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| Peter Robinson | |
Crime writer Peter Robinson, "whose work included poetry and short stories as well as his bestselling thrillers," died October 4, the Guardian reported. He was 72. Robinson was best known for his novels featuring Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, the first of which was published 35 years ago. Born in Leeds, where much of his fiction was set, Robinson emigrated to Canada to continue his studies after completing an English degree at the University of Leeds, and lived in Canada for the rest of his life.
A total of 8.75 million copies of his books have been sold by his U.K. publishers Hodder & Stoughton and Pan Macmillan, and his books have been translated into 19 languages. Robinson's novels were adapted into the popular TV drama series DCI Banks, starring Stephen Tompkinson.
His debut novel, Gallows View, which was published by Viking in 1987 and introduced DCI Banks, was shortlisted for the John Creasey Award in the U.K. and the Crime Writers of Canada best first novel award. A Dedicated Man followed in 1988 and was shortlisted for the CWC's Arthur Ellis Award. The Bookseller noted that Robinson "wrote a number of other award-winning novels, both in and outside the Inspector Banks series, as well as a number of short stories." His final Inspector Banks novel, Standing in the Shadows, is scheduled for publication next March.
Robinson's editor, Hodder managing director Carolyn Mays, described him as a combination of all the best bits of DCI Banks, "thoughtful and passionate about justice" and with "fine taste and a totally down-to-earth view of the world.... Peter Robinson was an immensely talented writer over a very wide range, from poetry to short stories, noir thrillers to more literary works. He was in fact Dr. Robinson, with a Ph.D. in literature, and we saw glimpses of that, and sometimes his poetry, in his novels--as well of course as his very eclectic love of music, shared by Banks.
"His novels are superbly plotted (one reviewer said he had the precision of a Swiss watchmaker) and the settings are vivid and fully real, but it's the richness and depth of his characters that keep the readers--including me--coming back for more."
Jared Bland, outgoing publisher of McClelland & Stewart in Canada, told CBC News: "Peter Robinson was an incredibly gifted writer and a lovely man, and we're all deeply saddened by his loss."
Several authors shared tributes on social media, including Val McDermid ("We were both first published in 1987, and our paths often crossed (usually accompanied by beer) in Canada and his beloved Yorkshire."); Sara Paretsky ("Peter Robinson's death is a shock, and a loss to his friends and readers all over the world."); Peter James ("A truly lovely, generous spirited guy and an immensely gifted writer.") and Ian Rankin ("Hellish news about my dear friend Peter Robinson.").