The first responders to the scene determine that the person was dead so they wisely leave the scene undisturbed until reinforcements arrive -- Annie and her partner Detective Winsome Jackman, together with the SOCOs (Scenes of the Crime Officers), police surgeon Dr. Burns, and the crime scene photographer. Annie expects some difficulty in identification of the body since the man had no wallet or other ID on him, but one of the SOCOs recognizes the man as Mark Hardcastle. Hardcastle had worked at the newly renovated Eastvale Theater doing mostly backstage work.

More discussion reveals that Hardcastle has no immediate relatives in the area other than his partner, Laurence Silbert. Annie and Winsome undertake the task of informing Mr. Silbert of his partner’s demise but when they arrive at his home, there is no answer to their repeated knocking. They determine that Silbert’s car is in the garage, and get the feeling that something is amiss. Although breaking into a home is illegal without a warrant, the knowledge of his partner’s death makes Annie feel justified in doing so.

The third door they open reveals the body of a brutally beaten Laurence Silbert. The medial examiner pronounces death by repeated blows to the head with a blunt object, but the body had been brutalized after his death as well. The two deaths taken together suggest a lover’s quarrel resulting in a murder-suicide. Silbert was a wealthy man and had not long ago retired from a civil service position. Having dragged Banks away from his holiday, his boss, Detective Superintendent Gervaise thinks additional investigation into the backgrounds of the two men as well as their relationship is in order.

Silbert’s closest living relative is his mother who provides a host of useful information about her son. Although Edwina Silbert had had a successful career that more than set her son up for life, he has enjoyed a career as spy. Shortly after this meeting, Banks is visited by a Mr. Browne who warns him off further investigation into Laurence’s activities and Banks gets the uncomfortable feeling that he is being watched. “Perhaps there is more to the deaths than originally thought,” muses Banks especially when Superintendent Gervaise tells him in no uncertain terms that the case is closed. It is a murder-suicide plain and simple…. But neither Banks, nor Annie can accept this ultimatum.

Although the premise of the plot and its parallel to Shakespeare’s Othello are intriguing, there is too much emphasis on telling rather than allowing the reader to discover the relationship between “reality” and Shakespeare’s play. The question of why still remains though the personalities of the characters are not well enough established to move beyond mere speculation.

Robinson is one of my favorite writers and I always look forward to catching up with Banks, Annie and the rest of the Eastvale Police. All the Colors of Darkness takes place both in Eastvale and London so we don’t get as much taste of the Yorkshire countryside as some of the other volumes in the series. In addition there are some extraneous events such as a car bomb on Oxford Street which detract rather than add to the impact of the story. Banks rather cleverly ferrets out clues which help him to trace the movements of key suspects in the case. The misinterpretation of clues is equally entertaining.

Coincidence rears its ugly head several times during the development of the case. In one instance Annie interviews a teenager who just happens to be in a pub at the same time as two key players which allows her to gain critical information she needs to further the case. In another instance Banks interviews a private investigator who is willing to give him information he needs because she is enamored with his son’s band.

Robinson tells a good tale but All the Colors of Darkness is not one of the stronger entries in the series. I miss the vivid descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside. Banks is such a great character, strong, independent minded and smart. There is little interaction between Banks and Annie or Banks and Gervaise in this one which usually makes for some spirited dialogue. The ending left me deflated and disappointed in Banks.

--Andy Plonka