Bleeding Hearts (1994)

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2046244.html

Most of this is excellent, a tale of a specialist assassin who happens also to have a milder form of hæmophilia, trying to find out who organised his latest hit, and of a private detective hired to find and kill him for a previous assignment. The detail of pursuit around the UK and USA, getting entangled in a nasty cult with links to spooky circles in Washington, is very good. But unfortunately I was completely unconvinced by the twist-in-the-tail resolutions of both main plot strands, which spoiled what was otherwise a very enjoyable read. ( )

Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin is human after all! I thought it impossible for him to write what I would consider a poor book, but this, albeit released under the nom de plume 'Jack Harvey', fits that bill perfectly.

The story is that of a hit man who suffers from haemophilia. He is hired to kill a journalist but, is almost caught at the scene due to information which only his client could know. Our "hero", decides to track down and deal with this nasty person.

The plot takes us around the British Isles and America with heaps of testosterone filled action. Naturally, our hero and most of his friends escape with their lives: the only exception being the weapons seller whose daughter our hero fancies. His death makes their tryst acceptable.

The denouement is the final let down in this work. Having struggled through three hundred and ninety-seven pages of gratuitous violence, the final five pages include every corny plot line ever created.

I am pleased to have read this book for two reasons; firstly, as proof that even the great can have off days and, secondly, because I know that I will never find another such poor offering under the name Rankin. ( )

I won't give it away but I was disapponited in the ending. The ride getting there, however, is great. Rankin creates great characters and crafts a good yarn. In this book the lines between protagonist and villian are thinly drawn as the killer is likable and the cop is the worst type of person. I've also seen a growing trend to combine perspectives in novels. This one uses first and third depending on which character's POV is used. Worth the read. ( )