Rating: 
Summary: A good Serial Killer Mystery
Review: This was my first Inspector Rebus mystery and I shall certainly read more.The main character, Inspector Rebus, is a self-effacing Scot sent to London as an "expert" on serial killers (he certainly would not describe himself as such). As he hunts for the gory killer, he faces prejudice of the locals, a love interest and his daughter (by divorced wife) dating a criminal. The mystery is a good one. The serial killer mutilates his victims but, unlike some other authors, this is not a major theme. It is raised, but not dwelled upon - leaving more to the imagination and fewer pages devoted to gore. The author's descriptive passages are his strongest writing. The description of the autopsy is unforgettable, yet he again does not dwell on long passages of grossness or gore. He concentrates on the perceptions being experienced by the good Inspector. Inspector Rebus is thoroughly likeable. He is human, fallible and uncertain in many of the steps he takes. Yet he pursues hunches and acts on reflex, sometimes to his detriment. His relationship with the lead London inspector, George Flight, is described realistically through all its ups and downs. I found this to be a very well-written book with characters who were believable and likeable. I generally hesitate to read serial killer mysteries because so many use excessive gore to make up for thin plotlines. This book had a very good plot/mystery and excellent writing. I strongly recommend it to mystery lovers.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty solid, until the final act
Review: This was the first Rebus novel I've read, and it probably won't be the last. The story concerns the "Wolfman" a serial killer on the lose in London who has a habit of killing and mutilating a variety of women in a unique way. Detective John Rebus is called down from Edinburgh to assist on the case.
Rankin's writing put me in mind of the Hannibal Lector books by Thomas Harris. There is a similarly bleak but humanistic writing style to both authors. Rankin's worldview is undeniably grim, but there is enough humor in the book to keep it from being completely depressing.
"Tooth and Nail" is a quick read, but when I think about it not all that much happens in the book. There are no real ingenious plot twists, and the way the killer is eventually caught is pretty inane. The book sags especially towards the end, with a chase scene that seems lifted out of a bad Hollywood movie. And the killer's motivations when they are finally revealed are frankly not convincing, at least not as portrayed here.
Having said that, I should probably give the book fewer stars, but I will give it four stars on the strength of Rankin's writing and characters. Hopefully his other books have stronger plots.
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