The Works of Ian Rankin

[jaghetersimon]

Anyone a Rebus fan? Man, when Rankin is good, he's good, and when he's bad...I'm beyond embarrassed for him.

[Deleted]

I'm a Rebus fan. I just finished Witch Hunt (one of his forays away from Rebus) and it was meh. The writing in the Rebus novels is superior.

[Deleted]

I just read my first Rebus novel; Resurrection Men, it's one of the newer ones. My reaction to it was mixed; it took me a few weeks to read, where normally a book like that would take me a few days to read. When I was reading it I was engaged by the story and the characters, but when I put it down I was in no rush to pick it up again, and I lost track of the story in several places because of that.

I do want to read more Rebus novels, should I start from the beginning?

[nitenurse]

Always helps to start at the beginning. Helps to understand why Rebus is what he is.

But you've got to remember Scotland (the place) is very different from the idea that people in North America hold in their heads. Crime there is just as nasty as crime over here. Drugs, sex crimes, the whole nine yards. It's not guys in kilts holding up tourists.

[Ripley]

I started reading the Rebus novels when I watched the John Hannah series on BBC America. I've grown to love the novels (and I did read them in order).

In fact, TTMR and I are planning a trip to Scotland in May, and my desire to go there was inspired by Rankin's books.

[Deleted]

It's not guys in kilts holding up tourists.

Aaaand...the Scottish tourist board has its new catchphrase

[nitenurse]

Doing best Elvis imitation: Thank you very much!!

[CoralFang]

I LOVE the Rebus novels. I lived in Glasgow for a time and on every visit to Edinburgh I always got a kick out of cutting from the train station to the Royal Mile via Fleshmarket Close. I've heard that Rankin plans to off Rebus in the next book or so. I hope that's not true.

[nitenurse]

Say it isn't so. Mind you in the last book Rebus seemed about ready to pack it in, almost suicidal.

[Ripley]

I'm sure he's been thinking about something dramatic. Rebus has been aging in the novels, and I think he's only a couple of years from retirement age. I wonder what Rankin will do with him. Frankly, I'd rather see Rebus get killed off (mutual kill with his nemesis gangster Gerry Laferty, maybe?) than see him have a slow alcoholic decline in retirement.

I really like the character Siobhan, and I'd certainly be willing to read books about her if Rankin decides to pass the torch on to her.