Good book spoiled by terrible narrator

Found the narration irritating and distracting. While voicing characters ( ie acting) he was fine, but when reading the narrative, he read like an adolescent trying to impress the teacher, with 'dramatic' pauses in all the wrong places, especially when a a character name was the first word of a sentence. Did no-one listen to this before publishing? Really, Mr Rankin, you ought to respect your listeners as much as your readers and edit your audiobooks - I can't imagine you would have let this one actually be subjected to your public if you had heard it first....

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2 people found this helpful

Not the best Rebus book but thoroughly enjoyed it

As a big Rebus fan I was always going to a little bias on this one but I genuinely enjoyed the book. The writing quality is up to Rankin's usual standard with believable characters and a really refreshing diversion from the usual Edinburgh locale. I was a little disappointed with the linking of the Fox character from the two complaints books; I thought he could have made a lot more of that - hopefully that might come in a future work. Whilst I liked the plot I did find the "bad guy" link a bit tenuous and there were a few untied strings from in the end which would have really finished it off nicely. Certainly worth a read but could have been slightly better.

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Great to have Rebus back again !

I have enjoyed all the Rebus novels - so it is wonderful to have him back again in this excellent mystery story. James Macpherson is one of my favourite audiobook narrators, so this is an all-round treat.

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An enthraling listen whilst travelling

The book held me form start to finish. Ian Rankin is a first rate thriller writer and never fails to please. James Macpherson's reading brought the participants to life and gave he feeling that you were there in the action. I highly recommend this combination of writer and reader.

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Good Story

Really enjoyed the tour round the Highlands!
one point - the place on the Black Isle called Avoch is pronounced 'och'.

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Great story, and narration is superb!

Characters come to life under the skillful pen of Ian Rankin & the narration of James Macpherson

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Rebus and the A9

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes. It is interesting to see how Ian Rankin manages Rebus' come-back, after retirement, and how well Rankin handles the A9 as a location.

What was most disappointing about Ian Rankin’s story?

Although it is a pleasure to hear about Rebus in what passes for retirement, his role is barely contained by the story.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Scenes on the A9.

Could you see Standing in Another Man's Grave being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

It could be a late episode the the most recent series, but it would be difficult to have a follow-up, just as it will be difficult for Ian Rankin to write his next (and final?) Rebus novel.

Any additional comments?

It is hardly surprising that Ian Rankin could not resist bringing former DI John Rebus back, here in Standing in Another Man’s Grave (2012) and in Saints of the Shadow Bible (2013), a book I look forward to reading. Rebus is almost irresistible as a character: a hard-boiled detective type, invented in the United States but given a tough Scottish edge over twenty-five years of Rebus books. And kept up to date, less in the types of crime portrayed -- these remain a mix of the violent and bizarre -- and more in the changes in policing. In Standing in Another Man’s Grave, there is a clash with Rankin’s more recent lead-character, Malcolm Fox, head of “the Complaints”, the internal investigation service which pursues corrupt police officers, and also, less aggressively, with two upwardly-mobile male-officers, both of whom could easily be middle-managers in a corporation, and a more sympathetic but still orthodox very senior officer, a woman. Between Rebus and these police officers, Rankin locates Siobhan Clarke, Rebus’ former colleague and now promoted herself to DI. She is the value-centre of the novel. For his come-back, Rebus is a civilian in the equivalent of the cold cases unit featured regularly on British television in a series called New Tricks, but he gets seconded to his old detective unit at Gayfield Square when he spots a possible connection between a very old cold case and a series of recent and current murders. The connection turns out to be a road, the A9, and some mysterious photographs of landscapes in the far north of Scotland.

Bringing a character back runs the risk that the character becomes over-exaggerated, in effect the raison d’être for the novel. In Standing in Another Man’s Grave this is a shortcoming, to the degree that the story constantly needs to accommodate Rebus in his semi-official role, and he is the least accommodating of characters. Again, Clarke is central and, in the rather contrived but still exciting conclusion, opts for Rebus’ way, as more “fun” than that of the bureaucrats. Mostly, though, the wonderful dialogue between Rebus and other characters, particularly Clarke, carries the sometimes awkward story. Rebus can be very funny, indeed, though, here, the humour additionally highlights Rebus getting older but certainly not more temperate, as he faces up to the prospect of complete retirement. Interestingly -- given Rebus’ preference for face-to-face contacts over electronic ones -- the story is taken forward by a succession of texts and calls made on and to Rebus’ mobile, together with his acknowledgement of the contribution made to the investigation by a young female detective, who is an expert with various forms of social media. The critical meetings, though, are with his old adversary Big Ger Cafferty, and other gangsters.

Aside from the pleasure of hearing Rebus comment on new ways of doing things and on the people who surround him, particularly in the police force, the greatest achievement of Standing in Another Man’s Grave has to do with the geography of the A9 and its environs. Rankin catches the life of that road: the interminable road works and the mix of Scottish and East European workers; the criss-crossing of the far north by lorry drivers and travelling salesmen, one, in particular, selling “solutions”, a notion that intrigues Rebus; and the stopping places: cafes, hotels, pubs and bars, and petrol stations. Then there is the sublime scenery of the Highlands, which contrasts with the dreary built environment yet is also the site of burials and the shallow grave of the title. Rankin’s choice of title is cleverly caught up with the plot and with Rebus’ return, replete with his deeper worries about what lies ahead for him through and after retirement. As such, the title plays to the return of Rebus and, to that extent, underplays the compelling portrayal of Scottish urban, sub-urban and rural society, and the road which connects them.

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5 people found this helpful

Rankin at his best!

Once again Rebus is on the trail of a serial killer. Young girls have gone missing over a number of years. He has been removed from his "pre-retirement" job on cold cases, and soon find that some murders link to just these cases.



The haunting "in another man's shoes" is evident throughout and it sums up Rebus' mood. Long journey's on the same motorway lead hi m , at last, to the killer.



Rebus is dour but a brilliant detective, please Ian, don't retire him yet!

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Brilliant but...

This was brilliant but I can't help feeling it could have done with one more chapter.

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As good as ever!

A well crafted complex story that kept my interest right up to the last page.

A thoroughly good listen if you enjoyed the earlier books this new one is a must have addition to your library

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