His first novel, Gallows View (1987), introduced Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks and was short-listed for a best first novel award in Canada and for the John Creasey Award in the U.K.

The "Inspector Banks" series has proven highly popular and currently extends to thirteen novels. Richmond and the Yorkshire Dales is the setting used for most of the novels. To quote the author:

"The town I call "Eastvale" in the Inspector Banks series, is based on Richmond, though I made it larger and gave it more crime! I actually invented a Dale into which I could add all my favourite places from Wharfedale, Wensleydale and Swaledale; places such as Reeth, Hawes and Gayle. I also mention real place names, as if these places existed side by side with the fictional ones."

Peter Robinson won the Crime Writers' Association "Dagger in the Library" award for 2002. The CWA site says, "This award, sponsored by the Random House Group, goes to the author whose work has given most pleasure to readers. It is judged by librarians. The winner, who takes the dagger and £1500, is Peter Robinson, published by Macmillan. The judges commented: 'The Inspector Banks novels are becoming grittier, darker and ever more popular. The hero is a maverick in the traditional style.'"

Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review wrote "P.D. James, Reginald Hill and Ruth Rendell may be writing as fast as they can. But what are devotees of the English country mystery supposed to be reading betweentimes? A superior new series by Peter Robinson should do nicely."

The latest Inspector Banks mystery, "The Summer That Never Was" has recently been released; ISBN 0-333-90743-4. The hardback version costs £12.99 and can be ordered from Macmillan.

Further information on Peter Robinson and Inspector Banks can be found at www.inspectorbanks.com