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Summary: UK Crime Writer's Association Prize Winner
Review: Several parallel and intertwined plots cleverly handled. Intelligent and plausible use of real-life Scottish crime to add texture to an original plot.
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Summary: Great Discovery
Review: Some friends gave me this as a Christmas 2002 gift. They knew I liked mysteries/thrillers as I am a close follower of Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Deaver, Ridley Pearson, James Patterson, Robert Crais, and many others. I found this book to be amazing. So much so that I have already read the first four books in the Rebus series and am reading them in sequence. Rankin's detective Rebus is the Scottish version of Connelly's Harry Bosch -- only more extreme and maybe more interesting. Certainly more gritty. And he loves the Rolling Stones! Rankin is a highly intelligent writer and you can see his skills develop from the early books with "Srip Jack" being a turning point of sophistication. I've read that Rankin writes "Tartan Noir." That's a good way to put it. The novels remind me of the best film noir where the cigarette smoke is thick and the booze runs like a river. Being in Scotland also is a real treat, adding a new element of continual interest verus the usual beats of Los Angeles or New York. The layers of intelligence and plot development are lovely. Rankin has an uncanny ability to interweave plot, keep us guesing, and is always surprising us. Keep up the great work Ian. I plan to slow down as I hit the second half of the series as I want to keep Rebus fresh for as long as I can.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fine Read Although Not Super
Review: There were a few cases in the 400 pages case: a new and an old serial killer, a man jumped to his death, a drug-connected death, a convicted prisoner committed suicide. Scotland and oil industry were the overall background, with a male inspector as the key inspector."Black & Blue" was outstanding as a detective novel although not a masterpiece. Each case above was interesting, and from last 20% of the book contents readers can see their connections. The atmosphere and characters were vivid. It was a page-turner. You won't feel bored or complain exaggeration.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: This is the second Rebus book I've read. If I had not read Tooth and Nail before, I would not pick up another. The first hundred pages were completely muddled. The book finally got on path, only to lose it again in the last hundred pages. Rebus - a loveable rebel cop in Tooth and Nail came off as a depressed and depressing malcontent and know-it-all. The central plot is a very good one - a serial killer is emulating a serial killer from years before. The first, Bible John, returns to stalk the second, Johnny Bible. The first (potential) murder is also a good hook. But then, so much is added. At the same time Rebus is working on this (potential) murder he is still obsessing about the Bibles. During this time he is also being investigated for a murder investigation he did a decade before. The investigation runs among four locales. It is no wonder much of the book is confused. There are too many plot lines Rankin has difficulty bringing them together. I intend to go on with the Rebus series since the reviews are so good. I doubt this one is necessary to understand the series. I wish I had skipped it and gone on to #3.
Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: This is the second Rebus book I've read. If I had not read Tooth and Nail before, I would not pick up another. The first hundred pages were completely muddled. The book finally got on path, only to lose it again in the last hundred pages. Rebus - a loveable rebel cop in Tooth and Nail came off as a depressed and depressing malcontent and know-it-all. The central plot is a very good one - a serial killer is emulating a serial killer from years before. The first, Bible John, returns to stalk the second, Johnny Bible. The first (potential) murder is also a good hook. But then, so much is added. At the same time Rebus is working on this (potential) murder he is still obsessing about the Bibles. During this time he is also being investigated for a murder investigation he did a decade before. The investigation runs among four locales. It is no wonder much of the book is confused. There are too many plot lines Rankin has difficulty bringing them together. I intend to go on with the Rebus series since the reviews are so good. I doubt this one is necessary to understand the series. I wish I had skipped it and gone on to #3.
Rating:
Summary: Very Easy To Picture As A Movie
Review: Well, this book is excellently written. Ian Rankin has done an exquised job. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the fact that it had many many different places and people that you had to keep track of. It often times got my confused. I advise to keep a notepad with this book explaining who people are and what they have to do with the story :-) Other than that, perfect. I'd love to see it on the big screen someday (even though Hollywood often screws up great novels).
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