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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Everyone should be a fan of at least one prolific author. It's like having a nice long-standing friendship with someone who lives on the other side of the country. Maybe you don't see them for a year or two (or more frequently if your favorite prolific author is Nora Roberts or Joyce Carol Oates), but when you do see them you know you're going to have a nice time and you probably have a good idea what you'll talk about. I have a few of those authors. Ian Rankin, and his Inspector Rebus, is one of them.
You really should try these books if you haven't already. You can start on the later side if you want (I think the first one I read was Standing in Another Man's Grave, #18) and you'll probably figure out who these people are. Rather than running out of steam, Rankin gets better as he goes. I can't always remember the plots after I finish these books, and there are a whole host of interchangeable (as far as I can tell) male characters in each book with Scottish names and I never can recall if they've turned up before.
The lead characters, though, are solid. There's Rebus himself, an old-school and not-so-clean cop who frequently serves justice through whatever means are at his disposal, who drinks too much (natch), loves classic rock and holds his cards close to the vest at all times. There's Big Ger Cafferty, Rebus's long-time adversary and occasional ally, with both men facing their own mortality at this stage. There's Siobhan Clarke, Rebus's former protege, who might very well be turning into a younger, female version of Rebus. A more recent addition is Malcolm Fox, who starred in his own two books before moving over to the Rebus series, a former Complaints detective with a lot to prove, generally the most level-headed of the three but with his own impulsive moments (and when he gets impulsive, man, Fox is a "go big or go home" kind of guy).
With characters like these, who needs plot? But there's plenty of it ("plot we've got/quite a lot" to quote Danny Kaye), and it involves murder, corruption, politics, a cover-up or two or three, an undercover cop possibly gone rogue, a couple of gangsters who might or might not be about to start a war, and Rebus and co. right in the middle of it. It's entertaining and fast-moving, but it's also a good book. It won't leave you feeling like you've just imbibed the literary equivalent of potato chips, but may leave you wanting a drink of scotch or a nice Indian curry.
You really should try these books if you haven't already. You can start on the later side if you want (I think the first one I read was Standing in Another Man's Grave, #18) and you'll probably figure out who these people are. Rather than running out of steam, Rankin gets better as he goes. I can't always remember the plots after I finish these books, and there are a whole host of interchangeable (as far as I can tell) male characters in each book with Scottish names and I never can recall if they've turned up before.
The lead characters, though, are solid. There's Rebus himself, an old-school and not-so-clean cop who frequently serves justice through whatever means are at his disposal, who drinks too much (natch), loves classic rock and holds his cards close to the vest at all times. There's Big Ger Cafferty, Rebus's long-time adversary and occasional ally, with both men facing their own mortality at this stage. There's Siobhan Clarke, Rebus's former protege, who might very well be turning into a younger, female version of Rebus. A more recent addition is Malcolm Fox, who starred in his own two books before moving over to the Rebus series, a former Complaints detective with a lot to prove, generally the most level-headed of the three but with his own impulsive moments (and when he gets impulsive, man, Fox is a "go big or go home" kind of guy).
With characters like these, who needs plot? But there's plenty of it ("plot we've got/quite a lot" to quote Danny Kaye), and it involves murder, corruption, politics, a cover-up or two or three, an undercover cop possibly gone rogue, a couple of gangsters who might or might not be about to start a war, and Rebus and co. right in the middle of it. It's entertaining and fast-moving, but it's also a good book. It won't leave you feeling like you've just imbibed the literary equivalent of potato chips, but may leave you wanting a drink of scotch or a nice Indian curry.
Thank you, thank you, Ian Rankin for finding work for Rebus. :)
As is usual with an Ian Rankin book, it was like taking a step sideways and landing in the life of Rebus and Fox and Clarke, with each sip of alcohol (or Irn Bru or sparkling water) and every dog bark, evasive answer, and battered record album wholly imagined and real. Rebus and retirement don't seem to mesh, but that was to be expected, and his involvement in this case (or cases) was only semi-blessed by the higher-ups in the police force. Fox I continue to enjoy - I like his contrasting parts: the need to follow the rules, and the urge to break them. Clarke is an equal third partner in this one, which I enjoyed.
medium-paced
Another enthralling Rebus novel that kept me guessing until the end however for me something was missing. I normally can't put a Rebus novel down but I struggled a little with this one - and for reasons I can't quite pin point.
Regardless it's still worth a read if you're looking for some light reading.
Regardless it's still worth a read if you're looking for some light reading.
Loved the way Rankin managed to have Rebus and Malcolm Fox working together against a potential turf war as the younger generation moves against the older crime bosses in both Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Rebus is back and all's right with the world.
I have followed Ian Rankin's famous detective since his beginnings back in the late '80s, and, in my opinion, he only gets better with age. That's the thing about Rankin's writing; he has allowed Rebus to age naturally, so he's now in his sixties. A few years ago, like another famous Edinburgh writer who tried to get rid of his even more famous detective, his creator tried to write him into the sunset when he faced mandatory retirement from the Lothian and Borders Police.
Rankin went on to write other books featuring other detectives, but Rebus kept creeping back in. He proved to be hard to put out to pasture. He came back to work on old, cold cases; he unretired when the rules about retirement changed; he retired again; and now he's working as a consultant - just like that other "consulting detective."
Many things have changed in Rebus' beloved Edinburgh since those early books. For one thing, the populace had a chance to vote to remove themselves from the United Kingdom, but they chose to stay instead. And it's no longer the Lothian and Borders Police of Rebus' heyday. Now it is Police Scotland, a modern name for a modern police force. But regardless of the name change, the police keep finding that they need a man with Rebus' skills, and his protege, Siobhan Clarke, takes every opportunity to use him on her cases.
In this instance, we have what might be a serial killer. First a man who had years before won the lottery was killed. Then a famous lawyer was battered to death in his home. There doesn't seem to be any connection between the two men, though.
The next incident is the real head scratcher. Someone takes a shot at that famous Edinburgh gangster "Big Ger" Cafferty. The bullet misses him, leading to uncertainty as to whether it was a serious attempt to kill him or perhaps was only a warning. Called by neighbors to investigate, Siobhan Clarke and her team are refused entry to Cafferty's home. He insists there was no gunshot. Clarke calls Rebus who has a long history with Cafferty, and soon the game is afoot.
Rebus discovers that "Big Ger" had received a warning note just like one that had been received by the lawyer before his murder. But Cafferty maintains that he has never had any connection with the lawyer. The police are stumped as to a motive. Plus, did the lottery winner also receive a note? None has been found and yet there are similarities between the two murders that make police think they are connected.
The relationship between Rebus and Cafferty is one of the more interesting and complex in detective fiction. Cafferty is Moriarty to Rebus' Holmes. Rebus spent his career at Lothian and Borders trying to put his nemesis away, and he did manage to do it for a short while. But then Cafferty was released from prison because he was thought to be dying. Once out, he made a miraculous recovery.
Over the years, the two have come to a kind of grudging respect. They are both arch enemies and long-time drinking mates. But even though they've been known to share a pint down at the pub, Rebus never forgets which side of the line he is on, and if he had a chance to send Cafferty away again, he would do it.
Some of the sharpest and funniest dialogue of the story comes in conversations between Rebus and Cafferty and between Rebus and Clarke. In both instances, these are well-developed characters that Rankin's faithful readers know intimately and it is a joy to read their interactions. But I think even readers who are brand new to the series could enjoy this book. It could work as a stand-alone as well as the 20th entry in a well-loved series.
Incidentally, I enjoyed Rankin's shout-out to one of his fellow writers. In one of the scenes when Clarke and Rebus are on stake-out together, Clarke is reading a book. It is Kate Atkinson's Life After Life.
The distinctive features of Rankin's writing include intelligence, humor (sometimes very dark), characters one can identify with, and intensely observed crime story plots that are never quite what they seem at first. He always manages to bring in current events and societal concerns to his stories. This time the plot turns on long ago sexual abuse of boys in a state-run home and the changing face of organized crime in Scotland.
And always the city of Edinburgh itself is one of the characters in Rankin's novels. Moreover, we can count on lots of visits to Rebus' home away from home and office where he conducts much of his business, the venerable Oxford Bar. For long-time readers, it's like coming home again.
I have followed Ian Rankin's famous detective since his beginnings back in the late '80s, and, in my opinion, he only gets better with age. That's the thing about Rankin's writing; he has allowed Rebus to age naturally, so he's now in his sixties. A few years ago, like another famous Edinburgh writer who tried to get rid of his even more famous detective, his creator tried to write him into the sunset when he faced mandatory retirement from the Lothian and Borders Police.
Rankin went on to write other books featuring other detectives, but Rebus kept creeping back in. He proved to be hard to put out to pasture. He came back to work on old, cold cases; he unretired when the rules about retirement changed; he retired again; and now he's working as a consultant - just like that other "consulting detective."
Many things have changed in Rebus' beloved Edinburgh since those early books. For one thing, the populace had a chance to vote to remove themselves from the United Kingdom, but they chose to stay instead. And it's no longer the Lothian and Borders Police of Rebus' heyday. Now it is Police Scotland, a modern name for a modern police force. But regardless of the name change, the police keep finding that they need a man with Rebus' skills, and his protege, Siobhan Clarke, takes every opportunity to use him on her cases.
In this instance, we have what might be a serial killer. First a man who had years before won the lottery was killed. Then a famous lawyer was battered to death in his home. There doesn't seem to be any connection between the two men, though.
The next incident is the real head scratcher. Someone takes a shot at that famous Edinburgh gangster "Big Ger" Cafferty. The bullet misses him, leading to uncertainty as to whether it was a serious attempt to kill him or perhaps was only a warning. Called by neighbors to investigate, Siobhan Clarke and her team are refused entry to Cafferty's home. He insists there was no gunshot. Clarke calls Rebus who has a long history with Cafferty, and soon the game is afoot.
Rebus discovers that "Big Ger" had received a warning note just like one that had been received by the lawyer before his murder. But Cafferty maintains that he has never had any connection with the lawyer. The police are stumped as to a motive. Plus, did the lottery winner also receive a note? None has been found and yet there are similarities between the two murders that make police think they are connected.
The relationship between Rebus and Cafferty is one of the more interesting and complex in detective fiction. Cafferty is Moriarty to Rebus' Holmes. Rebus spent his career at Lothian and Borders trying to put his nemesis away, and he did manage to do it for a short while. But then Cafferty was released from prison because he was thought to be dying. Once out, he made a miraculous recovery.
Over the years, the two have come to a kind of grudging respect. They are both arch enemies and long-time drinking mates. But even though they've been known to share a pint down at the pub, Rebus never forgets which side of the line he is on, and if he had a chance to send Cafferty away again, he would do it.
Some of the sharpest and funniest dialogue of the story comes in conversations between Rebus and Cafferty and between Rebus and Clarke. In both instances, these are well-developed characters that Rankin's faithful readers know intimately and it is a joy to read their interactions. But I think even readers who are brand new to the series could enjoy this book. It could work as a stand-alone as well as the 20th entry in a well-loved series.
Incidentally, I enjoyed Rankin's shout-out to one of his fellow writers. In one of the scenes when Clarke and Rebus are on stake-out together, Clarke is reading a book. It is Kate Atkinson's Life After Life.
The distinctive features of Rankin's writing include intelligence, humor (sometimes very dark), characters one can identify with, and intensely observed crime story plots that are never quite what they seem at first. He always manages to bring in current events and societal concerns to his stories. This time the plot turns on long ago sexual abuse of boys in a state-run home and the changing face of organized crime in Scotland.
And always the city of Edinburgh itself is one of the characters in Rankin's novels. Moreover, we can count on lots of visits to Rebus' home away from home and office where he conducts much of his business, the venerable Oxford Bar. For long-time readers, it's like coming home again.
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2726643.html
Latest in the post-retirement stories of John Rebus, Edinburgh detective - this time combining his old gangland foes with new rivals, and an ancient political sex scandal (borrowed from the real-life Kincora scandal in Belfast) combined with the legacy of more recent conflicts, mixed up with colleagues of dubious loyalty, and of course death. I felt that the internal police wiring didn't quite link up here, but the rest of it made a lot of sense and the resolution was very satisfying.
Latest in the post-retirement stories of John Rebus, Edinburgh detective - this time combining his old gangland foes with new rivals, and an ancient political sex scandal (borrowed from the real-life Kincora scandal in Belfast) combined with the legacy of more recent conflicts, mixed up with colleagues of dubious loyalty, and of course death. I felt that the internal police wiring didn't quite link up here, but the rest of it made a lot of sense and the resolution was very satisfying.
At the beginning of this I wasn't enjoying it because it felt like a Malcolm Fox book, and I am no a big Fox fan. However, it became more of a Rebus book at the end, making me wish it would have continued (without Malcolm).
Undoubtedly the best Rebus book till date! Don't we keep repeating this every time Ian Rankin comes up with a John Rebus thriller? But "Even Dogs In The Wild" has an allure about it which lends an unshakeable credence to a conviction that denies the fact that the existence of this intrepid detective from Edinburgh is solely confined to the magical imagination of a virtuoso crime writer. This in spite of the fact that John Rebus does not even bask in the limelight as is his normal wont. Ian Rankin suffuses resplendent light on the character of Detective Malcom Fox, a man who is usually at loggerheads with Rebus and does not take too kindly to the latter's indulgences, insouciance and interference.
So without further ado and sans any spoilers let’s get to the plot. A hot shot lawyer David Minton is found bludgeoned to death in his mansion. Siobhan Clarke along with two of her associates is put onto the case by Inspector James Page. The investigation takes an intriguing note when a note is found from Minton's possessions warning him of an impending death. Things begin to take a chaotic whorl when Morris Gerald Cafferty (Yes! Big Ger Cafferty's back!) a former ruthless gangster and an inveterate nemesis of John Rebus finds a bullet embedded in his wall and a note similar to the one found in Minton's possession slid under his door. Inspector John Rebus who by this time has officially retired is roped in as a special consultant by the Scotland Police mainly because of his former dealings with Cafferty. When Malcom Fox wanders off on his own path of investigation unearthing a cache of drugs, all hell breaks loose.
The book is made memorable by the presence and contrivance of Rebus and Cafferty. The perpetual hunter and the perennially hunted have always led a symbiotic existence feeding off the strengths and foibles of one another. This reciprocal relationship reaches a zenith in the 20th Rebus installment. Recrimination, Remorse, Regret, Reminiscence and Realization cleave and coalesce as Rankin weaves an exquisitely intricate plot that grips the heart and soul of the reader. However the undoubted hero of the book is Malcom Fox. Torn by guilt at not having embellished his reputation in front of a terminally ailing father, Malcom is determined to prove his worth and no physical or mental force can desist him from his objective. Siobhan Clarke is her usual self, the Rebus protégé who is determined to move out of her mentor's looming and formidable shadow to carve out a niche for herself in the world of crime tracking. She is aided and abetted in her endeavours by two enthusiastic assistants, Christine Esson and Ronnie Ogilvie.
Rankin mixes subtle wit with succinct sarcasm as conversations between the characters take on invisible undertones of material significance. The characters are created with a sense of perfection that is to say the least startling! With "Even Dogs In The Wild", Ian Rankin has conclusively, convincingly and categorically demonstrated that he is at the top of the pedestal in the crime writing scene and genre that entertains us today! I could not have voluntarily chosen a better book to welcome the onset of a brand New Year! Hoping that special consulting engagements for Rebus arrive in a deluge!
So without further ado and sans any spoilers let’s get to the plot. A hot shot lawyer David Minton is found bludgeoned to death in his mansion. Siobhan Clarke along with two of her associates is put onto the case by Inspector James Page. The investigation takes an intriguing note when a note is found from Minton's possessions warning him of an impending death. Things begin to take a chaotic whorl when Morris Gerald Cafferty (Yes! Big Ger Cafferty's back!) a former ruthless gangster and an inveterate nemesis of John Rebus finds a bullet embedded in his wall and a note similar to the one found in Minton's possession slid under his door. Inspector John Rebus who by this time has officially retired is roped in as a special consultant by the Scotland Police mainly because of his former dealings with Cafferty. When Malcom Fox wanders off on his own path of investigation unearthing a cache of drugs, all hell breaks loose.
The book is made memorable by the presence and contrivance of Rebus and Cafferty. The perpetual hunter and the perennially hunted have always led a symbiotic existence feeding off the strengths and foibles of one another. This reciprocal relationship reaches a zenith in the 20th Rebus installment. Recrimination, Remorse, Regret, Reminiscence and Realization cleave and coalesce as Rankin weaves an exquisitely intricate plot that grips the heart and soul of the reader. However the undoubted hero of the book is Malcom Fox. Torn by guilt at not having embellished his reputation in front of a terminally ailing father, Malcom is determined to prove his worth and no physical or mental force can desist him from his objective. Siobhan Clarke is her usual self, the Rebus protégé who is determined to move out of her mentor's looming and formidable shadow to carve out a niche for herself in the world of crime tracking. She is aided and abetted in her endeavours by two enthusiastic assistants, Christine Esson and Ronnie Ogilvie.
Rankin mixes subtle wit with succinct sarcasm as conversations between the characters take on invisible undertones of material significance. The characters are created with a sense of perfection that is to say the least startling! With "Even Dogs In The Wild", Ian Rankin has conclusively, convincingly and categorically demonstrated that he is at the top of the pedestal in the crime writing scene and genre that entertains us today! I could not have voluntarily chosen a better book to welcome the onset of a brand New Year! Hoping that special consulting engagements for Rebus arrive in a deluge!