Peter Robinson. A Necessary End (1989)

     Peter Robinson. A Necessary End (1989) During a demonstration against nuclear power, a policeman is murdered. Because of possible political motives, Burgess, a superintendent, is dispatched from the Met to take over the case. This puts Banks at a disadvantage, especially when he suggests that the murder may have been targeted. Burgess, a nicely drawn bigot and bully, refuses to take up this line of inquiry. Banks has a lucky break: one of the dead coppers work mates passes on information about his sadistic behaviour towards demonstrators of all kinds. Banks’s hunch proves accurate, but much unnecessary harm is done before the perpetrator suicides, and Banks discovers that it was indeed a targeted killing, and the pain will continue even after the case is officially closed.
    This is the second Inspector Banks novel. I’ll be looking for more, although I doubt I’ll be able to read them in order of writing. We care about his characters one way or another, and if we ever needed a lesson on the differences between law and justice, his books will provide them. Recommended. **½