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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I am a big fan of the Inspector Rebus series, but this one was that first one I've read that wasn't that great. I felt a bit lost during the progression of the narrative. Also, it all comes together in the end too fast and steep for it to be fun or that much believable. Still, "it was ok".
Three and a half, maybe. Marginally better than the last instalment. Hopeful for #6 [b:Mortal Causes|511993|Mortal Causes (Inspector Rebus, #6)|Ian Rankin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388534087s/511993.jpg|678871].
I came a bit later to the John Rebus series than most people and I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy them - and this one is no different. I read recently that there is a new one out. One of the great thing about this series is that the books can be read independently of one another, otherwise I'd have to wait for ages to get through them all (perhaps the downside of a prolific author - just kidding).
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
SPOILER ALERT JUST IN CASE
A short, simply review for a simple read.
A short, simply review for a simple read.
Whilst others have described this novel as ‘enthralling’, ‘intriguing’ and ‘action packed’ I find myself shaking my head, wondering whether I am missing something as I collect my thoughts in some sort of order for this review.The cliches are out in force in The Black Book; the grumpy detective, the estranged partner, the younger up-start junior colleague and the seemingly untouchable baddie. Rebus as a character is fairly likeable, albeit a tad generic. His relationship with his brother is interweaved through the books and his on-off-on relationship with a doctor is vaguely interesting. I really want to get to the meat of Rebus’ character and this novel doesn’t bring that to the fore. I don’t get an understanding of what makes Rebus ‘tick’, why he does what he does and what drives him.
The plot is reasonably executed though with so many similar characters it can be all too easy to get lost in the who’s who of characters. Whilst we are meant to dislike the scheming Cafferty we don’t get enough about him as a character to really find him repulsive. I have the belief that in order to get the reader engaged in the story an author must make the protagonist likeable and the antagonist must embody things that are genuinely unpleasant. I liken a novel to a TV or movie character; why do I care whether you solve the case? Unfortunately Rankin doesn’t give me the answer.
Lazy writing. Having read Rankin before I was disappointed that he took the easy way out by tying together all the loose ends simply by doing a diary entry at the end. Of all the ways in which an author can explain away some of the minor details I find this way the laziest. There is no attempt to ‘show not tell’ the audience as Rebus sits reading the diary entry of a central character who confesses everything that he did and what he saw. Reading this it felt as though Rankin thought ‘Agh, I give up… I will just tell them what happened’. I was not expecting a classic or piece of literary genius but I expected a little more professionalism from Rankin who – on a good day – can be brilliant.
Final Thought: Rankin demonstrates the problems when an author tries too hard to tie up loose ends and subsequently takes the lazy way out. The book is good if you want a quick read of something crime but the way in which Rankin handles the execution is not what one would expect of a professional author. 2.5/5
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
From BBC Radio 4 - Classic Serial:
Ian Rankin's maverick detective, Inspector Rebus, investigates an unsolved murder, with the help of a notebook full of coded clues.
Ian Rankin's maverick detective, Inspector Rebus, investigates an unsolved murder, with the help of a notebook full of coded clues.
A better-than-average Inspector Rebus novel. This story centers around a hotel fire five years before the start of the novel - there's the usual assortment of gangsters and slummers, but the most appealing part of this series is the bone dry sense of humor of Rebus.