A Dedicated Man Audiobook By Peter Robinson cover art

A Dedicated Man

An Inspector Banks Novel

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A Dedicated Man

By: Peter Robinson
Narrated by: James Langton
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A dedicated man is dead in the Yorkshire dales - a former university professor, wealthy historian, and archaeologist who loved his adopted village. It is a particularly heinous slaying, considering the esteem in which the victim, Harry Steadman, was held by his neighbors and colleagues---by everyone, it seems, except the one person who bludgeoned the life out of the respected scholar and left him half-buried in a farmer's field.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks left the violence of London behind for what he hoped would be the peaceful life of a country policeman. But the brutality of Steadman's murder only reinforces one ugly, indisputable truth: that evil can flourish in even the most bucolic of settings. There are dangerous secrets hidden in the history of this remote Yorkshire community that have already led to one death. And Banks will have to plumb a dark and shocking local past to find his way to a killer...before yesterday's sins cause more blood to be shed.

Investigate another case with Inspector Banks.©1992 Peter Robinson (P)2010 Tantor Mystery Police Procedurals Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives

Critic reviews

“Robinson's profound sense of place and reflective study of human nature give fine depth to his mystery.” ( The New York Times Book Review)
Engaging Plot • Interesting Characters • Unexpected Surprises • Good Pacing • Enjoyable Investigation • Diverse Accents
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The main characters have potential and the mysteries hold my interest. I must say having one of the characters in this one be a crime fiction writer didn’t sit well. It pulled me out of the story to think about the author writing the story several times. I’m sure he got a kick out of it but it spoiled my suspension of disbelief.

I am enjoying this series more than I thought I would

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If you could sum up A Dedicated Man in three words, what would they be?

The past matters.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the build up, the way the author layered the story, slowly exposing you the characters surrounding the murder was very nice. I like this author work, because it takes the time to paint a local picture.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene at the bar, when Banks and his wife went to hear Penny sing. I could really relate to Banks annoyance with Barkette (might be the wrong name).

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Shadows from the past

Any additional comments?

I really liked the first narrator, Mark Honan, and I did not hate the new author, but I felt like he struggled with the gruff voices he tried to portray. He sounded hoarse and strained, which tended to distract me from the story.

As good as the first

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This reader is better, and has helped the story come alive. I liked the characters and didn’t guess the criminals until shortly after Banks did. Now on to book three!

Starting to grow on me

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Most of the characters are created in the form of the the Yorkshire Dale love it

Description of the Dales

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This isn’t terrible, it’s just mediocre. Disappointing for DCI Banks novel. Story drags throughout. Sudden resolution to everything in last chapter. Character development lacking. Narration is good.

Very mediocre

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The story was good but not robust enough for my taste. I do like the Banks character though and will probably listen to more books with his character.

The narrator

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This installment was mostly talk and very little action. I guessed the killers) early on. Reviewers say the series gets better, so I’ll go ahead and read the next one.

Mostly talk and very little action

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Very well written and plotted. The frequent referral to pop music adds little to the narrative.

No

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Some won't like this series because, well, it's written in the late 1980s so there are no female "coppers" and the characters are all very white and very British. And all of the women characters seem to be described in terms of their shagability (but this turns out to actually be a plot point here).

I got past these issues, perhaps because of my affinity for the TV series. And I’m hooked and I read the book fast, which is always a sign of a good one to me and despite its unmemorable title. I get impatient with writing that's manipulative, and this is anything but that. You are taken along on the investigation and it's a good ride. A body is found on the moors; the man seems beloved by everyone — and a teenage girl decides the police are lame and she's going to solve it herself.

Bechdel test: Pass

Grade: B+

The narrator on book #1 ("Gallow's View") was really good so I was worried when I saw a switch for book #2, but James Langton is excellent. He does women well and navigates the various accents easily (I personally couldn't tell a Yorkshire accent from a Welsh one, so he may do a horrible job for someone from the UK, but the accents are distinguished enough that as an American, I hear the characters from different areas of the country as distinct.)

Excellent narrator

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I like the Inspector Banks stories and the characters in the novels. He's simply relentless in getting to the solution. Thus I really liked the book. James Langton, the narrator, does a terrific job of capturing the variety of characters to the point that I can practically see them in my mind. What bothered me was the way he handled the narration segments. His voice drones and I felt as if I was listening to a meditation audio. My mind would go blank and I would have to back it up to get the full understanding of the narrative. Considering Mr. Langton's talent he could easily fix this issue.

Liked the book but the not the narrator

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