Set in Darkness

It's been awhile since i've read old Rebus, and I enjoyed getting back into the series. Ian Rankin is an extremely skilled mystery writer, and his Rebus creation is awesome. John Rebus is a very complex character-brooding, intelligent, determined to solve mysteries at any cost (even his own career as a policeman in the Edinburgh police force). What I really enjoy about Mr. Rankin's books are his perfectly believable and sinister plots that just roll along with no lagging or side stepping. And Rebus is a real hard-boiled police inspector. We not only see the dark side of Edinburgh life, but we are up front and personal with Rebus' dark side at all times throughout each of the books.This book starts with a mummified body found boarded up show more in a fireplace at an old building undergoing construction. Almost right away after this 20 some year old body is found, another body which is much fresher is discovered. The two appear to be unrelated to each other, but as Rebus and his team start digging, connections start appearing that reach far back into the Edinburgh underworld and an old nemesis reaches out to John Rebus as well. I cannot recommed this crime series enough. If you are a fan of United Kingdom police procedurals, then don't miss Rankin's wonderful Rebus series. I know I will be continuing to read again after a little hiatus. show less

This was another very enjoyable read in the Rebus Series. Ian Rankin does an excellent job in capturing the very essence of Edinburgh within his books, including it's under belly. His language wraps around you like a warm glove that keeps you reading on and on and on! Rebus is no more popular with the powers that be than he is in previous books, despite getting results by whatever means are needed. In this book he is involved in the periphery of two murders (one modern, one ancient) and a suicide. If this wasn't enough for him his nemesis reappears on the scene, and the Strawman (as he is called by this character) has more than enough on his plate, but he tucks in with full gusto! This book has all the ingredients to be a success, and show more undoubtedly succeeds. As always I look forward to getting lost in the next Rebus book. If you haven't read a book in the series, Knots and Crosses is a good introduction to the character and the series, as well as still being one of my favourites in the series. You won't be disappointed! show less

Keine Superhelden, keine Action, kein geradliniges Erzählen -- dennoch oder gerade deswegen ist dem Schotten Ian Rankin ein großartiger Kriminalroman gelungen, der durchaus einen "mankellartigen" Erfolg auf dem deutschen Buchmarkt verdient hätte. Rankin komplettiert den Kreis neuer glänzender britischer Krimi-Erzähler wie Reginald Hill, Val McDermid und Mo Hayder und stellt deren Extraklasse erneut unter Beweis. Rankins Helden sind -- ob jung oder alt -- bereits vom Leben angefasste Menschen. Ob im Trott des Alltags gefangen, desillusioniert, ohne Selbstbewusstsein oder mit den unterschiedlichsten Defekten geschlagen, kämpfen seine Figuren um ihr Leben, kultivieren ihren Ehrgeiz, ihr Gerechtigkeitsempfinden oder ihre Rachsucht. show more Dies alles unter einem ewig düster verhangenen bleigrauen Himmel in einem verregneten Edinburgh. Inspektor John Rebus sieht sich mit einem merkwürdigen Fall konfrontiert. Auf der Baustelle des künftigen schottischen Parlaments wird eine mumifizierte Leiche gefunden, die bereits Jahrzehnte versteckt an ihrem Platz liegen muss und nicht identifiziert werden kann. Echte Brisanz gewinnt der Fall, als wenig später der designierte Labour-Abgeordnete Roddy Grieve am gleichen Ort ermordet aufgefunden wird. Grieve entstammt einer der prominentesten und exzentrischsten schottischen Familien. Rebus Chef setzt dem altgedienten und ob seiner ungewöhnlichen Ermittlungsmethoden berüchtigten Inspektor den ehrgeizigen und karrieresüchtigen Derek Linford vor die Nase. Doch der erfahrene, vom Leben enttäuschte und alkoholkranke Rebus ist nicht gewillt, den jungen Aufsteiger gewähren zu lassen. Bald wird deutlich, dass groß angelegtes Spekulantentum und Korruption den Hintergrund der Morde bilden. Set in Darkness lautet der Originaltitel des Romans. Und in der der Tat nutzt Ian Rankin das Genre zu einer großartigen Schilderung enttäuschter Illusionen in einer hoffnungslos düsteren Stadt. Das Genre gerät dem Autor nicht wie vielen seiner Kollegen zum Selbstzweck, sondern als hervorragendes Mittel eindrucksvoller Milieu- und Charakterstudien. Von einem solchen Roman lässt sich lange zehren! --Ulrich Deurer show less

As usual a great mystery novel with three very different investigations and a return of Big Ger Cafferty. There is so much more to Rankin's books, especially the involvement of Scottish bureaucratic and parliamentary happenings. Edinburgh is just as much a character as Rebus or Siobhan Clarke, taking Rankin to a higher level than most police procedurals. The description of Hogmanay brought on a bout of nostalgia: first-footing, black bun, doing a turn, and more, although the bloody events that followed were even more shocking in comparison. Rebus's music choices are always of interest, often matching my own, from Wishbone Ash to Tom Waits, and of course his favourite, The Rolling Stones.

There wasn't a print version available at the show more library so I settled for the audiobook. Narration by Samuel Gillies was OK, but not noteworthy. As there was little differentiation between characters it was sometimes difficult to know who was speaking. I prefer Rebus in print.

My favourite line was the rebuttal to a claim for Scotland's first family status. Rankin states "Everybody knew Scotland's first family was The Broons". When I was a child, this was one of my favourite comic strips made famous in Scotland's Sunday Post, the other one being the companion strip Oor Wullie. show less

Another great Rebus story on the whole though I kind of hoped we'd seen the last of Cafferty.

One point made me ponder: when Derek was attacked it was stated, maybe a little tongue-in-cheek, that officers who get attacked get promoted. So by rights Rebus should be controlling the whole of the Scottish police force by now...

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book narrated by James MacPherson after ditching the previous version read by Samuel Gillies. Who on earth thought that getting a very English narrator to read Rebus novels was a good idea? James MacPherson nails it and brings Rebus to life perfectly.

Politics, office and otherwise, may be where Rebus falters the most, so when a prospective MSP is found murdered and Rebus is teamed with an up-and-coming detective, things are sure to go awry. And, to my personal delight, Big Ger Cafferty (the funniest nemesis I know) is back on the streets and ready for a rumble with Rebus. Rankin is, as always, a master of the characters, the vistas, and the language of Edinburgh. This is the eleventh in the series and it's only getting better.

While surveying the planned site of the new Scottish Parliament buildings, Rebus comes across a long-dessicated corpse that had been placed in an old kitchen fireplace that had then been bricked up. Shortly after the discovery, a tramp commits suicide - a common enough event in Edinburgh, but it turns out this man had 400,000 pounds in a bank account at the time of his death. Then a prospective parliamentarian is found dead at the same building site, clearly murdered. Rebus is convinced that these events are connected somehow, and he is determined to prove it no matter how much he riles the movers and shakers in the city and in the police force….This 11th book in the series is as complex and interwoven as ever, and we are also show more introduced to new members of the police, who I hope will be around for future books. Rebus is somewhat less annoying this time around, perhaps because everybody around him is so aware of how annoying he can be, but I’m beginning to get a feel for why other characters trust him. This is my husband’s favourite book of the series so far, and while I wouldn’t quite agree, I can’t disagree either; recommended! show less