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jameskeates's review against another edition
5.0
Ian Rankin, as always, creates a thoroughly believable world for his long-running detective Rebus. I had a feeling at times that I had read this before, but it was obviously long enough ago that I could enjoy it again.
This story concerns a serial killer ("Johnny Bible") inspired by a seventies serial killer who was never caught ("Bible John"). Rebus is under investigation for corruption back at the time of the original. Breaking all the rules and ignoring his superiors as usual, he gets far without really solving this one, but it doesn't feel like a let down as Rankin makes it feel real.
This story concerns a serial killer ("Johnny Bible") inspired by a seventies serial killer who was never caught ("Bible John"). Rebus is under investigation for corruption back at the time of the original. Breaking all the rules and ignoring his superiors as usual, he gets far without really solving this one, but it doesn't feel like a let down as Rankin makes it feel real.
readymadereader's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
radella_hardwick's review against another edition
Not in the mood for Rebus and his mate breaking the law to suit themselves from the go. I picked it up wanting a police procedural but that means, y'know, they need to be following procedure to interest me.
bookpup's review against another edition
2.0
I'm so salty. There were multiple story lines going on: Bible John, Johnny Bible, a murder, and the protagonist himself being a "suspect". Only one of them was solved in a pleasing/satisfactory manner. I especially wanted to catch both Johnny Bible and Bible John. It's so disappointing that we didn't catch them yet. It's so frustrating.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
This book takes Rebus all the way to Aberdeen to investigate the death of an off duty oil worker though that case soon takes a back seat to a couple of serial killer plots. Rebus is at his most obsessive and his dogged pursuit of justice was a bit wearing but overall a good solid read.
gunjan2024's review against another edition
3.0
I was in a reading slump. I couldn't read any book last week. It may be because of fever I had and after fever was gone. My nephew came. I didn't take this much time in finishing a novel this big.
Anyway, this is my second novel by Ian Rankin. I was referred to read it by an bookstagrammer. According to him, it is one of the bests by Ian Rankin. To be honest, I liked it but I couldn't relate it with one of the bests factor. It was average. Also, the absence of Abernethy made it even more mundane. Still, Rebus was at his best as always.
Story was circumlocution.
Things I loved:
Rebus, no doubt!
Jack: "You're one stupid bastard."
Rebus: "Years of dedicated practice, Jack!"
I love his way of not taking any offense. He is hardest to offend. And, I have a strange kind of liking for people who are hard to offend. Like, it doesn't matter to them, what ass shits what. I, myself, don't get easily offended. And, I can relate how stupid the person seems us to be who tries to offend people like us.
Things I didn't like:
Although the plot seems to be enticing at first, after few chapters it started to be boring. Also, the ending wasn't that jaw dropping.
Anyway, this is my second novel by Ian Rankin. I was referred to read it by an bookstagrammer. According to him, it is one of the bests by Ian Rankin. To be honest, I liked it but I couldn't relate it with one of the bests factor. It was average. Also, the absence of Abernethy made it even more mundane. Still, Rebus was at his best as always.
Story was circumlocution.
Things I loved:
Rebus, no doubt!
Jack: "You're one stupid bastard."
Rebus: "Years of dedicated practice, Jack!"
I love his way of not taking any offense. He is hardest to offend. And, I have a strange kind of liking for people who are hard to offend. Like, it doesn't matter to them, what ass shits what. I, myself, don't get easily offended. And, I can relate how stupid the person seems us to be who tries to offend people like us.
Things I didn't like:
Although the plot seems to be enticing at first, after few chapters it started to be boring. Also, the ending wasn't that jaw dropping.
dansquire's review against another edition
4.0
Not much of a crime fiction reader usually, but enjoyed this. The plot is dense and complex, so it's rewarding when it all comes together.
samharnold's review against another edition
5.0
Am a massive fan of Ian Rankin’s - Rebus series so I wasn’t disappointed with this read at all.
This book feels a step up from the rest it deals with a true crime story as well as the normal mysteries and multiple threads. I loved the fact that whilst chilling with a good read I learnt something about an actual cold case that of Bible John.
Can’t wait to read the next in the series.
This book feels a step up from the rest it deals with a true crime story as well as the normal mysteries and multiple threads. I loved the fact that whilst chilling with a good read I learnt something about an actual cold case that of Bible John.
Can’t wait to read the next in the series.
hoserlauren's review against another edition
4.0
Inspector John Rebus is managing a few cases, harassment from television stations about a possible wrong conviction, and a personal interest in two serial killers. The cases start with a man that is impaled on a fence, tied to a chair, with a bag over his head. Did he jump or was he pushed? What circumstances caused the man to end here? The evidence takes him up north, looking at a crime boss Uncle Joe. He is known to run drug rings but no one can touch him.
While investigating this crime, Rebus' old partner commits suicide. This is after media has been hounding him on a case he closed many years ago where some suspected that his partner planted evidence. The media hounds Rebus too and an internal investigation is opened with someone who is not too fond of Rebus heading it up. Rebus is assigned DI Jack Morton, an old friend, to watch Rebus' every move and follow him everywhere.
This makes it harder to Rebus to continue his unofficial investigation in to the serial killer Bible John, and his more recent copy cat killer, Johnny Bible. There was lots going on in this book but everything managed to work and fit together quite nicely.
Morton and Rebus being paired up was the best part of this book. The two have a mutual respect for each other but Rebus is angry enough at having Morton watching his every move to get a few good one liners off at Morton. Morton also, somehow, manages to get Rebus off alcohol. Let's hope it lasts. He may just be able to make something with Gill work out if things stay this way.
While investigating this crime, Rebus' old partner commits suicide. This is after media has been hounding him on a case he closed many years ago where some suspected that his partner planted evidence. The media hounds Rebus too and an internal investigation is opened with someone who is not too fond of Rebus heading it up. Rebus is assigned DI Jack Morton, an old friend, to watch Rebus' every move and follow him everywhere.
This makes it harder to Rebus to continue his unofficial investigation in to the serial killer Bible John, and his more recent copy cat killer, Johnny Bible. There was lots going on in this book but everything managed to work and fit together quite nicely.
Morton and Rebus being paired up was the best part of this book. The two have a mutual respect for each other but Rebus is angry enough at having Morton watching his every move to get a few good one liners off at Morton. Morton also, somehow, manages to get Rebus off alcohol. Let's hope it lasts. He may just be able to make something with Gill work out if things stay this way.