In a Dry Season
Encyclopedia
In A Dry Season is the 12th novel by crime-writer Peter Robinson
, published in 1999 and is 10th in the multi award-winning Inspector Alan Banks
series. The novel is widely acclaimed as Robinson's best, a large step forward in ambition from previous books, and this was reflected in its critical and commercial response. The novel was shortlisted for the American Edgar Award
and won the Anthony Award.
, which was turned into a reservoir during the war and now, due to severe dry weather, has been revealed again. The novel is told in two strands, one in the present, and one in the 1940s from the time just before the reservoir was created.
The geography described by Robinson indicates that he based the location of Hobb's End on the village of West End, and the Thornfield Reservoir on the actual Thruscross Reservoir
. The small bridge over the Washburn becomes the 'Fairy Bridge' and the flax mill is mentioned explicitly.
Peter Robinson (novelist)
Dr. Peter Robinson is an English crime writer, based in Canada. He is best known for his crime novels set in Yorkshire featuring Inspector Alan Banks...
, published in 1999 and is 10th in the multi award-winning Inspector Alan Banks
Inspector Alan Banks
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is the fictional protagonist in a series of crime novels written by acclaimed writer Peter Robinson.-Background:...
series. The novel is widely acclaimed as Robinson's best, a large step forward in ambition from previous books, and this was reflected in its critical and commercial response. The novel was shortlisted for the American Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
and won the Anthony Award.
Plot summary
The novel concerns the unearthing of a skeleton from the sunken village of Hobb's EndHobbs End
Hobbs End, sometimes Hobbs Lane, is the name of a fictional location used in several works of speculative fiction. Its name is possibly intended to convey a sense of unease, evil, or "wrongness", since "Hob" is an old nickname for the devil....
, which was turned into a reservoir during the war and now, due to severe dry weather, has been revealed again. The novel is told in two strands, one in the present, and one in the 1940s from the time just before the reservoir was created.
The geography described by Robinson indicates that he based the location of Hobb's End on the village of West End, and the Thornfield Reservoir on the actual Thruscross Reservoir
Thruscross Reservoir
Thruscross Reservoir is the northernmost of four reservoirs in the Washburn valley, lying north of Otley and west of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. It can be found from the A59 road...
. The small bridge over the Washburn becomes the 'Fairy Bridge' and the flax mill is mentioned explicitly.