The RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) published the name of the most borrowed author of 2011: Peter Robinson. It turns out that Peter’s Innocent Graves topped the list of the most borrowed audiobooks, and a total of 7 of Peter’s books were in the top 100, with Inspector Banks taking 3 of the top 10 slots.

Peter is delighted that all readers – those who read on paper, and those with visual deficiencies – enjoy his books, and he was particularly happy to see how popular his books are with the RNIB.

Season’s Greetings to everyone. I don’t have a photo of myself dressed as Santa Claus, so this one in a penguin suit will have to do. I’m with the Danish actor Bjarne Henriksen from the hit UK TV series The Killing at the Crime and Thriller Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, 7th October 2011. Notice it’s late in the evening and the dicky bow is gone.

ITV has ordered three more DCI Banks TV dramas from Left Bank, the producer of the four that have already been broadcast. These will be broadcast in 2012, but we have no firm air dates yet. The books to be adapted in this next series will be Wednesday’s Child, Dry Bones that Dream (released in the US and Canada as Final Account), and Strange Affair.

We still have no news regarding foreign sales, either for broadcast or on DVD. But as soon as we hear something, you’ll read about it here.

The first series of DCI Banks comes out on DVD on October 31 (Region 2 only), only a couple of weeks after it finished its very successful run on ITV. The six episodes are also available as downloads through iTunes UK. Though it is very difficult to tell from the cover and the information displayed on Amazon.co.uk, the DVD set does contain the pilot Aftermath in addition to Playing with Fire, Friend of the Devil and Cold is the Grave.

Stephen Tompkinson plays DCI Banks, Andrea Lowe is DS Annie Cabbot, Lorraine Burroughs is DS Winsome Jackman, Jack Deam is DC Ken Blackstone, Colin Tierney is Chief Supt. Gerry Rydell and Tom Shaw is DC Kevin Templeton. Guest stars include Charlotte Riley, Monica Dolan, John Bowe, Ian Bartholomew, Sian Breckin, Tamzin Merchant, Barry Sloane and Michael Maloney.

The series was shot in Yorkshire, with Otley standing in very nicely for Eastvale, and Banks’s cottage near West End is a sight to behold. Robert Murphy adapted three of the four stories, and Laurence Davey adapted Friend of the Devil. More details are available online at imdb.com.

At the moment, I am still waiting to hear about overseas sales and the commissioning of a second series. Keep checking this website for details, and I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.

Here are two Dutch covers for Aftermath and Dry Bones that Dream. Peter says, ” I think they look very strong, and have a bit of a Scandinavian crime look about them.”

Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel, is delighted to announce that leading author Peter Robinson will be hosting the next Literati – The Grosvenor House Book Club – on Thursday 6th October, 2011. Presenting his new novel, Before the Poison, Peter Robinson, the number one bestselling author of the DCI Banks novels will discuss the inspiration and influences behind his intriguing crime thriller.

The event will take place from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start, with tickets priced at £20 which includes a copy of the book, welcome drinks and canapés. To book a place please visit the Literati Book Club website, email mailto:literati@marriotthotels.com or call +44 (0) 207 499 6363.

Have you watched the two-part adaptation of Playing with Fire on ITV? Well, get ready for another Inspector Banks novel: Friend of the Devil. Again in two parts, it begins tonight on ITV 1, at 9 pm. Don’t miss another exciting DCI Banks series.

The second episode of DCI Banks: Playing with Fire airs tonight, in the UK, on ITV1. This exciting drama is based on the Inspector Banks novel of the same name. See this recent post for more on the DCI Banks series.

The next three DCI Banks TV adaptations are going to air starting Friday 16 September on ITV1. The series lasts for six weeks and comprises three Banks novels: Playing With Fire, Friend of the Devil and Cold is the Grave. Stephen Tompkinson stars as Alan Banks, and Andrea Lowe is Annie Cabbot.

Stephen Tompkinson as Alan Banks

Andrea Lowe as Annie Cabbot

In Playing with Fire, two bodies are found after a fire on some narrow boats and Banks and DS Annie Cabbot find themselves on the trail of an arsonist who has killed two people.

In Friend of the Devil, a young student is attacked in the middle of the city and in another part of Yorkshire a woman has her throat cut, but the two different murders have disturbing similarities.

Cold is the Grave is a case terrifyingly close to home as Banks is asked by his boss, Superintendant Gerry Rydell, to find his missing teenage daughter…

ITV’s web site has more about the series, with videos and interviews with cast members.

From Peter’s Canadian publisher, here’s a trailer for the latest book, Before the Poison.