The Falls

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Summary: Rankin, King Of Tartan Noir
Review: A wealthy Edinburgh university student goes missing, and the pressure is on to find her. John Rebus and Siobhan Clarke are assigned to the case. Soon they discover that "Flip" was participating in an internet role playing game just before she disappeared. Clarke, knowing much more about computers and the internet than Rebus, starts communicating with the Gamemaster, a shadowy character at best. Rebus follows up on another clue, a small carved wooden doll in a miniature coffin. He's led to the Edinburgh Museum where a charming woman named Jean shows him similar antique coffins unearthed around Edinburgh. Inspector Rebus is now in his fifties and mentions retirement several times in this book. Siobhan Clarke had much of the spotlight in the story, as if Rankin is grooming her to take over as the main character when Rebus is no more. Although the hints of retirement for Rebus were disturbing, this book is an overall good read, if a bit overlong. This is my favorite mystery series ever and I'm looking forward to Resurrection Men in January 2002 ( UK release date ).

Rating:
Summary: The Falls
Review: As a longtime reader of British mystery books, I have many favorite authors, but I think Ian Rankin is at the top of the list. His books are not "cosies" like Agatha Christie, but darker, moodier stories, as far from the small village setting as thay can get. This latest book is another great example of Rankin's ability to spin a great mystery story while involving the reader in John Rebus' life, good and bad, and it usually is more the latter! Wherever you start in the Rebus series, here or an earlier book, just START! You won't be sorry and you won't need any encouragement to finish all of his books.

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Summary: masterfully done
Review: At 393 pages, the author takes time to do excellent character and place development. The plot is complex and interesting, the story holding one's interest all the way through. It is intelligent, gritty, well paced: Great writing.
Plain and simple, a really really good who-dunnit. Set in the city of Edinburgh, some Scottish references and words, but not that will hold you back if you are not familiar with them. A great read.

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Summary: You Can Never Get Enough of John Rebus
Review: Edinburgh Detective Inspector John Rebus is the kind of anti-hero you hate to love. He's a rule breaking fuse ready to go off at the drop of a dime. He's a loser at love, listens to rock music, drinks too much, worries about getting old, shuns exercise and anything remotely healthy. He's also very, very good at what he does, and that is catching crooks.

Philippa "Flip" Balfour the daughter of a rich investment banker disappears and, of course, her boyfriend is a prime suspect. So also is one of her father's colleagues, but then a weird tiny hadn card doll in a miniture coffin is found and Rebus realises he faces more than an isolated case. And DC Siobhan Clarke volunteers to pursues clues left by an Internet role-playing gamer, by taking on Flip's identity in the game.

The intricate puzzle, masterful pacing and magical description of Edinburhg are guaranteed to keep you flipping through the pages, reading like a ball afire, charging toward the thrilling climax. Rankin is a pro, he never disappoints.

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Summary: A complex mystery combined with atmosphere & characters
Review: I love Ian Rankin's Rebus series, even though I am constantly amazed at the extent to which Rebus is able to drink and hold down a job -- I think the Scots are more tolerant of heavy drinkers than American employers would be.

That having been said, reading this mystery was like a trip to Edinburgh as someone who lives and works there sees the city -- a city with very deep roots in history, still influenced by events that occurred hundreds of years ago, living under the shadow of a castle and with history in every building.

The plot involves the disappearance of a wealthy young college student, who was supposed to be meeting friends for drinks and never shows up. Because of who she is, all the stops are pulled out to find her, and Rebus finds himself one of many working on this case. He believes from the start that she has been killed and he is investigating a homicide. He also thinks there's some connection between her death and some miniature coffins that have been found from time to time, and there's a possibility that her death is connected to a puzzle-solving computer game she's been playing.

If you like mysteries that make you think, that really challenge your intelligence and are written with literary skill that will make them timeless classics, Rankin is an author for you. This is my fourth book by him and I'm relishing reading more in the series.

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Summary: Great Page Turner
Review: I picked up The Falls while on a weekend getaway and do not feel sorry about this. The book starts slowly and at the beginning the story sounds like something I've read in other crime fictions. However, I quickly got more than involved with the details in the story - from finding a reality internet game ring leader to solving the mystery of the wooden coffins. Rebus' character is hard not to like - a detective near retirement who has his own principles and vices and who also listens only to his own instincts. If you have free time or just want to read an entertaining book go for the Falls.

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Summary: Not Great, But Certainly Not Bad at All
Review: Ian Rankin has managed to drag Edinburgh DI John Rebus into the 21st century. In this fine novel Rebus (through Siobhan Clarke) goes out onto the Internet to make contact with a killer. A rather complicated plot that involves the history of Edinburgh and moves a little slowly, but eventually reaches a rather satisfying conclusion.
The Rebus character becomes even more complex as the detective confronts his own mortality (and bad habits), considers selling his flat, gets a new boss, and finds a new lady friend.
Not Rankin's best, but it may be Rankin at his best. I enjoyed the book immensely, and have already ordered the new novel from England.

Rating:
Summary: Can't go wrong with Rankin
Review: One of the great things about the Rebus novels is the subdued character conflicts at play underneath the plots and subplots. Not only does one come away from Rankin's work, particularly the later Rebus books, with a wonderful sense of place and atmosphere, but the characterization is so strong that even the second and third level characters are developed enough to stand on their own. The downside of this, which is unavoidable, is that the book tends to grow long in spots. That notwithstanding, the Rebus series is an excellent one. DS Siobhan Clarke has become more prominent in these books as well, and I can't help but wonder if she isn't being lined up for a series of her own.

Rating:
Summary: Can't go wrong with Rankin
Review: One of the great things about the Rebus novels is the subdued character conflicts at play underneath the plots and subplots. Not only does one come away from Rankin's work, particularly the later Rebus books, with a wonderful sense of place and atmosphere, but the characterization is so strong that even the second and third level characters are developed enough to stand on their own. The downside of this, which is unavoidable, is that the book tends to grow long in spots. That notwithstanding, the Rebus series is an excellent one. DS Siobhan Clarke has become more prominent in these books as well, and I can't help but wonder if she isn't being lined up for a series of her own.

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Summary: Rankin Rules
Review: The new John Rebus book is outstanding. The " Falls", the latest installment in the series, finds Rebus at his dark and brooding best. The cast of characters at the station and the pubs seem so real , it's almost like you know them, by sight. Siobhan Clark and John are surrounded by other great characters who also prove to be as believable and human as John is. There is also the cast of weasels that you'll just love to loathe. There are some wicked twist and turns in this book. The book is hard to put down...............................Read them all, I haven't found a bad one yet ...............