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nigel1962's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
egamber's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
Ian Rankin is a Scottish author whose most famous (and popular) character is Detective Inspector John Rebus, an alcoholic policeman who lives and works in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. This book, like a number before it, focuses on Rebus at the end of his career, 10 days before retirement.
Like most literary policemen these days, Rebus has a bit of an attitude problem (which has affected his promotion prospects), but most people like him because he has the guts to speak the sort of "truth to power" that people only dream of saying in real life.
In this book, we see a Russian poet and exile-cum-emigre seemingly killed in the street in the city center, after a night on the tiles (and the local Chinese restaurant, we later discover). Rebus, and his sidekick D.S. Siobhan Clark, investigate the circumstances of his death. Was it a mugging gone wrong, or something more serious?
The entirety of the book is spent trying to discover whether or not the character was killed in a mugging. Rankin uses what happened to Alexander Litvenenko in London as a tool to keep you guessing as long as possible (for those of you that don't know, he was a real life Russian emigre who was murdered by the KGB on British soil). The attempt at balance works for a while, but anyone who has read more than a few murder mysteries will know who committed about 2/3 of the crimes after you've read about 70% of the book.
The book is probably the most linear thriller that I've read by Rankin in years. It has a clearly defined beginning, middle and end, and has fewer asides about Scotland and the Scottish than I've seen in ages. This makes the central story flow better, but if you like the asides, you might not enjoy it as much as you enjoy some other books that Rankin has written recently.
Personally I don't think that anyone's going to completely satisfied at the balance between story and aside in a Rankin novel (it is a matter of personal taste after all), but this book, I believe, continues the improvement in the series that we have seen over the last few books and is much better than The Falls and Resurrection Men
Like most literary policemen these days, Rebus has a bit of an attitude problem (which has affected his promotion prospects), but most people like him because he has the guts to speak the sort of "truth to power" that people only dream of saying in real life.
In this book, we see a Russian poet and exile-cum-emigre seemingly killed in the street in the city center, after a night on the tiles (and the local Chinese restaurant, we later discover). Rebus, and his sidekick D.S. Siobhan Clark, investigate the circumstances of his death. Was it a mugging gone wrong, or something more serious?
The entirety of the book is spent trying to discover whether or not the character was killed in a mugging. Rankin uses what happened to Alexander Litvenenko in London as a tool to keep you guessing as long as possible (for those of you that don't know, he was a real life Russian emigre who was murdered by the KGB on British soil). The attempt at balance works for a while, but anyone who has read more than a few murder mysteries will know who committed about 2/3 of the crimes after you've read about 70% of the book.
The book is probably the most linear thriller that I've read by Rankin in years. It has a clearly defined beginning, middle and end, and has fewer asides about Scotland and the Scottish than I've seen in ages. This makes the central story flow better, but if you like the asides, you might not enjoy it as much as you enjoy some other books that Rankin has written recently.
Personally I don't think that anyone's going to completely satisfied at the balance between story and aside in a Rankin novel (it is a matter of personal taste after all), but this book, I believe, continues the improvement in the series that we have seen over the last few books and is much better than The Falls and Resurrection Men
jasonlaw77's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
harriet_r_b62's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Seventeenth in the Inspector Rebus detective mystery series set in Edinburgh, Scotland.
My Take
Please. Please, don't let Rebus retire…I want to read more about him! He's too interesting a character to sit back in an armchair with his music and Scotch.
Rebus reminds me of Inspector Morse in that he's a bit cantankerous, "knows-all" (usually true!), and he has an eye for the ladies — besides the drink and the music! As for other characters, there's really only Siobhan Clarke who has been stuck with Rebus for most of the series as his not-quite-equal partner. We know so little about her that I don't see her taking over the series. Other minor characters appear in the background to give it some consistency — it's primarily Rebus with Shiv and his maneuvering to get his way in his (well, mostly his) investigations.
A fascinating look at crime in Edinburgh and an incredible tour of the city and Scottish culture and politics. If this truly is the end of Rebus…I'll miss it.
I do have my suspicions that Rebus may be joining another squad though…
The Story
Always a pain in management's back side (one of Rebus' three delights in life, besides the scotch and music), this is Rebus' last chance to clear up old cases, and especially, clear up Ger Cafferty. So when a Russian dissident poet is murdered and a possible connection to Big Ger rises, Rebus insists that there is more to the murder.
My Take
Please. Please, don't let Rebus retire…I want to read more about him! He's too interesting a character to sit back in an armchair with his music and Scotch.
Rebus reminds me of Inspector Morse in that he's a bit cantankerous, "knows-all" (usually true!), and he has an eye for the ladies — besides the drink and the music! As for other characters, there's really only Siobhan Clarke who has been stuck with Rebus for most of the series as his not-quite-equal partner. We know so little about her that I don't see her taking over the series. Other minor characters appear in the background to give it some consistency — it's primarily Rebus with Shiv and his maneuvering to get his way in his (well, mostly his) investigations.
A fascinating look at crime in Edinburgh and an incredible tour of the city and Scottish culture and politics. If this truly is the end of Rebus…I'll miss it.
I do have my suspicions that Rebus may be joining another squad though…
The Story
Always a pain in management's back side (one of Rebus' three delights in life, besides the scotch and music), this is Rebus' last chance to clear up old cases, and especially, clear up Ger Cafferty. So when a Russian dissident poet is murdered and a possible connection to Big Ger rises, Rebus insists that there is more to the murder.
pa259's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
coleycole's review against another edition
4.0
probably shouldn't listen to the last book in a long series first, but still, very enjoyable. yay for scottish narrators!
sonicboylee's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant end to the normal police career of Rebus with a great shaggy dog story bringing in Russian poets and corrupt big business. As the usual the journey is much more important than the end. Loved the finale with the true relationship between Rebus and Cafferty playing out just like Holmes and Moriarty
laila4343's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorites of the series so far. Rebus is getting ready to retire - an end of an era, and he's a little bit reflective about what comes next. Two corpses, a Russian dissident poet and the audio engineer who recorded his readings - how are they connected? Then something momentous happens with Big Ger Cafferty that shakes Rebus's world. A very exciting ending! Can't wait to see what comes next.