Very good. But and it is a big but you must read 'Caedmon's Song' and the Inspector Banks novel 'Aftermath' or else some parts of FOTD will not make sense. ( )

Intriguing plot ruined by poor storytelling. We don’t need to know every item in every course of every meal. We don’t need to know every track of every album that plays, and whether it’s on CD or mp3. It makes no sense for a strong, independent, free-spirited female DI to inexplicably metamorphose into a tantrum-throwing alcoholic. This novel feels like Robinson took several terrific plot points and interesting characters, tossed them into a blender, and published the result without regard for clarity.

My two cents, make of them what you will. ( )

I liked the British-ness of this book, introducing terms and slang which were amusing to me. I also enjoyed struggling with the detectives, as they conducted their interviews of suspects, trying to determine who the guilty party might be and how seemingly unrelated murders might tie together. ( )

Chief Inspector Alan Banks and Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot must work together to solve two chilling crimes. On loan to a sister precinct, Cabbot draws the first case. Karen Drew seems to have lived a quiet and nearly invisible life for the past seven years. Try as she might, Annie turns up nothing in the woman's past that might have prompted someone to wheel her out to the sea and to her death. Meanwhile, in the Hayley Daniels murder, Banks has suspects galore. Then a breakthrough spins Annie's case in a shocking and surprising new direction, straight toward Banks. ( )

This is the fourth Inspector Banks book I have read. the others were ate or near the beginning, this one is a later volume. The story, as usual, was good. I particularly enjoy the non-crime backstory, e.g., the lives of Banks and DI Annie Cabbot. One challenge I had was keeping the cast of characters straight. having a rich array of people gives a special flavor to the book but in hindsight I almost wish I had created a cast list as the book proceeded. The story seemed to push the limits of believability in the final pages. Still a good read. ( )