Ian Rankin

[murphyz]

I notice on the homepage that the new Ian Rankin novel is out soon. Is he any good?

I bought Knots and Crosses last night, book #1, thinking someone had suggested him to me. I found out I was confused and they had really suggested John Irving.
I think I saw an episode of Reubus (sp?) once, and that was quite good.

So, any thoughts?

Mxx

 

[Darren]

I read one of his a year or so ago. Can't remember which one though. Seemed pretty good.

 

[Gryphon]

I am not familiar with Ian Rankin ... any relation to Robert Rankin?

 

[David181173]

Originally posted by murphyz
I notice on the homepage that the new Ian Rankin novel is out soon. Is he any good?

I started with Knots and Crosses myself, two or three years ago. I wasn't bowled over, and certainly didn't rush out to get the next in the series. However, about a year ago someone lent me a copy of "Resurrection Men", one of the more recent Rebus novels and I was impressed.

Sometimes it is identification with characters that attracts us to a novel. Particularly to a series of novels featuring the same central characters. This is not the case here, though. As a very straight-laced, sober type, I don't particularly indentify with Rebus as an individual. I like Rankin's style and the way he manages to come up with plots that are complicated yet plausible. So many crime novels just don't ring true.

I heard someone commenting recently that most of us are fascinated by crime, hence the attention given in the media to certain high profile cases and hence the popularity of crime novels. Personally, I'm not particularly fascinated by thugs like Rankin's Big Ger. I like crime novels that present the reader with a mystery to try and unravel. Rankin's novels work for me on that level. They are far removed from the genteel world of an Agatha Christie novel, but for me they have the same fascination.

I've just read "Strip Jack" and "The Black Book", published in a single volume together with "Mortal Causes", three sequential novels from early on in the series. I didn't rate either quite as highly as "Resurrection Men", but they were nonetheless a good page turning read.

 

[ALI]

I have only read one book by Ian Rankin (Rebus #9) 'The Hanging Garden' and found it to be a good read, but nothing special. I like a story to move along quickly, and found this book dragged a little at times, though the plot itself was good.

I have another book by Rankin on my shelf (Bleeding Hearts) but have no urge to pick it up............. read into that what you will!!!

If you do try out one of his novels, i would be interested to hear your thoughts when you are finished!


Regards
ALI

 

[headpodd]

I've read all the Rankin novels - in my opinion they are worth reading unless you don't enjoy detective novels. I will always look out for and buy his new novels.

He reminds me of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series but I prefer Connelly by miles.

Would recommend both to anyone who enjoys this genre.

However I would suggest that with both series you start with book 1 as they are both as much about the detective (Rebus, Bosch) as about the crimes.

 

[David181173]

Dead Souls

I've just finished the tenth in the Rebus series, Dead Souls. Generally speaking this appears to be a series that gets better as it goes on. I'll even forgive Rankin for using that rather old fashioned plot technique in which a series of supposedly separate cases end up being intertwined. There are some good twists towards the end too.

 

[tartan_skirt]

I read Knots and Crosses a few months back. The reason I bought it was that it was in a charity shop cheap and I think I got Ian Rankin confused with Iain Banks ... For me it was a good book and I'll keep a look out for the next ones if they're cheap, but I don't think I'd buy them full price.

 

[Roger53]

Keep going from Knots and Crosses. They get better. I think he really improves from Tooth and Nail, which was very fast paced. An excellent book. I feel his middle books up to The Falls are the best. I am just waiting for Exit Music to appear at the library. Last one to go and the only one I have not read.

I will have to give this Michael Connolly a go, as recommended.

 

[sanyuja]

I started with The Complete Stories by Ian Rankin. I have read 4-5 stories so far and they all seem quite lame to me. The plots are too lame, the murderer guessable and I didn't particularly enjoy Rankin's style.

The back cover says he is the #1 crime writers alive in England. I expected something on the lines of Agatha Christie, because that's the first name that comes to mind when I think of crime novels. I was disappointed with Ian Rankin. Are his novels better than his short stories?

 

[Roger53]

I haven't read his short stories, but then I am not crazy about short stories in the first place. Ian Rankin is completely different to Agatha Christie, whose books I also enjoy immensely. Colin Dexter is probably closer to her than Ian Rankin. So if you are looking for someone like that he may be the wrong person. More contemporary might be one way of putting it.

Having said that I would still try his longer books. Maybe its me but I virtually never guess who is the villian, no matter who the author. He has written other stuff besides crime as well. I am about half way through a spy novel by Ian Rankin, The Watchman. It is excellent. Fast moving and not your average spy. No James Bond this guy, but it really gets you in, and different from Rebus.

On the back of the copy I got from the library the blurb states it is "Ian Rankin's hard to find spy novel" or something like that. I see it in lots of libraries and found two copies in the library from where I actually borrowed it. I found this rather amusing, in that it is not hard to find in my area.

So maybe try one of his other books rather than Rebus? I think he is a marvellous writer. I gave Michael Connolly a go..the Closers. Not bad, but I wouldn't trade Harry Bosch for Rebus.

 

[GERBAM]

John Rebus And The New Hero

HI
I love Ian Rankin's books. I have read all but one of his novels, because I have not been able to find a copy ... so the search goes on.

His latest 2007 book brings back a character he created at the same time he created Rebus. He said when it came time to write a third book he had to choose and Rebus won. His books are of course police procedurals with a social conscience.

This new hero is a spy. He's not exactly like John LeCarre's Smiley but he is formed in his spirit. Will Rankin continue to write about his adventures when he retires Rebus? He has threatened to do that in next book. I for one hope Rebus sticks around to help Siobhan as she rises through the ranks ... after all he mentored her and did a great job of it.

ENJOY
GERBAM

 

[sanyuja]

I haven't read his short stories, but then I am not crazy about short stories in the first place. Ian Rankin is completely different to Agatha Christie, whose books I also enjoy immensely. Colin Dexter is probably closer to her than Ian Rankin. So if you are looking for someone like that he may be the wrong person. More contemporary might be one way of putting it.

I compared him with Christie because I have read a lot of her books. I don't know what you mean by contemporary here, but I expect detective novels to have a bit of suspense in them. Christie does drop hints to who the culprit is, but only a smart reader can figure it out (which I could never do BTW).

Rankin's stories didn't really make me sit on the edge and wonder who the murderer was - it was clear as to who it was. Another problem was the plot- too simple. I guess that's OK because these were short stories.

Having said that I would still try his longer books. Maybe its me but I virtually never guess who is the villian, no matter who the author. He has written other stuff besides crime as well. I am about half way through a spy novel by Ian Rankin, The Watchman. It is excellent. Fast moving and not your average spy. No James Bond this guy, but it really gets you in, and different from Rebus.

I will give that a shot. My library has a few of his audio books. Let me try those.

On the back of the copy I got from the library the blurb states it is "Ian Rankin's hard to find spy novel" or something like that. I see it in lots of libraries and found two copies in the library from where I actually borrowed it. I found this rather amusing, in that it is not hard to find in my area.

The 'hard to find' was meant for the spy rather than the novel, may be?

So maybe try one of his other books rather than Rebus? I think he is a marvellous writer. I gave Michael Connolly a go..the Closers. Not bad, but I wouldn't trade Harry Bosch for Rebus.

Harry Bosch is the character created by Michael Connelly? I will add Closers to my to-be-tried list.

 

[Roger53]

I suppose contemporary is the wrong word to use. When Agatha Christie wrote her books they were set in the present era, but now they are of a past period. Rankin is writing in our time now, but Agatha Christie's books seem so enjoyably old fashioned now. I agree she drops hints and I too never seem to work out the culprit. I do find similarities with PD James.

The spy in the Watchman wasn't a real spy as such, more of a support role than a spy, but then when he got forced into the situation they did have trouble finding him. But I think it was just a line to help sell the book. A good book anyway. I am now reading Blood Hunt, which like Ian Rankin's other thrillers, is quite good. Different again like its' predecessors.

I have read quite a number of Harry Bosch books since my last post in this thread. Like many authors I find his earlier books much better. The Black Echo for instance was very good. I cannot help but like Harry, even if he can be rather obnoxious to his fellow characters. A bit like Rebus in this respect. The Black Ice is also very good.

 

[GERBAM]

Why Crime/mystery/suspsense/thriller Novels?

I
I heard someone commenting recently that most of us are fascinated by crime, hence the attention given in the media to certain high profile cases and hence the popularity of crime novels. Personally, I'm not particularly fascinated by thugs like Rankin's Big Ger. I like crime novels that present the reader with a mystery to try and unravel. Rankin's novels work for me on that level. They are far removed from the genteel world of an Agatha Christie novel, but for me they have the same fascination.

THe theory some sociologists and psychologists who have said a word here or there about folks like us, who really enjoy crime novels, is because we readers are not comfortable w/chaos. We are willing to invest ourselves in the excitement of the crime, and the investigation as long as we know that in the end the cop, the detective, the PI, the amateur or professional sleuth ties all the bloody loose ends up for us and the world is put right again in the end. IMHO this sounds very much like a all of the mystery readers adn viewers I have known including the students I taught MYSTERY HISTORY and related courses to.

Unlike you, David, I don't try to follow clues or try to unravel the puzzle ... I like to go along for the ride w/the crime solvers and let them do the work.

I also have noticed about myself that as I keep track of who and what I read my tastes have changed dramatically over the years in respect to which writers I gave up and the new ones who have taken their place. I guess we all have our idiosyncratic approaches to the genre and may even choose some of the same writers for different reasons.

The major difference between Christie and RAnkin IMHO is that her books are puzzles that take place in an enclosed environment of some kind and RAnkin's are more global and take place with more characters in larger communities and are mostly police procedurals. I read all of Christie and only solved 1 but I no longer worry about 'my solve rate' as just read to take the journey. What I found amazing beyond each book of Christie's is that she created more than 80 plots/puzzles w/out repeating herself. Quite an achievement. Don't you think?

This is a very interesting and enjoyable discussion ... I hope we can keep it going.