Ian Rankin in general

I was first introduced to the books of Ian Rankin a number of years ago by my mum, who is a great fan of his writing. He is, of course, well known and celebrated for his Rebus books, which pit the grumpy and rebellious Detective Inspector John Rebus against the darker and more criminal side of the wonderful Edinburgh he creates. Rankin's first novel, Knots & Crosses, set the tone by winning awards, and with a couple of exceptions, the books have followed suit, rising him above pretty much everyone else in terms of British and even worldwide crime thriller literature. So, what sets Ian Rankin apart from everyone else in terms of literary stature? ...  Read the complete review

Edinburgh is one of the most atmospheric places I’ve ever visited. Once the darkness arrives the old town reeks of intrigue, the buildings with their thick stone walls seem to have absorbed the history of the city and every nook and cranny appears to have a secret. And it is that atmosphere which first attracted me to Ian Rankin’s Rebus novels. It is no coincidence that in the best crime novels the places where they are situated are as much a character in the novels as the detectives? Think of Morse and you automatically think of Oxford, Sherlock Holmes and the cobbled streets of Whitechapel spring to mind, Agatha Christie and its usually a charming ...  Read the complete review

anyone who has visited edinburgh like myself cannot help but come away from the city with a love for the city and the warmth felt from it.After reading the books of rankin one can be forgiven for viewing a trip to the city with trepidation and fear. Surely this therefore can only be due to rankins ability to create such a eerie and frightening atmosphere in his rebus stories. his ability to take a number of different stories and intertwine them into one excellent novel is second to none.The rebus character must also be the best detective in the crime genre at the minute,although one cant imagine Rankin picturing him looking like John Hannah! ...  Read the complete review

At one point during 1999, author Ian Rankin held sway over best-sellers list, holding down no less than nine of the twenty available slots. He was said to have been the first author to have accomplished this amazing feat. Although a relative newcomer to his work, I think what is ?drawing me in? is that I see Ian Rankin as a ?social novelist?, in that he has an all-too-rare ability; - he can reveal to his reader what is all to common but ?swept under the carpet? in today?s society, rampant moral corruption. He has the courage to write about those unmentionables, ?ethical standards? and ?moral responsibility?. On a lighter note, what I like about the ...  Read the complete review

Ian Rankin novels are consistently outstanding. His Inspector Rebus novels have left him held in high aclaim of being one of the best if not the best crime writer there is. The Rebus novels follow in order from the first novel called Knots & Crosses, through the following novels readers have followed Rebus career, marriage breakdown, unsuccessful relationships, problems with his daughter, his fued with gangland boss Big Ger Cafferty. Therefore these novels include details about Rebus so as to make readers fell as though they know him and can relate to him, as he goes through every emotion that we do. The books are best read in sequence though this is not a ...  Read the complete review