Friday, July 17, 2020

FFB-BEFORE THE POISON, Peter Robinson


This reminded me a bit of DAUGHTER OF TIME. A man who composes music for movies leaves California for the UK after the death of his wife. He learns the house he has rented once belonged to a notorious murderess, who poisoned her husband back in the fifties and was executed for her crime. As Chris reads more and more about the crime in newspapers and books, he is doubtful that Grace Fox, a nurse would have committed this crime, especially as the mother of a seven-year old and a dedicated nurse. His investigation leads him to track down people still alive fifty years on.  Midway through, the journals of Grace Fox are introduced, mostly of her time serving as a nurse during the war. This gives the reader their own impressions of her as well as providing an interesting account of the war from a nurse's perspective.
This was certainly a well-written book. I was so convinced Grace Fox must have existed I went to look for her myself. Robinson, as always, writes memorable characters, locations and plot. I missed Inspector Banks a bit but this was certainly a good read.


9 comments:

Steve Oerkfitz said...

I liked this one a lot. I have read all of Robinson's books and it was a nice change of pace from his Inspector Banks ones. I think he has only written two or three without him.

Jeff Meyerson said...

Thanks for reminding me of this. I've read all the Banks books but I missed this one. I do have (bought the paperback in England years ago, but it is still unread) his first non-Banks book, CAEDMON'S SONG (1990 - the American adaptation was THE FIRST CUT, 1993), sitting on the shelf. There is also NO CURE FOR LOVE (1995), according to the Wikipedia list.

Michael Padgett said...

When I retired in 2003 and assumed I'd have lots more reading time, Robinson was the new (to me, anyway) writer I tried first. "Before the Fire" and a Banks novel called "Aftermath" are my favorites.The last few Banks novels haven't really been up to his standard, but I'll keep reading them.

I'm currently reading a 1945 novel I've heard and read about for years--"The Red Right Hand" by Joel Townsley Rogers, which has just been reprinted in Otto Penzler's American Mystery Classics series. It's a VERY strange novel about which it might be best not to say anything else. Nice introduction by Joe Lansdale.

Jeff Meyerson said...

I agree with Michael on the last few Banks books. Disappointing. I read THE RED RIGHT HAND in the mid-70s and it was weird even then.

I bought a copy of BEFORE THE POISON for $3.65 (including postage). Let's hope it doesn't end up sitting on the shelf with the other one.

Margot Kinberg said...

I like the Alan Banks serie, too, Patti. It really is a solid one, with lots of good characters.

George said...

I have a bunch of Peter Robinson books, but I haven't gotten around to reading any yet.

Rick Robinson said...

My experience with Robinson has been so-so. I liked the first one I read, not so much the second one, don't even remember the titles, but I know I wasn't reading them in any order. I still have a couple unread on the shelf.

TracyK said...

This one sounds good. I have only read the Inspector Banks mysteries by Peter Robinson, and only a few of those.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Yes, this is quite different. The voice especially.