Reviews

Another engaging, escapist read from Rankin, and lots happening with his old gang.
I still love to read about these characters, but I do wonder what plans Rankin has for them, especially Rebus and Cafferty, who are both getting quite long in the tooth.

annettefunnycello's review against another edition

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2.0

Very disappointing. I've been a rabid fan of Rankin's Rebus series. So much so, I've visited Edinburgh, seen Rebus' special places, haunted weird little streets expecting serious crime to go down... not really but I love the series... And now? seems like Rankin just isn't into it anymore. So much name dropping. So much over-explaining, dumbing down. Cynicism abounds. It's almost as if Rankin didn't write it, but someone else did so, under his direction. Two stars because as long as Rebus lives, I will long for his company. But I think I'm done, and will remember this series at its finest instead of hope for continued excellence.

joannakatz4's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I read this because I wanted something fun set in Edinburgh. Rebus and Clarke are a loveable pair. This is definitely a police procedural. If you like cop dialogue and about 20 minor nondescript characters tangled in a technical web, you’d like this book. Satisfying ending.

fhammond_36's review against another edition

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4.0

Always a great story, interesting characters and Scotland. Five years ago I was there. Now I’m lucky to be stuck home reading great books.

jimbowen0306's review against another edition

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3.0

This book is the 22nd John Rebus book by Ian Rankin. In it Rebus has resigned again, suffering from old age, and some of things that go with that, his old sidekick, Siobhan Clarke is a DI with a decent to good record, and Malcolm Fox is based at the central office of the Scottish police force, but still being used to act as a member of the Scottish equivalent of Internal Affairs.

Clarke is pulled into an inquiry into the death of Stuart Bloom, after his body is found in a car on a field on the outskirts of Edinburgh. I remember Bloom from older books I think, but I can't place the book he appeared in. He has been missing for years, so Fox is called in to examine the original inquiry, which Rebus was involved in.

At the same time, Clarke asks Rebus to have a look at an old case of hers. She got a kid convicted of murdering his girlfriend, but his family guilt her into looking at the case, and she passes the task on to Rebus, to divert him from the "proper case".

It wasn't a bad read, it's just it... didn't grip me. I read it, and it was fine, but that's all it was if I'm honest.

mrbrownsays's review against another edition

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4.0

Spotted some nostalgic luxuries, especially at the end. Feels like we´re working towards a more rounded end than exit music would have been.

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