When an author is as successful as Rankin has been with his tough and idiomatic Scottish ... more
thrillers, a problem sets in after several books: How to keep the formula fresh? Rankin has delivered a powerful series of books featuring his beleaguered DI John Rebus and while never less than gripping, a certain tiredness seemed to be setting in. Thankfully, this new novel is a resounding return to form, with a plot as enjoyably labyrinthine as any Rankin enthusiast could wish and pithy dialogue that fairly leaps off the page. Stalking the streets of Edinburgh on the trail of a poisoner, Rebus hits upon a freed paedophile and his subsequent outing of the man leaves him with very mixed feelings. But another problem develops for Rebus: A convicted murderer has him in his sights for some lethal games. And the tabloid press lionising of Rebus won't help him in this situation. As always, Rankin is perfectly ready to tackle contentious issues--precisely the thing that gives his books their powerful sense of veracity. And Rebus, no longer in danger of having a soap opera-like accumulation of personal problems, seems as fresh and well-observed a character as in those first exhilarating books. Rankin has caught his form again, with even more assurance. --Barry Forshaw
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When an author is as successful as Rankin has been with his tough and idiomatic Scottish ... more
thrillers, a problem sets in after several books: how to keep the formula fresh? Rankin has delivered a powerful series of books featuring his beleaguered DI John Rebus, and while never less than gripping, a certain tiredness seemed to be setting in. Thankfully, this new novel is a resounding return to form, with a plot as enjoyably labyrinthine as any Rankin enthusiast could wish and pithy dialogue that fairly leaps off the page. Stalking the streets of Edinburgh on the trail of a poisoner, Rebus hits upon a freed paedophile and his subsequent outing of the man leaves him with very mixed feelings. But another problem develops for Rebus: a convicted murderer has him in his sights for some lethal games. And the tabloid press lionising of Rebus won't help him in this situation. As always, Rankin is perfectly ready to tackle contentious issues--precisely the thing that gives his books their powerful sense of veracity. And Rebus, no longer in danger of having a soap opera-like accumulation of personal problems, seems as fresh and well-observed character as in those first exhilarating books. Rankin has caught his form again, with even more assurance. -- Barry Forshaw
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Check Site.
Advantages: Great storytelling Disadvantages: Drags a bit with over padding
I have fallen behind of late with my reading as I keep finding new authors that are fascinating. As a result, I recently checked how I was doing with IanRankin's Rebus books, and realised that I am, indeed, a couple behind. with this one and the subsequent 'Exit Music' to read and get up to date on. So I settled down to read The Naming of the Dead, expecting and hoping for another thoroughly good Rankin tale.
And essentially I got it. Another murder case for Rebus to solve, some more bosses to annoy and a whole lot of trouble to get into is the order of the day, and not for the first time for the Scottish Detective Inspector. Set in 2005, Rankin uses the Gleneagles G8 summit to provide a backdrop to the political aspect of his tale, with protests and high levels of security for foreign dignitaries featuring quite heavily in the book ...
Advantages: Good story, enjoyable writing and exciting ending Disadvantages: No epilogue
Background
I'm sure most people have heard of this author IanRankin through the Rebus books and television series. This was however my first experience of his work.
About the Author
IanRankin was born in Fife, Scotland in 1960. He is the UK's Number 1 selling crime author. So far he has written 27 novels, of which his most successful have been the Rebus books. His first novel was indeed 'The Flood', which originally was planned for Radio 4's Short story section but was considered too long so Rankin converted it into a novel instead.
He has received many awards for his work including an OBE in 2002 for his services to literature.
The Storyline of the book
The book is set in a small Scottish town called Carsden. Whose traditional industry of coal mining was closing down due to it being uneconomic to mine there any ...
Advantages: The tone of this entry in the series is much lighter than the earlier books. Disadvantages: The unspoken suggestion that the SAS soldiers are idiots, just because they oppose Rebus.
surrounds. You really get a terrific feeling of place thanks to the detail that IanRankin goes into when moving through the city.
If you?ve never read an Inspector Rebus book before and came across this one, you would be inclined to think that here was an untroubled policeman who is very proficient at his job. In actual fact, during the course of the previous 13 books, he has battled through a failed marriage, chronic insomnia, alcoholism and thoughts of suicide. Finally he appears to have arrived at a place where he is much more comfortable with himself. In the past he was a loner on the job, preferring to keep his thoughts and his theories to himself, much to his fellow detectives? frustration and his superior?s total annoyance. It looks as though this attitude has changed and I think it?s a change for the better. I was actually concerned ...
Product Information for "Dead Souls - Ian Rankin" »
Product details
EAN
9780752844138
Type
Fiction
Genre
Crime Books
Publisher
Orion Publishing Co
Title
Dead Souls
Author
Ian Rankin
ISBN
075284413X
Manufacturer's product description
Stalking a poisoner at the local zoo Edinburgh Police Inspector John Rebus comes across a paedophile taking pictures of children. When the social workers claim he is there for legitimate educational reasons Rebus is faced with a dilemma - should he be outed to protect local kids or given a chance to start anew? As the locals begin a hate campaign he gets a call from the past - the son of a friend has gone missing and no one else will make time to ask the right questions. And then a fragment of Scotland's criminal history is repatriated at the end of a life sentence for murder. Once more Rebus's cup of trouble runneth over and the ghosts of past misdeeds return to haunt Edinburgh's streets.
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