It's never easy starting a new crime series. Do you start with book 1? Do you read the most recent and risk unearthing details which make previous novels less worth reading? It was time for me to move on; Reichs, Cornwell and Grisham having all but been exhausted. 'Rebus' - I'd seen the name listed in tv guides, never having watched the show, and family members had even provided a selection of Rankin novels (hardback) that lay unopened on my bookshelf for the best part of a year; the connection didn't click.

I chose The Falls at random and immediately found Rankin's style enjoyable. The characters were likeable and easy to identify with. Their emotions play well on the pages. The author gives you a real sense of the geography in his description of Scotland and the characters' language adds all the more to the atmosphere. The story is quirky and well paced - history mingled with the internet. Nothing is particularly graphic and the ending is believable.

All in all, a wonderful discover as a 'new to me' crime series. Thoroughly decent and clever to read. A pleasant way of passing a few hours! A welcome addition into my world of crime reading.

Downside? Long chapters make it a bit unsuitable for a quick bedtime read and more suited to a long evening on the couch with a glass of red (time allowing).