Trading Main Street for Murder: A Break from Preservation

Perhaps you know by now that I am never without a book to read. But after immersing myself in the weighty pages of Henry Kissinger, George H.W. Bush, James A. Baker, Colin Powell, and Brent Scowcroft—the latest chapter in my reading life—I need a change of pace. A different kind of intrigue, one that doesn’t involve world affairs and high-stakes diplomacy. (I grew old reading three books on the Vietnam War.) Truth be told, I’m a bit bored with my Main Street Blog writing, perhaps bored with me. I need a change of scenery. I need a good English mystery locale.

I’m not interested this time in a ‘cozy’ mystery where the murder is politely tucked into a couple of paragraphs, and every villager is a charming suspect. No, I want something with depth, atmosphere, and an investigator who carries the weight of past cases and personal history. Enter Past Reason Hated, a Detective Superintendent Alan Banks mystery by Peter Robinson. Robinson is one of my favorite mystery writers. He never fails to deliver.

I’m going to spend some time in the fictional town of Eastvale, in the Yorkshire Dales, Robinson’s series is steeped in the rugged beauty of northern England, where small-town life and dark secrets collide. Eastvale, as Robinson has explained, is loosely based on real places like Ripon and Richmond—though he had to expand its size. “Otherwise, who would believe there could be that many murders? I’ve probably killed the population of the Yorkshire Dales three times over as it is.”

A good detective series thrives on a mix of realism and self-awareness. So, for now, I’ll step away from the corridors of American leadership—and my usual beat on Main Street Rocky Mount—to follow Alan Banks through the winding roads of Yorkshire, where the past refuses to stay buried and justice is never simple. Main Street will have to muddle on without my cheerleading for a few days while I immerse myself in Eastvale, England.

“She turned left onto York Place, the road that ran by the Stray, a broad expanse of parkland in the town centre renowned for its vibrant flower displays in Spring. Now its looked cool and serene under its layer of snow.”

A link to listen to this Banks mystery: https://youtu.be/j1wWUn_8V-U?si=xp0jL5QRpFYZnPr8

For the next few days I slip away from Main Street, letting this mystery pull me into its depths—removed from the familiar brick facades and well-worn sidewalks. Returning to Main Street, I hope it will be with fresh eyes, and a deeper appreciation for the stories still waiting to be told.