DI John Rebus and his superior, Chief Inspector Frank Lauderdale, are chasing a car thought to contain two kidnappers who demanded ransom for the daughter of a leading politician, but instead of capturing the pair, the Chief Inspector crashes the car, badly injuring himself, and the teenage kidnappers choose suicide rather than surrender. Shortly after that incident, a recently released ex-con kills himself in front of another politician, seemingly a random act. But Rebus doesn’t believe any of these events are random, although he’s hard-pressed to say just how they might be linked, and there are many movers and shakers who don’t want him to find out…. This is the seventh Rebus novel, and it appears that John has fallen on hard times: he’s lost his relationship and he’s drinking very heavily, and he is using his less-than-standard investigation to avoid thinking about both of those things. One of his actions and its consequences was very nearly enough for me to stop reading - it was really only the feeling that his behaviour was directly related to his incipient alcoholism that allowed me to continue. All that said, the writing continues to be strong and the main character is deeply conflicted and therefore interesting; I will certainly continue to read the series, but this particular entry will never count among my favourites. So, recommended, with caveats. ( )

This was one of the first of Sir Ian Rankin’s Rebus books to engage with politics – a setting that he would revisit several times in novels such as Set in Darkness and The Naming of the Dead among others.

It opens with a frantic car chase out towards the Forth Road Bridge. Rebus’s boss, Chief Inspector Lauderdale is driving, and is fired up with a desire to catch the objects of the chase before they can make it into Fife, and hence into another force’s jurisdiction. The chase does end on the Edinburgh side of the bridge, but in unexpected circumstances.

Meanwhile, a man who has recently been released from prison attends a constituents’ surgery conducted by a local councillor, also with very dramatic and unforeseen circumstances. Rebus is called on to investigate, and finds himself plunged into a morass of intrigue, kidnapping and murder, and involving a varied cast of characters including senior policemen, prominent civil servants, leading businessmen and foreign diplomats.

This may sound like a rather heady mix, but Rankin manages all the various threads with his customary deftness, leaving a rock-solid plot peopled by immensely plausible characters. It is easy to see how Rebus has become such a well-established and popular character. ( )

This is the first Rebus mystery I have read, but I watched several episodes of the television series. I didn't love the series and I didn't love this book.

Rebus is looking for a young woman whose parents have reported missing. A ransom is demanded, but it all goes wrong, resulting in the two young men involved in the presumed kidnapping killing themselves. Rebus finds the suicides odd, especially given the method, but finds a reason that makes some sense. Soon after, a councilmember is faced with an ex-con who kills himself in his office. The councilman claims no knowledge of the man yet Rebus sees fear just under the surface.

Why did the recently-parolled con kill himself there?

Rebus pursues an investigation but is warned off by higher-ups. True to form, he continues on his own. His job is threatened, and to Rebus work is all there is - except for alcohol, that is - but he is determined to follow the threads to whatever end.

I couldn't like Rebus. As a rule, I like flawed characters, but the flaws here just made me annoyed. I understand drinking and am not talking about that. Rather, his need to start arguments, distancing himself from his former wife and his daughter; his beliefs in once a con always a con, and for me, his flagrant disregard for other animals. Just couldn't like him.

The writing is good, though. I can't fault him for that. I just didn't like the character. I suspect we are not meant to like him altogether, frankly, but to like his commitment to the truth. I just can't stay with him any longer. ( )

Rebus ist zwei Jugendlichen auf der Spur, die die Tochter des reichen Lord Provost Kennedy entführt haben sollen. Vor seinen Augen stürzen sich die beiden verängstigten Jungen von einer Brücke in den Tod. Rebus, der sich für den schrecklichen Vorfall mitverantwortlich fühlt, stößt in der Wohnung der beiden auf Spuren, die auf eine Verschwörung in den höchsten Kreisen hindeuten. Prompt wird der grummelige Detective Inspector zwangsweise von diesem Fall beurlaubt …

Best Rebus so far. ( )