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Inspector Rebus #3.5
A Good Hanging
Twelve remarkable, gritty stories starring Detective Inspector John Rebus in his home city of Edinburgh, as only Ian Rankin can portray it: not just the tearooms and cobbled streets of the tourist brochures, but a modern urban metropolis with a full range of criminals and their victims--blackmailers, peeping Toms, and more than one kind of murderer. It's a city like any other, a city that gives birth to crimes of passion, accidents, and long-hidden jealousy, and a city in which criminal minds find it all too easy to fade into the shadows. As dedicated readers of the series well know, nobody is better equipped to delve into Edinburgh's back alleys and smoky pubs than Rebus, and no one better able to illuminate his world than Ian Rankin.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
98 people are currently reading
1,513 people want to read
About the author
Ian Rankin
332 books6,301 followersAKA Jack Harvey.
Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982 and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987; the Rebus books are now translated into 22 languages and are bestsellers on several continents.
Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow. He is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award, and he received two Dagger Awards for the year's best short story and the Gold Dagger for Fiction. Ian Rankin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, and Edinburgh.
A contributor to BBC2's Newsnight Review, he also presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin's Evil Thoughts, on Channel 4 in 2002. He recently received the OBE for services to literature, and opted to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his partner and two sons.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ianrankin
Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982 and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987; the Rebus books are now translated into 22 languages and are bestsellers on several continents.
Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow. He is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award, and he received two Dagger Awards for the year's best short story and the Gold Dagger for Fiction. Ian Rankin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, and Edinburgh.
A contributor to BBC2's Newsnight Review, he also presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin's Evil Thoughts, on Channel 4 in 2002. He recently received the OBE for services to literature, and opted to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his partner and two sons.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ianrankin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
February 28, 2023
I am a big fan of the Inspector Rebus series which take place in the dark side of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. This book is a collection of 12 short stories set in the early/middle years of his profession and there is not a bad one in the bunch. As we all have experienced, books of short stories always have a few that aren't particularly interesting but author Ian Rankin hits the jackpot here. Some of these tales have a bit of humor which is unusual for Rebus adventures but others, especially "The Gentleman's Club" are very disturbing. It is a quick read and if you have never read this series, this would be a good starting point. If you are a fan, you will be love every page!
January 3, 2023
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.
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.
November 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ = Quite Good.
Audio.
#3.5 in the Rebus series and is often the case in a collection of short stories, some I liked more than others.
Rebus is a gritty character and the setting is In Edinburgh in the UK. I prefer his full-sized novels to be honest but these are very readable all the same.
Audio.
#3.5 in the Rebus series and is often the case in a collection of short stories, some I liked more than others.
Rebus is a gritty character and the setting is In Edinburgh in the UK. I prefer his full-sized novels to be honest but these are very readable all the same.
October 9, 2022
12 (mostly good) short stories (cases) concerning John Rebus. A book I most definitely should have read after completing the series and not just after reading only one case! On the flip-side this looks like another series that I am going to most certainly commit to finishing. 7 out of 12. Reading Rebus' books, it does feel like I am reading work by an author, as opposed to a crime fiction writer. If you know what I mean. A strong Three Star 7.5 out of 12.
Ian Rankin
2010 read
Ian Rankin
2010 read
February 28, 2009
Excellent. John Rebus short stories. Most are told with a sense of humor, sometimes a very dark one.
"The Dean Curse" plays on Hammett's "The Dain Curse" with Rebus throwing the book across the room because no one has that many coincidences. He's looking at it with far too much of a professional eye. And then he gets called out on a case that uses it ironically.
My favorite, I think, was "Sunday". Most of the story is Rebus taking us through his typical Sunday - walking down the block to get the paper and sundries, making coffee (on his filter day), fixing breakfast, thawing a steak, doing the crossword, etc. Then his underling, Brian Holmes, comes over and we find out why he is concentrating on all of the mundane matters of life.
I wondered if he had been looking in my apartment:
"The Dean Curse" plays on Hammett's "The Dain Curse" with Rebus throwing the book across the room because no one has that many coincidences. He's looking at it with far too much of a professional eye. And then he gets called out on a case that uses it ironically.
My favorite, I think, was "Sunday". Most of the story is Rebus taking us through his typical Sunday - walking down the block to get the paper and sundries, making coffee (on his filter day), fixing breakfast, thawing a steak, doing the crossword, etc. Then his underling, Brian Holmes, comes over and we find out why he is concentrating on all of the mundane matters of life.
I wondered if he had been looking in my apartment:
he picked up some books from the floor and stacked them against a wall, beside other columns of paperbacks nad hardbacks, read and unread. One day he would get time to read them. They were like contraband; he couldn't stop himself buying them, but then he never really did anything with them once he'd bought them. The buying was the thing, that sense of ownership.
November 1, 2014
This is a collection of twelve enjoyable Rebus short stories. Set in Rebus' early days before Siobahn Clarke joined him and Brian Holmes was still his sidekick. The stories are on the whole light and amusing, showcasing Rebus' ability to quickly tease out the clues of a seemingly complex or obscure crime and in one story (Sunday) showing Rebus a bit rattled and vulnerable after killing a man in a knife attack. 3.5★
April 12, 2024
Snippets of early Rebus. Jaded, cynical but a brilliant copper nonetheless. Worth a read
July 31, 2016
Loved those 12 stories with Inspector Rebus. They somehow show the human and the violent side of the inspector. Sometimes you would smile and giggle and just enjoy the snippets of Tartan violence.
December 27, 2019
I wouldn't have thought that Rebus's stories were amenable to the short story format. Action, character, setting all merge in such a way that the reader is immersed in a complex scenario. The previous novella I did not like. Yet, here is this collection and I love it. I'm jealous too of the ingenuity of these short term plots. They do what the short story does: something like the miniature painting suggesting the broader canvas. The Dean Curse with its spectacular 'terrorist' bomb, the title story set in the Edinburgh Fringe, Being Frank and Playback are amongst the best. The last story, Monstrous Trumpet is a rather simplistic look at the art world - in both character and plot. Otherwise, everythin would have made a good episode, some with novel potential. Yes, Rankin shows how good he is in another format.
July 23, 2021
I can't really get lost in any book right now so I picked these short stories. They were enjoyable and easy to figure out. I might try out book one in the series if I find it in a LFL or at a Bookcrossing meet up.
October 22, 2012
A collection of short stories from Ian Rankin, unfortunately not all were good although two or three were particularly interesting.
October 27, 2024
A witty and enjoyable collection.
July 18, 2019
My favourite would have been Sunday, as I found the meaning of buying books without even reading them is actually the sense of ownership.
Short chapters are just pleasant and I guess it would have a good introduction to John Rebus universe.
Short chapters are just pleasant and I guess it would have a good introduction to John Rebus universe.
January 21, 2025
It's short stories, some were very good, others seemed like he came up with an idea and couldn't bear to throw it away so he wrote a short story using as few words as possible, wrapping it up to move on to another premise.
June 16, 2012
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1951749.html
This is the last of the Rebus books for me - though I still have about a half-dozen other Rankins on the shelves - a collection of short stories published in 1992, when Rebus's sidekick was still Brian Holmes rather than Siobhan Clarke; I missed her but otherwise really enjoyed all the stories, excellent little crime vignettes - in some cases you can see what the twist is likely to be but still admire Rankin's skill in getting us and Rebus there. (A couple of odd stylistic lapses in the second story, "The Dean's Curse", which almost made me wonder if Rankin had taken on an understudy; or else a case of Homeric nods.) Glad to finish Rebus on a high note, though chronologically I should have read it after Tooth and Nail or Strip Jack, much much earlier.
This is the last of the Rebus books for me - though I still have about a half-dozen other Rankins on the shelves - a collection of short stories published in 1992, when Rebus's sidekick was still Brian Holmes rather than Siobhan Clarke; I missed her but otherwise really enjoyed all the stories, excellent little crime vignettes - in some cases you can see what the twist is likely to be but still admire Rankin's skill in getting us and Rebus there. (A couple of odd stylistic lapses in the second story, "The Dean's Curse", which almost made me wonder if Rankin had taken on an understudy; or else a case of Homeric nods.) Glad to finish Rebus on a high note, though chronologically I should have read it after Tooth and Nail or Strip Jack, much much earlier.
June 8, 2022
Although I enjoy Ian Rankin's novels, in my opinion he excels at the short story.
February 5, 2025
This collection contains twelve stories, all starring Rankin's regular detective, Inspector John Rebus. The collection was first published in 1992, so all the stories are set when Rebus was still a relatively young man and feature some of the characters who disappeared along the way, like Brian Holmes, while omitting some who hadn’t appeared yet, like Big Ger Cafferty, the gangster. This worked well for me since I prefer the early Rebus books on the whole, and find Rankin’s later obsession with Cafferty somewhat tedious. That’s not to suggest that gangsters don’t show up here – a couple of the stories are about gangsters while another two or three are connected to IRA terrorism, reminding me of what a prominent place that had in the national psyche back in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Overall I decided that short stories aren’t Rankin’s best medium, at least in this early stage of his career. While each story has a reasonably interesting premise and Rankin’s writing and observations of Edinburgh life are as good as always, the investigation element is weak, with the solution sometimes too obvious. There’s a good mix of dark and light, with some stories veering towards noir while others are on the humorous side. I gave most of the stories either three or four stars, with only one getting five and none which were complete duds. So that makes this a solid if rather underwhelming collection – enjoyable for fans but probably not a good starting place for newcomers. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Overall I decided that short stories aren’t Rankin’s best medium, at least in this early stage of his career. While each story has a reasonably interesting premise and Rankin’s writing and observations of Edinburgh life are as good as always, the investigation element is weak, with the solution sometimes too obvious. There’s a good mix of dark and light, with some stories veering towards noir while others are on the humorous side. I gave most of the stories either three or four stars, with only one getting five and none which were complete duds. So that makes this a solid if rather underwhelming collection – enjoyable for fans but probably not a good starting place for newcomers. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
April 27, 2017
This book was a collection of short stories about the famous Scottish Inspector John Rebus. This is my first novel from Rankin and ergo the first time reading about Rebus. I had heard of the show but that was about it, I didn't know what to expect really. The crime genre can be a hit or a miss for me but because these were short & to the point I enjoyed the genre more than normal.
The book itself had interesting stories in there & with like any short story complication they had some boring ones too. It was a harmless enough read, nothing terrific but nothing terrible, it did make me want to go back to Edinburgh though, beautiful place. Rebus himself is an okay character, I wouldn't say I like or dislike him but he held my attention enough to keep wanting to read.
Overall this book was okay. I do have another Rankin/Rebus book waiting to be read in my pile of books, but it's a full novel. Let's see how that goes!
x
The book itself had interesting stories in there & with like any short story complication they had some boring ones too. It was a harmless enough read, nothing terrific but nothing terrible, it did make me want to go back to Edinburgh though, beautiful place. Rebus himself is an okay character, I wouldn't say I like or dislike him but he held my attention enough to keep wanting to read.
Overall this book was okay. I do have another Rankin/Rebus book waiting to be read in my pile of books, but it's a full novel. Let's see how that goes!
x
July 14, 2024
This book of short stories featuring Rebus was a nice break from the typical full-length novel, and it answered one question I’ve had about the inspector.
In the first few novels we learn that Rebus likes books, and in fact has them everywhere scattered among his flat. I’ve wanted to know more about his books and his reading as a way of understanding the character. Here’s an excerpt from the short story ‘Sunday’:
“Back in the bedroom, he picked up some books from the floor and stacked them against a wall, beside other columns of paperbacks and hardbacks, read and unread. One day he would get to read them. They were like contraband: he couldn’t stop himself buying them, but then he never really did anything with them once he bought them. The buying was the thing, that sense of ownership.”
So, I’ll stop holding my breath on the reading angle of Rebus. Maybe he’ll have some buying sprees or bookstore visits in his future. 📚
In the first few novels we learn that Rebus likes books, and in fact has them everywhere scattered among his flat. I’ve wanted to know more about his books and his reading as a way of understanding the character. Here’s an excerpt from the short story ‘Sunday’:
“Back in the bedroom, he picked up some books from the floor and stacked them against a wall, beside other columns of paperbacks and hardbacks, read and unread. One day he would get to read them. They were like contraband: he couldn’t stop himself buying them, but then he never really did anything with them once he bought them. The buying was the thing, that sense of ownership.”
So, I’ll stop holding my breath on the reading angle of Rebus. Maybe he’ll have some buying sprees or bookstore visits in his future. 📚
January 15, 2018
A great collection of short stories that cover everything from murder to burglary and many crimes in between.
This book is a wonderful way to enjoy Rebus in short sharp bursts but I think it helped that I knew the character of the man from the novels that I had already read.
As with all short stories there isn't the time to develop the characters and so the only disappointment for me was that the only sidekick mentioned was Brian Holmes. No sign of Siobhan or Gill both of whom I love from the books.
Don't read the book as an introduction to Rebus. Read it as a companion and it will be well worth the effort.
This book is a wonderful way to enjoy Rebus in short sharp bursts but I think it helped that I knew the character of the man from the novels that I had already read.
As with all short stories there isn't the time to develop the characters and so the only disappointment for me was that the only sidekick mentioned was Brian Holmes. No sign of Siobhan or Gill both of whom I love from the books.
Don't read the book as an introduction to Rebus. Read it as a companion and it will be well worth the effort.
July 10, 2013
An omnibus of twelve short stories in the Detective Inspector Rebus mystery series revolving around an Edinburgh detective.
This was an odd collection with most of the stories not feeling very Rebus-like. I don't know if it has simply been too long since I've read a Rebus or if Rankin needs more pages to develop the inspector.
There's a smugness to this, although I do enjoy reading how Rebus figures them out, even if the process and Rebus' solutions do irritate the hell out of Detective Constable Brian Holmes. I'm curious as to Rankin's background as he does have a lot of fun making up clever headlines in a lot of the stories.
The Stories
"Playback" discovers a dead Moira Bitter lying in a pool of her own blood with her boyfriend, John MacFarlane, fleeing the scene.
It's clever if a bit easy for Rebus to figure out.
"The Dean Curse" is another that becomes obvious quickly. A former Army major has retired after traumatic events resulting from his undercover work, but it seems that the people he worked against have found him and are enacting revenge. It pits Rebus against a London terrorist unit with the requisite jockeying for jurisdiction.
It's also weird as Rebus is reading Hammett's The Dain Curse and gets rather dramatic about Hammett "influencing" him. I suspect it was Rankin having read some Hammett and getting ideas from his reading.
"Being Frank" is one huge coincidence when Frank, a gentleman of the road who is full of stories, overhears a pair of men in a suspicious conversation. They are words that Rebus blows off until he hears them again in a different, unexpected circumstance.
Cute and the level of coincidence is unbelievable.
"Concrete Evidence" is a convoluted cold case that Rebus follows to its bitter end. Seemingly unsolvable, Rebus follows each thread as it leads to another and another until the truth rears up.
Whew, talk about coldblooded...
"Seeing Things" is a religious experience when three Catholic girls see God appear in the Hermitage of Braid, and Father Byrne and some zealots appear to protect the area. It doesn't seem they do so well since a dead trunk is found. One that leads to the discovery of a murder.
"A Good Hanging" finds a Fringe festival in Edinburgh with people performing all over the city, and at first, the man hanging from a gibbet is thought to be part of the drama.
This had a weird beginning and ended by being too easily solved and so very sad.
"Tit for Tat" is aflame in arson when a young man's flat is torched. His own fault as he provides the police with the motive.
Cute bit of detecting, but what an idiot the victim was!
"Not Provan" starts with a thrilled Rebus watching a trial for a young man who's been a thorn in his side for years. Finally, this berk is going to be put away. Only, during the trial, it appears that he'll get off. Rebus is trying to figure out how when he encounters another amateur detective investigating the night in question.
Another clever bit of detecting.
"Sunday" was intended as a day of reflection, and Rebus is spending this Sunday, trying to find a peace as he submerges himself into Sunday's weekly routine.
This one was slow to unveil and finally makes sense as to why Rebus is so obsessed with his home life. This was one of my favorites if only because there's a yin-yang in Rebus' thoughts on the reasons for his introspection.
"Auld Lang Syne" finds Rebus and a contingent of policemen out on New Year's Eve trying to stop a drug deal when an unexpected suspect turns up. When Trigger confirms having seen the light, Rebus doesn't quite buy it. It's a very suspicious hope.
While the encounter between Rebus and bad guy is interesting, I suspect it's more of a statement on the stupidity of inter-law enforcement rivalry. I did like the twist Rankin used in this.
"The Gentleman's Club" discovers a young girl naked and in the bath, having committed suicide. Her distraught and wealthy parents are clueless as to why, but the clues pile up and the truth is just horrifying.
Wow, the resolution of this was enough to make my blood run cold.
"Monstrous Trumpet" takes the piss out of Inspector Clouseau, er, I mean, Inspector Cluzeau, a visiting French cop who wants to see how the Edinburgh cops do it. Chief Inspector Lauderdale thinks it'll be laugh to make Rebus responsible for him. Desperate to figure out what to do with him, Rebus begs the desk sergeant for a case. One which finds the Scot and the Frenchman in the Royal Mile at an art gallery to investigate the theft of a bronze.
This was clever, funny, embarrassing, and sad with the betrayal.
The Cover
The cover feels more like a Victorian mystery with its smoggy looking gray background speckled in black accented with the distorted perspective of the orange, glowing street lamp.
The title is taken from one of the short stories and could be thought to reflect on the fate of those who are caught, metaphorically A Good Hanging.
This was an odd collection with most of the stories not feeling very Rebus-like. I don't know if it has simply been too long since I've read a Rebus or if Rankin needs more pages to develop the inspector.
There's a smugness to this, although I do enjoy reading how Rebus figures them out, even if the process and Rebus' solutions do irritate the hell out of Detective Constable Brian Holmes. I'm curious as to Rankin's background as he does have a lot of fun making up clever headlines in a lot of the stories.
The Stories
"Playback" discovers a dead Moira Bitter lying in a pool of her own blood with her boyfriend, John MacFarlane, fleeing the scene.
It's clever if a bit easy for Rebus to figure out.
"The Dean Curse" is another that becomes obvious quickly. A former Army major has retired after traumatic events resulting from his undercover work, but it seems that the people he worked against have found him and are enacting revenge. It pits Rebus against a London terrorist unit with the requisite jockeying for jurisdiction.
It's also weird as Rebus is reading Hammett's The Dain Curse and gets rather dramatic about Hammett "influencing" him. I suspect it was Rankin having read some Hammett and getting ideas from his reading.
"Being Frank" is one huge coincidence when Frank, a gentleman of the road who is full of stories, overhears a pair of men in a suspicious conversation. They are words that Rebus blows off until he hears them again in a different, unexpected circumstance.
Cute and the level of coincidence is unbelievable.
"Concrete Evidence" is a convoluted cold case that Rebus follows to its bitter end. Seemingly unsolvable, Rebus follows each thread as it leads to another and another until the truth rears up.
Whew, talk about coldblooded...
"Seeing Things" is a religious experience when three Catholic girls see God appear in the Hermitage of Braid, and Father Byrne and some zealots appear to protect the area. It doesn't seem they do so well since a dead trunk is found. One that leads to the discovery of a murder.
"A Good Hanging" finds a Fringe festival in Edinburgh with people performing all over the city, and at first, the man hanging from a gibbet is thought to be part of the drama.
This had a weird beginning and ended by being too easily solved and so very sad.
"Tit for Tat" is aflame in arson when a young man's flat is torched. His own fault as he provides the police with the motive.
Cute bit of detecting, but what an idiot the victim was!
"Not Provan" starts with a thrilled Rebus watching a trial for a young man who's been a thorn in his side for years. Finally, this berk is going to be put away. Only, during the trial, it appears that he'll get off. Rebus is trying to figure out how when he encounters another amateur detective investigating the night in question.
Another clever bit of detecting.
"Sunday" was intended as a day of reflection, and Rebus is spending this Sunday, trying to find a peace as he submerges himself into Sunday's weekly routine.
This one was slow to unveil and finally makes sense as to why Rebus is so obsessed with his home life. This was one of my favorites if only because there's a yin-yang in Rebus' thoughts on the reasons for his introspection.
"Auld Lang Syne" finds Rebus and a contingent of policemen out on New Year's Eve trying to stop a drug deal when an unexpected suspect turns up. When Trigger confirms having seen the light, Rebus doesn't quite buy it. It's a very suspicious hope.
While the encounter between Rebus and bad guy is interesting, I suspect it's more of a statement on the stupidity of inter-law enforcement rivalry. I did like the twist Rankin used in this.
"The Gentleman's Club" discovers a young girl naked and in the bath, having committed suicide. Her distraught and wealthy parents are clueless as to why, but the clues pile up and the truth is just horrifying.
Wow, the resolution of this was enough to make my blood run cold.
"Monstrous Trumpet" takes the piss out of Inspector Clouseau, er, I mean, Inspector Cluzeau, a visiting French cop who wants to see how the Edinburgh cops do it. Chief Inspector Lauderdale thinks it'll be laugh to make Rebus responsible for him. Desperate to figure out what to do with him, Rebus begs the desk sergeant for a case. One which finds the Scot and the Frenchman in the Royal Mile at an art gallery to investigate the theft of a bronze.
This was clever, funny, embarrassing, and sad with the betrayal.
The Cover
The cover feels more like a Victorian mystery with its smoggy looking gray background speckled in black accented with the distorted perspective of the orange, glowing street lamp.
The title is taken from one of the short stories and could be thought to reflect on the fate of those who are caught, metaphorically A Good Hanging.
May 16, 2020
This was my first encounter with Ian Rankin and John Rebus and it didn’t disappoint. The stories in this collection are snappy, entertaining and well written. I can definitely say that this will not be the only Rebus book that I read as I adored him. Bring on another.
January 16, 2021
A collection of Inspector Rebus short stories that were originally published in 1992. A very entertaining read!
October 12, 2023
Every short story is splendid and full of suspense and wit.
July 10, 2013
An omnibus of twelve short stories in the Detective Inspector Rebus mystery series revolving around an Edinburgh detective.
This was an odd collection with most of the stories not feeling very Rebus-like. I don't know if it has simply been too long since I've read a Rebus or if Rankin needs more pages to develop the inspector.
There's a smugness to this, although I do enjoy reading how Rebus figures them out, even if the process and Rebus' solutions do irritate the hell out of Detective Constable Brian Holmes. I'm curious as to Rankin's background as he does have a lot of fun making up clever headlines in a lot of the stories.
The Stories
"Playback" discovers a dead Moira Bitter lying in a pool of her own blood with her boyfriend, John MacFarlane, fleeing the scene.
It's clever if a bit easy for Rebus to figure out.
"The Dean Curse" is another that becomes obvious quickly. A former Army major has retired after traumatic events resulting from his undercover work, but it seems that the people he worked against have found him and are enacting revenge. It pits Rebus against a London terrorist unit with the requisite jockeying for jurisdiction.
It's also weird as Rebus is reading Hammett's The Dain Curse and gets rather dramatic about Hammett "influencing" him. I suspect it was Rankin having read some Hammett and getting ideas from his reading.
"Being Frank" is one huge coincidence when Frank, a gentleman of the road who is full of stories, overhears a pair of men in a suspicious conversation. They are words that Rebus blows off until he hears them again in a different, unexpected circumstance.
Cute and the level of coincidence is unbelievable.
"Concrete Evidence" is a convoluted cold case that Rebus follows to its bitter end. Seemingly unsolvable, Rebus follows each thread as it leads to another and another until the truth rears up.
Whew, talk about coldblooded...
"Seeing Things" is a religious experience when three Catholic girls see God appear in the Hermitage of Braid, and Father Byrne and some zealots appear to protect the area. It doesn't seem they do so well since a dead trunk is found. One that leads to the discovery of a murder.
"A Good Hanging" finds a Fringe festival in Edinburgh with people performing all over the city, and at first, the man hanging from a gibbet is thought to be part of the drama.
This had a weird beginning and ended by being too easily solved and so very sad.
"Tit for Tat" is aflame in arson when a young man's flat is torched. His own fault as he provides the police with the motive.
Cute bit of detecting, but what an idiot the victim was!
"Not Provan" starts with a thrilled Rebus watching a trial for a young man who's been a thorn in his side for years. Finally, this berk is going to be put away. Only, during the trial, it appears that he'll get off. Rebus is trying to figure out how when he encounters another amateur detective investigating the night in question.
Another clever bit of detecting.
"Sunday" was intended as a day of reflection, and Rebus is spending this Sunday, trying to find a peace as he submerges himself into Sunday's weekly routine.
This one was slow to unveil and finally makes sense as to why Rebus is so obsessed with his home life. This was one of my favorites if only because there's a yin-yang in Rebus' thoughts on the reasons for his introspection.
"Auld Lang Syne" finds Rebus and a contingent of policemen out on New Year's Eve trying to stop a drug deal when an unexpected suspect turns up. When Trigger confirms having seen the light, Rebus doesn't quite buy it. It's a very suspicious hope.
While the encounter between Rebus and bad guy is interesting, I suspect it's more of a statement on the stupidity of inter-law enforcement rivalry. I did like the twist Rankin used in this.
"The Gentleman's Club" discovers a young girl naked and in the bath, having committed suicide. Her distraught and wealthy parents are clueless as to why, but the clues pile up and the truth is just horrifying.
Wow, the resolution of this was enough to make my blood run cold.
"Monstrous Trumpet" takes the piss out of Inspector Clouseau, er, I mean, Inspector Cluzeau, a visiting French cop who wants to see how the Edinburgh cops do it. Chief Inspector Lauderdale thinks it'll be laugh to make Rebus responsible for him. Desperate to figure out what to do with him, Rebus begs the desk sergeant for a case. One which finds the Scot and the Frenchman in the Royal Mile at an art gallery to investigate the theft of a bronze.
This was clever, funny, embarrassing, and sad with the betrayal.
The Cover
The cover feels more like a Victorian mystery with its smoggy looking gray background speckled in black accented with the distorted perspective of the orange, glowing street lamp.
The title is taken from one of the short stories and could be thought to reflect on the fate of those who are caught, metaphorically A Good Hanging.
This was an odd collection with most of the stories not feeling very Rebus-like. I don't know if it has simply been too long since I've read a Rebus or if Rankin needs more pages to develop the inspector.
There's a smugness to this, although I do enjoy reading how Rebus figures them out, even if the process and Rebus' solutions do irritate the hell out of Detective Constable Brian Holmes. I'm curious as to Rankin's background as he does have a lot of fun making up clever headlines in a lot of the stories.
The Stories
"Playback" discovers a dead Moira Bitter lying in a pool of her own blood with her boyfriend, John MacFarlane, fleeing the scene.
It's clever if a bit easy for Rebus to figure out.
"The Dean Curse" is another that becomes obvious quickly. A former Army major has retired after traumatic events resulting from his undercover work, but it seems that the people he worked against have found him and are enacting revenge. It pits Rebus against a London terrorist unit with the requisite jockeying for jurisdiction.
It's also weird as Rebus is reading Hammett's The Dain Curse and gets rather dramatic about Hammett "influencing" him. I suspect it was Rankin having read some Hammett and getting ideas from his reading.
"Being Frank" is one huge coincidence when Frank, a gentleman of the road who is full of stories, overhears a pair of men in a suspicious conversation. They are words that Rebus blows off until he hears them again in a different, unexpected circumstance.
Cute and the level of coincidence is unbelievable.
"Concrete Evidence" is a convoluted cold case that Rebus follows to its bitter end. Seemingly unsolvable, Rebus follows each thread as it leads to another and another until the truth rears up.
Whew, talk about coldblooded...
"Seeing Things" is a religious experience when three Catholic girls see God appear in the Hermitage of Braid, and Father Byrne and some zealots appear to protect the area. It doesn't seem they do so well since a dead trunk is found. One that leads to the discovery of a murder.
"A Good Hanging" finds a Fringe festival in Edinburgh with people performing all over the city, and at first, the man hanging from a gibbet is thought to be part of the drama.
This had a weird beginning and ended by being too easily solved and so very sad.
"Tit for Tat" is aflame in arson when a young man's flat is torched. His own fault as he provides the police with the motive.
Cute bit of detecting, but what an idiot the victim was!
"Not Provan" starts with a thrilled Rebus watching a trial for a young man who's been a thorn in his side for years. Finally, this berk is going to be put away. Only, during the trial, it appears that he'll get off. Rebus is trying to figure out how when he encounters another amateur detective investigating the night in question.
Another clever bit of detecting.
"Sunday" was intended as a day of reflection, and Rebus is spending this Sunday, trying to find a peace as he submerges himself into Sunday's weekly routine.
This one was slow to unveil and finally makes sense as to why Rebus is so obsessed with his home life. This was one of my favorites if only because there's a yin-yang in Rebus' thoughts on the reasons for his introspection.
"Auld Lang Syne" finds Rebus and a contingent of policemen out on New Year's Eve trying to stop a drug deal when an unexpected suspect turns up. When Trigger confirms having seen the light, Rebus doesn't quite buy it. It's a very suspicious hope.
While the encounter between Rebus and bad guy is interesting, I suspect it's more of a statement on the stupidity of inter-law enforcement rivalry. I did like the twist Rankin used in this.
"The Gentleman's Club" discovers a young girl naked and in the bath, having committed suicide. Her distraught and wealthy parents are clueless as to why, but the clues pile up and the truth is just horrifying.
Wow, the resolution of this was enough to make my blood run cold.
"Monstrous Trumpet" takes the piss out of Inspector Clouseau, er, I mean, Inspector Cluzeau, a visiting French cop who wants to see how the Edinburgh cops do it. Chief Inspector Lauderdale thinks it'll be laugh to make Rebus responsible for him. Desperate to figure out what to do with him, Rebus begs the desk sergeant for a case. One which finds the Scot and the Frenchman in the Royal Mile at an art gallery to investigate the theft of a bronze.
This was clever, funny, embarrassing, and sad with the betrayal.
The Cover
The cover feels more like a Victorian mystery with its smoggy looking gray background speckled in black accented with the distorted perspective of the orange, glowing street lamp.
The title is taken from one of the short stories and could be thought to reflect on the fate of those who are caught, metaphorically A Good Hanging.
January 23, 2011
A decent collection of short stories. Some of these stories really fascinated me, but unfortunately not the majority of them. Those that did certainly did make me want to delve deeper into the story, especially the title story which was my favourite from the collection. All round, the stories were of good quality and did have a certain Scottish authenticity. I didn't find myself loving or loathing Rebus, but he was a very realistic character. The stories were good for a quick read - I'm not sure I'd have liked most o them if they had been full length, though. I'd be interested in reading more of Rankin's works.
March 1, 2014
The good thing about a short story is that the author only has a short amount of time in which to be clever. And I like a mystery where I can't guess the culprit, even though all the clues are there. Rankin achieved both of the above things in at least three-quarters of this collection. The other great thing about Rankin is that he can take a cliche and completely subvert and recreate it, for example, in the headlines that Rebus and Curt seem to compulsively make up inside their heads. I think it adds to the very real-world portrayal of crime in Rankin's narrative. Overall, made for good train reading.
May 26, 2012
A rather good collection of 12 Rebus short stories. None of them were of any great depth or offered any new insight into the man himself. Brian Holmes appears in a few but there is no sign yet of Siobhan which seemed strange. My favourite was Concrete Evidence, a skeleton unearthed when a wine shop cellar's concrete floor was dug up, but the others were all equally as good.
September 11, 2024
Bought it for its scenery is mostly Edinburgh, where my daughter now lives.
The stories are well built, but the detective - for someone used to Nero W., Miss M., Pepe C. ou Sam S. - is not really appealing.
Anyway, reading crime stories in the city which is 9.000 km away, and where my daughter lives, was not a very bright idea.
The stories are well built, but the detective - for someone used to Nero W., Miss M., Pepe C. ou Sam S. - is not really appealing.
Anyway, reading crime stories in the city which is 9.000 km away, and where my daughter lives, was not a very bright idea.
December 1, 2012
I always enjoy reading Ian Rankin novels and I'm not sure why I haven't read more than I have. Rebus is a gritty flawed Edinburgh cop who is never far from trouble.
The books are well written and have lots of sub plots that add to the Rebus series overall.
The books are well written and have lots of sub plots that add to the Rebus series overall.
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