Ian Rankin

I am a big fan of Ian Rankin’s books featuring the jaundiced and prickly John Rebus – a man for whom the Scots term ‘thrawn’ might specifically have been coined – although I have never managed to feel the same enthusiasm for his other books. I am not generally keen on short stories, either, but my interest was piqued sufficiently to buy this novella.

The Rise is a luxurious apartment development in West London, within walking distance of Paddington Station. The development offers a wide range of exclusive services, and the reception area is presided over by a uniformed man combining the roles of concierge and security guard. As the story opens, the incumbent of that role has been found dead in the foyer, having suffered a heavy head wound. From there on we are introduced to the owner (and lead investor) of the development, and the inhabitants of several of the individual apartments. These include a Russian oligarch, the wife of an imprisoned London gang boss, and a former soap actress and model who has recently lost her most lucrative employment.

Rankin deftly weaves these ingredients into an engrossing novella following a standard police procedural approach. His principal investigator, Detective Sergeant Gish, is engaging and empathetic, and certainly easier for her colleagues to work with than Detective Inspector Rebus ever was. I am wondering whether Rankin has any plans for more stories featuring her. He has consciously aged John Rebus in real time, so may feel that he is reaching the end of the line as far as his plausibility as an investigative lead is concerned. While I love the Rebus books, I would be intrigued to see a series featuring Gish.… (mais)

A collection of short stories about Rebus, set during his earlier career when his Detective Constable is Brian Holmes - no sign of Siobhan. Some were fairly lightweight, others more serious and downbeat, such as Aud Lang Syne when Rebus is part of a team assigned to intercept a drug's bust in busy Edinburgh on New Year's Eve, or 'Sunday' where Rebus is busying himself on his day off, attempting to keep his mind off an awful event which is haunting him.

As always, I like the character of Rebus with his wry/dark humour and offbeat way of viewing things. On balance, I would award this 3 stars.… (mais)