‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong.’ – Stephen King.

A Necessary End is the third novel in Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, following on from A Dedicated Man.

Peace destroyed. Lives in ruin. Banks must race to find the killer . . .

Everyday life in Eastvale is shattered when a policeman is stabbed to death after an anti-nuclear demonstration turns violent. Superintendent ‘Dirty Dick’ Burgess, Banks’s nemesis, descends with vengeful fury on those he deems responsible.

Inspector Banks is uneasy about Burgess's mishandling of the case, but despite being warned off he puts his career in jeopardy to continue his search for the truth, knowing if he is to keep his job, he must beat Burgess to the killer . . .

A Necessary End is followed in the Inspector Banks series by The Hanging Valley.