges across the globe, and through time as well. There are stories set in Canada, France, England, and Florida (Some Land in Florida is a very interesting PI story, and another very strong entry), and in times as diverse as wartime London, Shakespearean England, and our own contemporary world. All in all, it is a very varied collection indeed. If you're a fan of the short story, I would recommend Not Safe After Dark to you. It doesn't quite stand up to the great short stories of Rendell of McEwan, but they're entertaining and effective. As I say, if you like crime short stories this book is a good choice.

NB: the final instalment of this collection is an "Inspector Banks novella" called Going Back, roughly 90 pages long, which is about Banks' return to his home town for his parents' wedding anniversary. If you're a reader of Robinson's series, it gives you a very strong reason to get this collection. As a mystery, it's rather luke-warm, but as an entry in the life of Allan Banks, it is a MUST. There's excellent insight into his youth, his parents, how he feels to return home, and we also get to meet his brother Roy. Given that Robinson's next novel revolves around Roy's disappearance, I highly recommend series fans to get this collection so that they can get acquainted with him.