Black and Blue

I was just introduced to Ian Rankin with this book. I loved it. Love Rebus. Rankin has a great knack for character and how to intertwine plots. I've been on a steady diet of Connelly, Deaver, Pearson, Crais, Kellerman, etc., and it was great to take a 'trip' across the ocean to get a glimpse of detective life in Scotland. It was much more gritty and hard-nosed than many of the stateside gumshoe tales. Felt a real affinity... Read Full Review

In recent months, word has come that authors of several of the very best police procedural series have decided to put an end to their heroes adventures. John Harvey is apparently retiring Charlie Resnick, Archer Mayor may do the same with Joe Gunther and Colin Dexter killed off Inspector Morse. This leaves something of a void in the genre, particularly at the more noirish margin, but luckily, Ian Rankin and Detective John... Read Full Review

Ian Rankin is described as the father of tartan noir, and Scotland's answer to James Ellroy. I would disagree with the latter description - Ellroy being a great prose stylist, with an approach, and an ability to plot all of his own. However, Rankin is a good writer, and with Black and Blue he has written a great novel.This novel probably stands comparison with Ellroy more then some of Rankin's other work. There are two... Read Full Review

I'd heard some good things about Rankin, and this book was the first I read. While it's true the numerous plots can be somewhat confusing, they add to the realism; do any of us believe that police detectives only have one case assigned to them at a time? The darkness of Rebus' world, his cyncism and bitterness, combined with his stubborness and tenacity, give us a picture of a complete but flawed man. Rebus is a fully... Read Full Review

I came to this book looking for something a little different. Having won several awards, I thought it would be good as a sampler of the crime genre. It is quite splendid. Human characters with the kind of flaws you have to accept in people you know and meet, in a familiar but grim surround, like viewing your own house after a burglary. I have since read several more Rebus novels and enjoyed damn near every page. The sharpness... Read Full Review