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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
First of all, forget the notion that this book is about some kind of clash of Rankin's two major characters. This is a Rebus book, and Fox is somewhat disappointingly only briefly present as some kind of caricature, which makes me wonder if he's being discarded for the foreseeable future.
It seems strange to bring back Rebus, and not centre the book around Edinburgh, but this time the focus of the novel seems to be about Rebus's aimlessness without the job, how Edinburgh isn't his core, but detective work is. Coupled with that, the theme of old vs new comes out strong, both in terms of criminals and police. There's a new, younger rival to Cafferty being introduced, and a battle for Siobhan Clarke's soul, between Rebus's off-beat dogged persistence, and the modern force's media-savvy image-centric management techniques. I couldn't possibly force you to guess the result of that battle, could I?
Anyway, for the most part this is absolute top-notch Rankin, but you'll have noticed I've not mentioned the plot so far. That's because it doesn't seem that important to the novel, and in a way, I don't think Rankin thought it that important either, given the resolution. It's not as head-scratchingly lame as his last novel's "this goes right to the top of fictional Scottish politics!" nonsense, but it seems a little silly, and more importantly the climactic scene seems to go against Rebus's own sense of moral integrity. I don't know if it was rushed to get out for the Christmas market, but the culprit might as well have been absolutely anyone, given the lack of pointers.
Well worth a read though, and by no means a poor entry into the Rebus canon. Just a bit more thought from Ian Rankin, and it could have been up there with Hanging Garden, or The Falls. Next time, Rankin, next time.
It seems strange to bring back Rebus, and not centre the book around Edinburgh, but this time the focus of the novel seems to be about Rebus's aimlessness without the job, how Edinburgh isn't his core, but detective work is. Coupled with that, the theme of old vs new comes out strong, both in terms of criminals and police. There's a new, younger rival to Cafferty being introduced, and a battle for Siobhan Clarke's soul, between Rebus's off-beat dogged persistence, and the modern force's media-savvy image-centric management techniques. I couldn't possibly force you to guess the result of that battle, could I?
Anyway, for the most part this is absolute top-notch Rankin, but you'll have noticed I've not mentioned the plot so far. That's because it doesn't seem that important to the novel, and in a way, I don't think Rankin thought it that important either, given the resolution. It's not as head-scratchingly lame as his last novel's "this goes right to the top of fictional Scottish politics!" nonsense, but it seems a little silly, and more importantly the climactic scene seems to go against Rebus's own sense of moral integrity. I don't know if it was rushed to get out for the Christmas market, but the culprit might as well have been absolutely anyone, given the lack of pointers.
Well worth a read though, and by no means a poor entry into the Rebus canon. Just a bit more thought from Ian Rankin, and it could have been up there with Hanging Garden, or The Falls. Next time, Rankin, next time.
While not in the top rank of Rebus novels (think The Hanging Garden or The Falls), this is a stronger work than some of Rankin's latest. John Rebus, one of the greatest characters in crime literature, returns. His post-retirement gig in a cold case office overlaps with a current missing-person investigation, as it appears that a series of young women have disappeared on the same stretch of highway. As always, Rankin captures the tedious slog of crime investigation and makes it compelling without glamourizing it. Rebus continues to be the same curmudgeonly alcoholic we know and love. I found it interesting to see the way Rankin controls point of view - for example distancing us from Siobhan Clarke by referring her as "Clarke." I enjoyed the way the dynamics of the Rebus/Clarke relationship have shifted now that Clarke is an inspector and Rebus technically retired, though I missed the old spark between the two of them. Malcolm Fox, from Rankin's new series about "the Complaints," appears, investigating Rebus, and we get a quite different viewpoint on his character than in the novels that focus on him. Though I found that the plot lost steam towards the end, this was a welcome and enjoyable return.
The story went along fine until the ending. Wrapped it up in a quick and unsatisfying way.
What can I say? I'm just addicted. The eighteenth in the series.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
My review of Standing in Another Man's Grave first appeared as a starred review for Shelf Awareness. It can now be viewed in extended version at Jen's Book Thoughts.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was difficult to get used to Rebus as retired! I feel like I know him like he is a long lost friend! I still loved the book though!