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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Ian Rankin just cannot write a bad book. True, they are not all equally good, but his general level is very high and never failing. I'm a little bit infatuated with the cool Malcolm Fox and I really, really like Ms. Clarke. That I also like grumpy old Rebus goes without saying. This trio is really unique in crime fiction and I think that the constant shifts in their relationships are part of what makes this one even better than the previous one.
Also, even though there are several murders, you might even say that there's a serial killer at large, it has none of the dark, sinister super-violence of many of its contemporaries. It has criminals of various types, just as you might expect out there in the real world. And they are human too. All of them.
Ian Rankin is never ever sloppy with language. All phrases are turned just so and very often there's a twinkle in his eye. I simply adore that.
Again, I think that James MacPherson, who has narrated all of Rankin's books, adds to the pleasure in a major way. I've gone so far as to check Audible for other books that he has narrated. Unfortunately, there are only a few.
Also, even though there are several murders, you might even say that there's a serial killer at large, it has none of the dark, sinister super-violence of many of its contemporaries. It has criminals of various types, just as you might expect out there in the real world. And they are human too. All of them.
Ian Rankin is never ever sloppy with language. All phrases are turned just so and very often there's a twinkle in his eye. I simply adore that.
Again, I think that James MacPherson, who has narrated all of Rankin's books, adds to the pleasure in a major way. I've gone so far as to check Audible for other books that he has narrated. Unfortunately, there are only a few.
Uno sciagurato giorno Ian Rankin decise di mandare in pensione il suo ispettore Rebus, e di dare spazio a un nuovo detective. Dopo aver letto il primo libro della nuova serie, decisi che non ne valeva la pena e non ne lessi altri. Una delle cinque stelline che ho assegnato è quindi in segno di plauso per la decisione di Rankin di tornare suoi suoi passi e dare di nuovo a noi lettori la gioia di aver a che fare col suo scorbutico Rebus.
Due storie si intrecciano in questo romanzo, entrambe provenienti dal passato. Una è la "solita "storia: i criminali con i quali Rebus ha sempre avuto a che fare sono invecchiati con lui, ma non per questo sono diventati cittadini modello, e in qualche modo continuano a farsi la guerra, forse anche sotto forma di agguati da parte di un cecchino. Ma molte cose non tornano: che cosa accomuna un vecchio criminale con un avvocato all'apparenza al di sopra di ogni sospetto e con un assistente in un rifugio per minori diventato milionario con una vincita alla lotteria? E perché qualcuno ha ucciso il figlio di un boss con le stesse modalità usate dal cecchino? Qualcosa d'altro è in movimento, qualcosa che viene da un passato ancora più orribile della vecchia criminalità di Edimburgo e, mentre i suoi giovani colleghi dipaneranno la matassa criminale, solo l'acume e la testardaggine di Rebus potranno venire a capo dell'altra storia, quella sordida.
Un Rankin in grande spolvero, niente da dire, e la canzone che dà il titolo al romanzo è davvero inquietante.
A unfortunate day Ian Rankin decided to send his Inspector Rebus in retirement, and make room for a new detective. After reading the first book of the new series, I decided that it was not worth it and I do not read others. One of the five stars that I gave is therefore a sign of praise for the decision to Rankin to return on his steps and give back to us readers the joy of having to do with his grumpy Rebus.
Two stories intertwine in this novel, both from the past. One is the 'same' story: the criminals with whom Rebus has always had to do have grown old with him, but none have become model citizens, and somehow continue to make war, perhaps even in the form of ambushes by a sniper. But many things do not add up: what unites an old criminal with a lawyer seemingly above reproach and with an assistant in a shelter for minors became a millionaire with a lottery win? And why someone killed the son of a boss in the mood used by the sniper? Something else is moving, something that comes from an even more horrible past of the old crime of Edinburgh and, while his younger colleagues unravel criminal skein, only the acumen and the stubbornness of Rebus can get on top of the other story, the sordid one.
A Rankin at his best, nothing to say, and the song that gives title to the novel is really disturbing.
Due storie si intrecciano in questo romanzo, entrambe provenienti dal passato. Una è la "solita "storia: i criminali con i quali Rebus ha sempre avuto a che fare sono invecchiati con lui, ma non per questo sono diventati cittadini modello, e in qualche modo continuano a farsi la guerra, forse anche sotto forma di agguati da parte di un cecchino. Ma molte cose non tornano: che cosa accomuna un vecchio criminale con un avvocato all'apparenza al di sopra di ogni sospetto e con un assistente in un rifugio per minori diventato milionario con una vincita alla lotteria? E perché qualcuno ha ucciso il figlio di un boss con le stesse modalità usate dal cecchino? Qualcosa d'altro è in movimento, qualcosa che viene da un passato ancora più orribile della vecchia criminalità di Edimburgo e, mentre i suoi giovani colleghi dipaneranno la matassa criminale, solo l'acume e la testardaggine di Rebus potranno venire a capo dell'altra storia, quella sordida.
Un Rankin in grande spolvero, niente da dire, e la canzone che dà il titolo al romanzo è davvero inquietante.
A unfortunate day Ian Rankin decided to send his Inspector Rebus in retirement, and make room for a new detective. After reading the first book of the new series, I decided that it was not worth it and I do not read others. One of the five stars that I gave is therefore a sign of praise for the decision to Rankin to return on his steps and give back to us readers the joy of having to do with his grumpy Rebus.
Two stories intertwine in this novel, both from the past. One is the 'same' story: the criminals with whom Rebus has always had to do have grown old with him, but none have become model citizens, and somehow continue to make war, perhaps even in the form of ambushes by a sniper. But many things do not add up: what unites an old criminal with a lawyer seemingly above reproach and with an assistant in a shelter for minors became a millionaire with a lottery win? And why someone killed the son of a boss in the mood used by the sniper? Something else is moving, something that comes from an even more horrible past of the old crime of Edinburgh and, while his younger colleagues unravel criminal skein, only the acumen and the stubbornness of Rebus can get on top of the other story, the sordid one.
A Rankin at his best, nothing to say, and the song that gives title to the novel is really disturbing.
Fucking delightful. Feels like vintage Rebus but with character development for the gods: Siobhan's well on her way to taking up the mantle of Rebus Jr, Rebus and Cafferty are both mellowing and becoming more paranoid in their old age, and Malcolm Fox is an obnoxious little oik, who gets what obnoxious little oiks have coming to them.
Nice solid hard men plotline with ambiguity and history, yesssssss.
Don't care for the new members of the team being added in like a low-rent Brian and whatshernose that went off in disgrace, but only because they're added in so palely, with a slotted spoon. A couple good scoops of them and I'm sure Rankin would make them come to life. I nominate them taking the place of Fox, for a start.
I did enjoy this quite a bit.
Nice solid hard men plotline with ambiguity and history, yesssssss.
Don't care for the new members of the team being added in like a low-rent Brian and whatshernose that went off in disgrace, but only because they're added in so palely, with a slotted spoon. A couple good scoops of them and I'm sure Rankin would make them come to life. I nominate them taking the place of Fox, for a start.
I did enjoy this quite a bit.
Ian Rankin did it again!! I am so glad that he is able to continue with the Rebus series despite him having retired! Looking forward to more Rebus stories I. The future!!
Very enjoyable, a tangled story with a satisfying unraveling. I just wished I felt more affection for the main characters. I like both of the crime bosses though and the Scottish setting.
Here we are 20 books in and Rankin is back with one of the best Rebus novels in a long time.
This is the first that I tried on audio, and I really enjoyed it. The narrator is Scottish, and he did a lot of voice acting for all of the characters. Sometimes he got so deep into the accents that it was hard to understand, but that made it fell all the more authentic...apparently even Scottish people think Glaswegians sound like they are chewing marbles while gargling when they speak. This story continues the linking of Malcom Fox with Siobhan Clarke and John Rebus, but this is the best of the merged stories. Rebus is retired now, but of course is dragged back into the fray to deal with a serial killer who may be after Big Ger McCafferty. The storyline brings together the far past with the present in a tense and entertaining way. Highly recommended.
This is the first that I tried on audio, and I really enjoyed it. The narrator is Scottish, and he did a lot of voice acting for all of the characters. Sometimes he got so deep into the accents that it was hard to understand, but that made it fell all the more authentic...apparently even Scottish people think Glaswegians sound like they are chewing marbles while gargling when they speak. This story continues the linking of Malcom Fox with Siobhan Clarke and John Rebus, but this is the best of the merged stories. Rebus is retired now, but of course is dragged back into the fray to deal with a serial killer who may be after Big Ger McCafferty. The storyline brings together the far past with the present in a tense and entertaining way. Highly recommended.
There's a certain elegaic quality to this, the latest in Ian Rankin's wonderful series of crime novels featuring the lugubrious, tenacious, irritable, irritating but ultimately loveable detective, John Rebus. Several books ago, it looked as if Rebus was going to walk away into the sunset. Fortunately for us, this has not been the case, as this is the second to feature him since his "retirement," and I think it is not just better than the last one but is the best Rebus since, oh maybe, The Falls, which I always thought was the best of the lot.
It opens, not surprisingly, with a murder: a prominent government legal advisor has had his head bashed in, and there is a handwritten note declaring "I'M GOING TO GET YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID." Then, someone takes a shot through "Big Ger" Cafferty's front window, and, strangely, it looks like the two events may be connected. As well, a couple of crime bosses from Glasgow are in town, and it looks like a gang war may be going to break out. Malcolm Fox, the protagonist from The Complaints is assigned to a team doing surveillance on said thugs, while Siobhan Clarke, Rebus' old partner, is in charge of the murder investigation. Rebus gets involved partly because, well, Rebus, but also because of his long, love-hate, relationship with Cafferty.
The various strands of the plot weave, tangle and untie in a very satisfactory way (barring the ending of which I can say nothing without spoilers but. What made this novel stand out, however, was that Rankin allowed himself to focus more on the characters and the relationships than the plot points. Over all this time, and the space of twenty novels, we have enormous affection for Rebus, and for Siobhan, and some growing respect for Fox, although I find him harder to like, even for "Big Ger" Cafferty. Rankin doesn't either exploit that or betray our trust by pulling the rug out. Reading this latest novel is like spending time with a very old friend.
On a personal note: I so don't read crime fiction or mystery novels under normal circumstances, though I've been known to relent for Dorothy L. Sayers and one or two others. It says a lot that I have read every single Rebus novel - even if not all have given equal pleasure -and would jump at the chance to read more. That is the power of a great character.
It opens, not surprisingly, with a murder: a prominent government legal advisor has had his head bashed in, and there is a handwritten note declaring "I'M GOING TO GET YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID." Then, someone takes a shot through "Big Ger" Cafferty's front window, and, strangely, it looks like the two events may be connected. As well, a couple of crime bosses from Glasgow are in town, and it looks like a gang war may be going to break out. Malcolm Fox, the protagonist from The Complaints is assigned to a team doing surveillance on said thugs, while Siobhan Clarke, Rebus' old partner, is in charge of the murder investigation. Rebus gets involved partly because, well, Rebus, but also because of his long, love-hate, relationship with Cafferty.
The various strands of the plot weave, tangle and untie in a very satisfactory way (barring the ending of which I can say nothing without spoilers but
Spoiler
which I did think depended rather more on coincidence than was entirely believable)On a personal note: I so don't read crime fiction or mystery novels under normal circumstances, though I've been known to relent for Dorothy L. Sayers and one or two others. It says a lot that I have read every single Rebus novel - even if not all have given equal pleasure -and would jump at the chance to read more. That is the power of a great character.
Το βιβλίο είχε κάποιες δυνατές σκηνές για αυτό και το προσπάθησα μέχρι τέλους. Σε σχέση με άλλους συγγραφείς όπως ο Nesbo, Arlidge, Cross, Ahnhnem o Ian Rankin δεν μου έκανε πρώτη καλή εντύπωση. Απογοητεύτηκα αρκετά από το πόσο αργά ξετυλίγεται η πλοκή και το γεγονός ότι τις πρώτες 300 σελίδες το μόνο πραγματικά που με ενδιέφερε ήταν η τύχη του σκύλου. Μήπως εγώ φταίω γιατί πήρα το 20ο βιβλίο της σειράς και δεν άρχισα από το πρώτο; Πάντως, παρόλα αυτά δεν πιστεύω να είχε μεγάλη διαφορά.
Το βιβλίο παίρνει ένα 3 στα 5 γιατί το τέλος δεν ήταν προβλέψιμο. Αν και, θα μπορούσε ο συγγραφέας να μας δώσει και άλλες πληροφορίες όπως:
Spoiler
αν τελικά έγινε δίκη και ποια ήταν η τύχη του Τζόρνταν, τι απέγινε η Χειστι, αν ο Στάρκ θα φυλακιστεί, αν τελικά ο Ρέμπους κράτησε τον σκύλοΑκολουθούν λίγα spoilers:
Spoiler
Έχω συνηθίσει η δράση να ξετυλίγεται αργά (όπως πχ γίνεται στα βιβλία του Nesbo) αλλά τουλάχιστον με κρατούσαν σε αγωνία είτε οι χαρακτήρες είτε προσπαθούσα από τα hints να βρω εγώ κάπως τον δολοφόνο κτλ αλλά σε αυτήν την περίπτωση το ζουμί ξεκίνησε όταν έγινε αναφορά κάπου στην 300-350 σελίδα για το Εικορν χάουζ. Τα πρίν απο αυτό ήταν τέρμα αδιάφορα. Ήταν ένα βιβλίο το οποίο υποσχόταν πολλά και έδωσε λίγα. Τόσοι πολλοί μαφιόζοι και τόση λίγη δράση. Ντροπή.
Οι χαρακτήρες πέρα από τον Ρέμπους και τον Καφερτι, αδιάφοροι και βαρετοί. Έπρεπε να μας μιλήσει λίγο και για την προσωπική τους ζωή. Spill the tea bro. Κάνε μας να ενδιαφερθούμε λιγο για αυτούς. Μάλλον είχα συνηθίσει υπερβολικά τον τρόπο γραφής των άλλων συγγραφέων και η γραφή του Ian μου φάνηκε παράξενη. Αλλά το μόνο ψίχουλο που μας έδωσε είναι η ερωτική ζωή του Φοξ και το ότι στο τέλος πέθανε ο πατέρας του. ΨΙ - ΧΟΥ - ΛΑ.
Τελευταίο που κατά την γνώμη μου ήταν μείον. Όταν έγινε αναφορά στα διαφημιστικά φυλλάδια ήξερα πως κάτι θα παιχτεί με αυτά γιατί ποιος άλλος θα έδινε βάση σε αυτά; Προβλέψιμο. Αλλά ο τρόπος που το σύνδεσε πάντως αρκετά έξυπνος
Θα δώσω στο μέλλον άλλη μια ευκαιρία στον συγγραφέα. Ελπίζω αυτήν την φορά να μην με απογοητεύσει τόσο. Για την ώρα πάω να ψάξω κάποιο βιβλίο με ψυχοπαθή δολοφόνο να μου κρατάει συντροφιά τα βράδια.
A solid Rebus
It’s a solid Rebus novel, although I wish it had dug a bit deeper into the plot. Sometimes the storyline felt a little tired.
It’s a solid Rebus novel, although I wish it had dug a bit deeper into the plot. Sometimes the storyline felt a little tired.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced