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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Once again Rebus is pulled out of retirement in “Even Dogs in the Wild” and he is quite happy about it. Turns out retirement is not necessarily to his liking (no surprise there) and he is more than willing to assist Siobhan when she calls and asks for his assistance.
The usual players are once again in this book including Big Ger Cafferty, DI Malcolm Fox and of course Siobhan. This book is number 20 in the series and I believe is one of the best. Although Rebus is still a cop through-and-through, his edges have softened and it was a joy to read the bantering dialogue between Rebus and the other characters. It was also nice to see Rebus and Malcolm become friendly towards each other.
Five stars out of five on Goodreads.
The usual players are once again in this book including Big Ger Cafferty, DI Malcolm Fox and of course Siobhan. This book is number 20 in the series and I believe is one of the best. Although Rebus is still a cop through-and-through, his edges have softened and it was a joy to read the bantering dialogue between Rebus and the other characters. It was also nice to see Rebus and Malcolm become friendly towards each other.
Five stars out of five on Goodreads.
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rankin's Detective Rebus series is always cleverly written with dialogue filled with wit and humour. "Even Dogs" is a prime example of the qualify of the series with a particularly interesting whodunit.
Finally retired Rebus is called in as a consultant to Edinburgh police after someone tries to kill Big Ger Cafferty , Rebus's Moriarty, and Big Ger refuses to speak to anyone but his old adversary. What ensues involves a Glasgow gang apparently muscling into the Edinburgh crime world and an investigation on two fronts with Siobhan Clarke looking into the murder of a former judge and Malcolm Fox assigned to a Glasgow team watching the villains. A well plotted page turner with old adversaries coming together to sort things out which inevitably uncovers corruption at highest levels.
Like my old comfy clothes when I pick up Ian Rankin I know I am in safe hands, with an old friend and can relax with my book and hopefully a favourite tipple nearby. Long may Rebus keep treading the Edinburgh streets.
Like my old comfy clothes when I pick up Ian Rankin I know I am in safe hands, with an old friend and can relax with my book and hopefully a favourite tipple nearby. Long may Rebus keep treading the Edinburgh streets.
I confess I'm not sure where this series is going. Rebus has retired, worked on old cases, unretired, retired again and is now a consultant; Fox was introduced as the main detective in The Complaints but maybe people complained (see what I did there?) and Rebus was brought back. Now they're together less as partners and more as possible mentor/mentee, which works but for how much longer? Rebus' era in policing is over... his contacts are retiring (if not dead already)... and Edinburgh itself has changed. Fox is showing more spine and creativity, which may or may not lead to a better character in later books that are Rebus-less.
As for the plot, it's one of those Old Nasty Events Stirring Up Troubles Today plots. Of course that makes connecting the dots more difficult (and when Big Ger points out the connection, it felt a little too Hand of the Creator for my taste) and it's only by digging deep into the archives that it gets solved. There's also the Changing of the Guard subplot, with Big Ger and Joe Stark on one side, Darryl Christie and Dennis Stark on the other. Much as with the Rebus/Fox partnership, seeing Joe and Darryl join forces feels like a way forward with the series. But wither Big Ger??
As for the plot, it's one of those Old Nasty Events Stirring Up Troubles Today plots. Of course that makes connecting the dots more difficult (and when Big Ger points out the connection, it felt a little too Hand of the Creator for my taste) and it's only by digging deep into the archives that it gets solved. There's also the Changing of the Guard subplot, with Big Ger and Joe Stark on one side, Darryl Christie and Dennis Stark on the other. Much as with the Rebus/Fox partnership, seeing Joe and Darryl join forces feels like a way forward with the series. But wither Big Ger??
Kind of an all-star Rebus novel: Rebus, Fox, Clarke - and starring for the dark side: Big Ger and his opponents of the Scottish underworld. Our aging Jekyll/Hyde team (Rebus/Big Ger) must grudgingly team up as the underworld also becomes the target of a killer out for vengeance, making old sinners pay for their deeds.
As per usual the good and bad are not always on the sides they are expected to be on - and there is the mystery of what old sin connects the victims... It is an extremely well put together crime novel, as always from Rankin's hand. At the same time it feels a little more like a rehash of every Rankin novel, rather than a new mystery. Maybe it's the all star cast overshadowing the clever crime solving. Still brilliant, though.
As per usual the good and bad are not always on the sides they are expected to be on - and there is the mystery of what old sin connects the victims... It is an extremely well put together crime novel, as always from Rankin's hand. At the same time it feels a little more like a rehash of every Rankin novel, rather than a new mystery. Maybe it's the all star cast overshadowing the clever crime solving. Still brilliant, though.
Don't get me wrong I love Rebus but this current spate of "retired" detectives returning is none too convincing especially the powers they seem to be given. Rankin has loads more great characters. He put Rebus to bed and he should stay there along with Carol Jordan (Val McDermid ) and Robbie Lewis (who can't really be attributed to Colin Dexter. That said really clever plotting and a cracking read!
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes