Publication
Orion (2016)
Original publication date
2015
Collections
Genres
Awards
McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year (Longlist — 2016)
Theakstons Old Peculier Prize (Longlist — 2017)
Description
"Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is investigating the death of a senior lawyer during a robbery. The case becomes more complex when a note is discovered, indicating that this may have been no random attack. When local gangster Big Ger Cafferty receives an identical message, Clarke decides that the recently retired John Rebus may be able to help. Together the two old adversaries might just stand a chance of saving Cafferty's skin. But a notorious family tailed by a team of undercover detectives has also arrived in Edinburgh. There's something they want, and they'll stop at nothing to get it. As the cases collide, it's a game of dog eat dog--in the city as in the wild" --
User reviews
LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
Some fictional coppers seem to have Peter Pan qualities, continually investigating and solving serious crimes without ever getting older. Chief Inspector Wexford and Superintendent Dalziel emerged fully formed from their creators' brows and made their first appearance already adorned with high
When creating his thrawn protagonist, Ian Rankin chose a more realistic approach, and we have seen John Rebus age in real time, becoming increasingly cantankerous and inimical to his superiors' authority. As this twentieth Rebus novel opens he has finally finished work and left the police force. Even his cold case work, which had offered a slight reprieve from the looming threat of being left entirely to his own devices, has now dried up, and he is, officially, retired.
Crime, of course, continues in Edinburgh unabated, and as the novel opens Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke, for so long Rebus's protégée (whether she liked it or not) is part of the team investigating the murder in his own house of David Minton. This is a high profile case drawing attention from the local and national press as well as politicians, senior officers and the judiciary because David Minton was also know as Lord Minton, former Lord Advocate of Scotland and one of the most senior prosecutors of his generation.
The attack on Lord Minton had been brutal and protracted, leading investigators to consider whether the murder represented revenge for the outcome of one of his cases. However, shortly afterwards a local retired businessman is shot at, also in his own home. Always interested whenever firearms are concerned, the police's attention is additionally piqued because the retired businessman in question is one Morris Gerald Cafferty, who as 'Big Ger', has dominated organised crime in the capital for the last few decades. Having been alerted to the gunshot by a neighbour, the police find that Cafferty won't allow them into his house, and he will only agree to talk to John Rebus, his long time adversary.
Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Malcolm Fox, formerly of 'the Complaints' (the internal investigation department) but now returned to mainstream policing, has been asked to act as liaison with a special surveillance team over in Edinburgh from Glasgow. They are watching a Glasgow gang boss who they suspect is wanting to establish a toe-hold in the capital.
Rankin's principal characters are now well-established, developed over they years and resonant with authenticity and credibility. There is, as with many of Rankin's books, a strong undercurrent of melancholy. Different characters make bleak jokes throughout the book, though there is never any hint that any of them might be taking much pleasure in life. Clarke now seems slightly world-weary, and after years of disapproving of Rebus's prodigious alcohol intake, might now be drinking rather too much herself. Fox is slightly lost, struggling to work his way back into the police fold after his years in the leper colony of Complaints. Rebus, like Sir Bedivere at the end of Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' sees the days darken around him, and the years ...
Rankin manages the separate plot strands as capably as ever. The story rattles along and even twenty pages from the end there is little indication of how the various subplots will be resolved, and as always, the city of Edinburgh looms throughout the story, like a character in its own right. A very worthy addition to the Rebus canon.
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rank.When creating his thrawn protagonist, Ian Rankin chose a more realistic approach, and we have seen John Rebus age in real time, becoming increasingly cantankerous and inimical to his superiors' authority. As this twentieth Rebus novel opens he has finally finished work and left the police force. Even his cold case work, which had offered a slight reprieve from the looming threat of being left entirely to his own devices, has now dried up, and he is, officially, retired.
Crime, of course, continues in Edinburgh unabated, and as the novel opens Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke, for so long Rebus's protégée (whether she liked it or not) is part of the team investigating the murder in his own house of David Minton. This is a high profile case drawing attention from the local and national press as well as politicians, senior officers and the judiciary because David Minton was also know as Lord Minton, former Lord Advocate of Scotland and one of the most senior prosecutors of his generation.
The attack on Lord Minton had been brutal and protracted, leading investigators to consider whether the murder represented revenge for the outcome of one of his cases. However, shortly afterwards a local retired businessman is shot at, also in his own home. Always interested whenever firearms are concerned, the police's attention is additionally piqued because the retired businessman in question is one Morris Gerald Cafferty, who as 'Big Ger', has dominated organised crime in the capital for the last few decades. Having been alerted to the gunshot by a neighbour, the police find that Cafferty won't allow them into his house, and he will only agree to talk to John Rebus, his long time adversary.
Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Malcolm Fox, formerly of 'the Complaints' (the internal investigation department) but now returned to mainstream policing, has been asked to act as liaison with a special surveillance team over in Edinburgh from Glasgow. They are watching a Glasgow gang boss who they suspect is wanting to establish a toe-hold in the capital.
Rankin's principal characters are now well-established, developed over they years and resonant with authenticity and credibility. There is, as with many of Rankin's books, a strong undercurrent of melancholy. Different characters make bleak jokes throughout the book, though there is never any hint that any of them might be taking much pleasure in life. Clarke now seems slightly world-weary, and after years of disapproving of Rebus's prodigious alcohol intake, might now be drinking rather too much herself. Fox is slightly lost, struggling to work his way back into the police fold after his years in the leper colony of Complaints. Rebus, like Sir Bedivere at the end of Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' sees the days darken around him, and the years ...
Rankin manages the separate plot strands as capably as ever. The story rattles along and even twenty pages from the end there is little indication of how the various subplots will be resolved, and as always, the city of Edinburgh looms throughout the story, like a character in its own right. A very worthy addition to the Rebus canon.
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LibraryThing member the.ken.petersen
Crime novels don't get any better than a John Rebus story. Ian Rankin writes these books with all the effort that goes in to great works of literature: no gory details to hide a lack of characterisation here. They're not needed. Not only has John Rebus grown as a person throughout the series, but
This tale follows the usual style of Rankin: just when you feel comfortable that you know what is happening, there's a twist. Not a silly twist, leaving the reader frustrated, but a believable deviation that sends the brain racing to attempt to catch up. The murders are wrapped up with a buried case of child molestation from the seventies. It would be easy to either turn out a bleak book, or trivialise the crime. Ian Rankin deserves enormous credit for doing neither.
I am reluctant to say anything more about the plot; not just because of spoiling it for anyone still to read it, but because I will want to re-read it after a few years and don't want to burn the solution into my brain! All I will say, is that if you haven't read this book, it is well worth so doing, whether you consider yourself a crime story fan, or no.
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Siobhan Clarke, Malcolm Fox and Big Ger Cafferty, all develop as people, as well as characters for the individual novel. I particularly admire his work with Cafferty; a villain who always has that air of evil, whilst still showing a human side. This tale follows the usual style of Rankin: just when you feel comfortable that you know what is happening, there's a twist. Not a silly twist, leaving the reader frustrated, but a believable deviation that sends the brain racing to attempt to catch up. The murders are wrapped up with a buried case of child molestation from the seventies. It would be easy to either turn out a bleak book, or trivialise the crime. Ian Rankin deserves enormous credit for doing neither.
I am reluctant to say anything more about the plot; not just because of spoiling it for anyone still to read it, but because I will want to re-read it after a few years and don't want to burn the solution into my brain! All I will say, is that if you haven't read this book, it is well worth so doing, whether you consider yourself a crime story fan, or no.
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LibraryThing member maneekuhi
Rankin's Rebus series, once thought dead when Rebus retired from the police force, is very alive and well indeed. Improving with age if you will. I have read every one of the 20 plus novels in the series and "Even Dogs" is one of my favorites, and the first six books are not. All the past
There are two crimes that the team are dealing with in "Even Dogs", and it is difficult to label either a sub-plot. One involves the death of a former government official during a break-in at his town house. Is this the first of a serial killer's revenge string? Then there is an investigation by an out-of-town cop team into a gangster group seeking the whereabouts of a hauler of goods - the "goods" in this case turn out to be drugs. Gang territories and reputations are at stake and all this is being observed by the carefully organized surveillance efforts of the visitors. Malcolm, who is a bit of a 5th wheel these days, is temporarily seconded to them and given his former duties he is not exactly welcomed with open arms. Both are ood stoies, lots of interesting detecting and discovery, a few twists and turns
And of course, as Rankin has done so well in previous books, he rings in many of the issues du jour. I always come away from his books feeling like I've come away with a good bit more insight into today's Scot and his world. And of course, there is the whole gun situation in Great Britain where the bad guys, much less the cops, have very limited access to firearms. And being reminded of their gun situation sometimes felt like a bit of a poke in the eye to all us US cowboys and our arsenals. And one last observation - is Rebus mellowing here?....he doesn't seem to get anyone totally crazy for a change....is this a new Rebus? (Clue. "lap". And not just once) The only downer here is having to wait a year plus for the next one, hoping Rankin isn't bored and in the middle of writing a stand-alone novel, none of which have been big favorites of mine. A very enjoyable read, particularly for Rebus fans.
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characters are there, Siobhan, Cafferty, and the Ox, a relatively new one, Malcolm Fox, the former IA guy, and a brand new character - but I will leave that for your own discovery. And there's a brief but nice scene with daughter Sammi, and Rebus's grand-daughter. Personally, I have never cared for the Fox character and I wouldn't mind seeing his (literal or figurative) demise sooner than later. He gets under my skin and I really don't understand Rankin's attraction to this character. Fox and Siobhan seem to be spending a lot of off-clock time together, so far only in bars and restaurants.There are two crimes that the team are dealing with in "Even Dogs", and it is difficult to label either a sub-plot. One involves the death of a former government official during a break-in at his town house. Is this the first of a serial killer's revenge string? Then there is an investigation by an out-of-town cop team into a gangster group seeking the whereabouts of a hauler of goods - the "goods" in this case turn out to be drugs. Gang territories and reputations are at stake and all this is being observed by the carefully organized surveillance efforts of the visitors. Malcolm, who is a bit of a 5th wheel these days, is temporarily seconded to them and given his former duties he is not exactly welcomed with open arms. Both are ood stoies, lots of interesting detecting and discovery, a few twists and turns
And of course, as Rankin has done so well in previous books, he rings in many of the issues du jour. I always come away from his books feeling like I've come away with a good bit more insight into today's Scot and his world. And of course, there is the whole gun situation in Great Britain where the bad guys, much less the cops, have very limited access to firearms. And being reminded of their gun situation sometimes felt like a bit of a poke in the eye to all us US cowboys and our arsenals. And one last observation - is Rebus mellowing here?....he doesn't seem to get anyone totally crazy for a change....is this a new Rebus? (Clue. "lap". And not just once) The only downer here is having to wait a year plus for the next one, hoping Rankin isn't bored and in the middle of writing a stand-alone novel, none of which have been big favorites of mine. A very enjoyable read, particularly for Rebus fans.
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LibraryThing member librarian1204
After 20 outings with Rebus, you would think the series might not be as fresh as it once was. Think again. This book is great, one of the best.
Rebus, Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox working together to solve seemingly different cases that of course come together.
The story is told by all of the
I can only hope that Ian Rankin never tires of writing about Rebus and that he continues to entwine the stories of Siobhan and Fox and Rebus.
Rebus, Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox working together to solve seemingly different cases that of course come together.
The story is told by all of the
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characters over a series of days. The personality of Fox comes forward and it seems almost as if Rebus could be a mentor for him as Fox tries to live in a police world outside complaints.I can only hope that Ian Rankin never tires of writing about Rebus and that he continues to entwine the stories of Siobhan and Fox and Rebus.
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LibraryThing member Laura400
I look forward to any new Ian Rankin book, and this one really delivered. The novel features Rebus, Clarke and Fox working together, which is a pleasure. It hums with comfortable ease, like the band is getting back together, although this trio is much newer.
The story is engrossing, complex,
The story is engrossing, complex,
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well-written and a real page-turner. Rankin even drops a humorous mention of Kate Atkinson, in her serious, best-selling novelist guise. Rankin just seems to get better and better. Show Less
LibraryThing member pgchuis
Malcolm Fox is co-opted onto a team from Glasgow come to trace a haulier who has gone missing with illegal property belonging to the Stark family (also from Glasgow). Siobhan Clarke is on a team investigating the death of a former influential lawyer and Rebus is drawn in when his old frenemy
Certainly the best Rebus for a while; I managed to keep on top of the plot and who every one is all the way through! I still find Fox's character/personality hard to fathom, so it is a good thing that Rebus can be relied upon to be the same as ever.
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Cafferty is shot at. Eventually all the threads are drawn together and Rebus manages to acquire a dog.Certainly the best Rebus for a while; I managed to keep on top of the plot and who every one is all the way through! I still find Fox's character/personality hard to fathom, so it is a good thing that Rebus can be relied upon to be the same as ever.
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LibraryThing member terran
Even though Inspector John Rebus is retired, he is still a primary character in the series. Malcolm Fox and Siobhan Clarke play much larger roles than in former books in the series, but they consult with Rebus and involve him in the details of their case. They investigate and finally connect
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several recent murders to each other and then to the murder of a young man twenty years ago. I enjoy the details of their investigation, the relationships among the characters, and the plot twists that keep me guessing. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
My friend Christine says that John Rebus is her boyfriend but not really because he would be impossible to live with. However, I think that Ian Rankin is my secret boyfriend. He's got that delicious Scots accent, he has great taste in music and his reading taste is similar to mine. So Ian if you
Yes, Rebus is back but he is no longer a cop. Maybe the fact that he isn't officially with the police is the reason Big Ger Cafferty reaches out to him when someone fires a shot at him one night. Cafferty had received a death threat previously just like Lord Minton who was bludgeoned and then strangled to death. Siobhan Clarke was assigned to the investigation of Minton's murder and when she learns that Cafferty had also received a death threat she retains Rebus as a consultant. Malcolm Fox, who used to investigate bad cops, is working as liaison to a group of Glasgow cops who are in town following some Glasgow criminals, the Stark family gang. Perhaps there is a connection but even Cafferty can't think of any time he ever had anything to do with Lord Minton. A penny does drop eventually and it is up to Rebus and the rest to solve the murders.
The title of the book comes from a song by the associates which you can find on YouTube. It's pretty catchy; as I said Rankin has great taste in music.
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are reading this review know that if you are ever in Winnipeg I would love to hang out.Yes, Rebus is back but he is no longer a cop. Maybe the fact that he isn't officially with the police is the reason Big Ger Cafferty reaches out to him when someone fires a shot at him one night. Cafferty had received a death threat previously just like Lord Minton who was bludgeoned and then strangled to death. Siobhan Clarke was assigned to the investigation of Minton's murder and when she learns that Cafferty had also received a death threat she retains Rebus as a consultant. Malcolm Fox, who used to investigate bad cops, is working as liaison to a group of Glasgow cops who are in town following some Glasgow criminals, the Stark family gang. Perhaps there is a connection but even Cafferty can't think of any time he ever had anything to do with Lord Minton. A penny does drop eventually and it is up to Rebus and the rest to solve the murders.
The title of the book comes from a song by the associates which you can find on YouTube. It's pretty catchy; as I said Rankin has great taste in music.
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LibraryThing member AnnieMod
If anyone thought that Rebus will stay retired, they probably were not reading the series carefully. Well - in theory he is retired but he gets pulled into an investigation anyway - partially because of his connections with Cafferty and the rest of the leaders of the Edinburgh's underworld;
At the same time Siobhan and Malcolm Fox work in seemingly unrelated cases - a former judge, now a Lord of the realm is found dead and Siobhan is sent to investigate; after a few rotations, Fox is sent as a liaison to a group of Glasgow cops which are in town because the heads of the Glasgow crime syndicate are on a tour of the country and just arrived in Edinburgh. Rebus gets called in when someone takes a shot at Cafferty - and of course one wonders if that is the Glasgow boys or his local enemies. Or both groups together. Except that he also gets a note that makes no sense - but which will prove connections between crimes from the past and present. But before that can happen, a few deaths need to happen, a few people need to get really annoyed and the dysfunctional family of the police and underworld (because it seems to be one big family way too often) need to get shaken hard from all directions.
When "Exit Music" was published, I really thought that we are done with Rebus. I was not happy but it was a great end of a great series. Then he started popping up in what were supposed to be the Fox novels (after 2 without him...) and seems like the Rebus series is well under way. Not that I mind. Although that forced Fox out from his job of investigating bad cops and into proper CID -- which he always wanted but still... the series was refreshingly different when he was still at his old job.
However - this novel (and the previous 2) highlight the differences and the similarities between Fox and Rebus - yes, on the surface they have nothing in common but if you dig deep, some pieces click. And then there is Siobhan Clarke - another side of the character of the cop in Edinburgh. It makes the novels a lot more diverse than the earlier ones but it also limits them - as all of them need to be there and to have something meaningful to do - the days of the lone wolf Rebus are gone.
Another nice addition to the series. It can be read as a standalone but the background information helps - as always the basics are in the book but not all of the details - and they make the whole series one complete world. Recommended for readers of the series - and if you like crime novels and had never read the Rebus ones, maybe it is time to pick up some of the early ones :)
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partially because he just cannot stay away and noses his way in. At the same time Siobhan and Malcolm Fox work in seemingly unrelated cases - a former judge, now a Lord of the realm is found dead and Siobhan is sent to investigate; after a few rotations, Fox is sent as a liaison to a group of Glasgow cops which are in town because the heads of the Glasgow crime syndicate are on a tour of the country and just arrived in Edinburgh. Rebus gets called in when someone takes a shot at Cafferty - and of course one wonders if that is the Glasgow boys or his local enemies. Or both groups together. Except that he also gets a note that makes no sense - but which will prove connections between crimes from the past and present. But before that can happen, a few deaths need to happen, a few people need to get really annoyed and the dysfunctional family of the police and underworld (because it seems to be one big family way too often) need to get shaken hard from all directions.
When "Exit Music" was published, I really thought that we are done with Rebus. I was not happy but it was a great end of a great series. Then he started popping up in what were supposed to be the Fox novels (after 2 without him...) and seems like the Rebus series is well under way. Not that I mind. Although that forced Fox out from his job of investigating bad cops and into proper CID -- which he always wanted but still... the series was refreshingly different when he was still at his old job.
However - this novel (and the previous 2) highlight the differences and the similarities between Fox and Rebus - yes, on the surface they have nothing in common but if you dig deep, some pieces click. And then there is Siobhan Clarke - another side of the character of the cop in Edinburgh. It makes the novels a lot more diverse than the earlier ones but it also limits them - as all of them need to be there and to have something meaningful to do - the days of the lone wolf Rebus are gone.
Another nice addition to the series. It can be read as a standalone but the background information helps - as always the basics are in the book but not all of the details - and they make the whole series one complete world. Recommended for readers of the series - and if you like crime novels and had never read the Rebus ones, maybe it is time to pick up some of the early ones :)
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LibraryThing member -Eva-
Siobhan Clarke is investigating a murder that seems to have no motive; Malcolm Fox is assigned to a surveillance team, one that doesn't care for him because of his past in Complaints; and newly made civilian John Rebus is feeling restless, but when a call comes in from Big Ger Cafferty with some
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new clues, it all turns into a game of connect-the-dots. I have always enjoyed Rankin's style, especially his dialogue, and this installment is very much in the right vein. I also like how Rankin places his Rebus-novels in contemporary time, so this installment deals with post-referendum Scotland and involves molestation of children in care, which has very much been in the news lately. Unfortunately, this installment doesn't quite live up to my hopes since there isn't enough Rebus in it for me. The Rebus/Cafferty combo is always good for a laugh, but having Clarke and Fox be at the forefront doesn't make for the same dynamics. Still, a very enjoyable read for me since I enjoy following the characters and love the descriptions of the locales, but I wouldn't recommend this installment for a newbie. Show Less
LibraryThing member -Eva-
Siobhan Clarke is investigating a murder that seems to have no motive; Malcolm Fox is assigned to a surveillance team, one that doesn't care for him because of his past in Complaints; and newly made civilian John Rebus is feeling restless, but when a call comes in from Big Ger Cafferty with some
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new clues, it all turns into a game of connect-the-dots. I have always enjoyed Rankin's style, especially his dialogue, and this installment is very much in the right vein. I also like how Rankin places his Rebus-novels in contemporary time, so this installment deals with post-referendum Scotland and involves molestation of children in care, which has very much been in the news lately. Unfortunately, this installment doesn't quite live up to my hopes since there isn't enough Rebus in it for me. The Rebus/Cafferty combo is always good for a laugh, but having Clarke and Fox be at the forefront doesn't make for the same dynamics. Still, a very enjoyable read for me since I enjoy following the characters and love the descriptions of the locales, but I wouldn't recommend this installment for a newbie. Show Less
LibraryThing member BillPilgrim
I'd forgotten how good Ian Rankin's books are. This is a wonderful read. Rebus is called out of retirement to assist Rankin's other regulars, Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox, as a consultant, when his old nemesis, Big Ger Cafferty is shot at.
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Even though you might ferret it out the murderer of one of the victims, Rankin still creates a great mystery, filled with interesting characters.
LibraryThing member antao
Rebus On His Last Legs: "Even Dogs in the Wild" by Ian Rankin Published November 5th 2015.
‘It feels like the end of a long song though – men like Cafferty and Joe Stark … and me too, come to that … we’re on our last legs. Our way of thinking seems … I don’t know.’
‘Last
‘Aye, maybe.’ (page 243)
In the last month I've read three novels from three old hands at writing Crime Fiction: Michael Connelly, Robert Crais and now Ian Rankin (I must say the most satisfying was Connelly's).
I'm still digesting it. Is it the best he's ever written? No. It has a somewhat different feel to it. I can’t quite verbalise what… The word that comes to mind is "contemporary".
As usual the plot seems a bit contrived. There are multiple connected sub-plots, but the threads strain credulity. Although Rankin strains mightily to make the whole thing work, by the end of the book the whole thing sort of unravels. On top of that, there are way too many side stories and characters fighting for the spotlight, which makes nigh on impossible to get to know DI Rebus the way he ought to be known. I much prefer the earlier Rebus. He's always at his best playing dark and dirty games, borderline or over the line in terms of breaking the law himself and joining forces with the dark side.
When I come back to a Rebus book just out, I always ask myself: Is Rankin still doing a good job at keeping Rebus true to form? The answer is yes and no.
Because he's no longer in the police force, maybe he’s still not loathed and feared by colleagues and criminals alike as he used to be.
But he still won’t give you the time of day unless you have something he needs. Of course, now that he's retired he's all the time in the world.
But he’s still one of the characters I love the most in terms of Crime Fiction reading (the others are Bosch and Dalglish).
But even if he has one foot in the grave I still rejoice he’s back, and that’s what matters.
The old malcontent still has his hooks in me...
‘It feels like the end of a long song though – men like Cafferty and Joe Stark … and me too, come to that … we’re on our last legs. Our way of thinking seems … I don’t know.’
‘Last
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century?’‘Aye, maybe.’ (page 243)
In the last month I've read three novels from three old hands at writing Crime Fiction: Michael Connelly, Robert Crais and now Ian Rankin (I must say the most satisfying was Connelly's).
I'm still digesting it. Is it the best he's ever written? No. It has a somewhat different feel to it. I can’t quite verbalise what… The word that comes to mind is "contemporary".
As usual the plot seems a bit contrived. There are multiple connected sub-plots, but the threads strain credulity. Although Rankin strains mightily to make the whole thing work, by the end of the book the whole thing sort of unravels. On top of that, there are way too many side stories and characters fighting for the spotlight, which makes nigh on impossible to get to know DI Rebus the way he ought to be known. I much prefer the earlier Rebus. He's always at his best playing dark and dirty games, borderline or over the line in terms of breaking the law himself and joining forces with the dark side.
When I come back to a Rebus book just out, I always ask myself: Is Rankin still doing a good job at keeping Rebus true to form? The answer is yes and no.
Because he's no longer in the police force, maybe he’s still not loathed and feared by colleagues and criminals alike as he used to be.
But he still won’t give you the time of day unless you have something he needs. Of course, now that he's retired he's all the time in the world.
But he’s still one of the characters I love the most in terms of Crime Fiction reading (the others are Bosch and Dalglish).
But even if he has one foot in the grave I still rejoice he’s back, and that’s what matters.
The old malcontent still has his hooks in me...
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LibraryThing member edwardsgt
Rebus is brought in as a police consultant when someone takes a shot at his old foe Ger Cafferty, which may be connected to the murder of a prominent lawyer. Several enquiries Siobhan Clarke is working on with Malcolm Fox, a former foe of Rebus from Complaints, appear to intersect, with the figure
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of Cafferty a constant presence. As always great authentic Edinburgh locations, sharp dialogue and clever plotting. Highly recommended for Rebus fans. Show Less
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
Even Dogs in the Wild is Ian Rankin at his best. Rebus is here, but he's retired, allowed back because Big Ger Cafferty is involved - a bullet is shot through his living room window one night and he won't talk to anyone but Rebus. Siobhan is in the middle of a complex series of murders and she and
It's a solid crime novel. And it's fun to see all the usual characters doing their thing. And Rebus's too cool for school attitude even has him opt out of getting information he would have found useful later, which I enjoyed seeing. This isn't a change in direction and the pattern of the series holds, but it's working well for now and Even Dogs in the Wild was fun to read.
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Malcolm Fox are seeing each other. Fox is stuck in a no-man's land, where he's too highly ranked to do basic police work, but there's very little available for an ex-Complaints guy. So he gets stuck chaperoning a group of Glasgow cops who have come to Edinburg as part of a long-term undercover operation. They don't trust him or want him anywhere near their work, but Fox has experience in finding out things. It's a solid crime novel. And it's fun to see all the usual characters doing their thing. And Rebus's too cool for school attitude even has him opt out of getting information he would have found useful later, which I enjoyed seeing. This isn't a change in direction and the pattern of the series holds, but it's working well for now and Even Dogs in the Wild was fun to read.
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LibraryThing member johnwbeha
There are very few authors that I admire unreservedly, but Ian Rankin is one. His writing lifts him clear of the genre tag. He has been telling us tales of John Rebus for 20 books now and the character continues to grow and reveal more of his complex personality with each book. The other characters
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are always memorable, however brief their appearances. This is one of the best Rebus stories because of the quality of the storytelling and the twists and turns of the plot. Very highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member SashaM
I didn't enjoy this as much as I did collection of Rebus short stories. Could just be me - I do like the faster pace of short stories when it comes to crime.
LibraryThing member gmmartz
Ian Rankin's 'Even Dogs in the Wild' is a pretty mediocre addition to the John Rebus canon, but even at that it's pretty darn good. In this one, Rebus is retired but ends up being hired by the Department on a consultative basis to work on a series of murders and an attempted shooting of his old
Rebus is one of my favorites in the genre. He's kind of a lone wolf but has a few close friends. He's very opinionated, level-headed, has great intuition, and is generally fair. Drinks and smokes a lot, has woman problems, etc. Sort of like many of the characters who populate these books. The thing I like best about him, though, is that he knows his territory and its inhabitants like the back of his hand and he doesn't just see black and white but also the many gradations of gray between them. Another strong character, Siobhan Clarke, was introduced in previous novels and is quite competent. However, Malcolm Fox, who has moved from 'Complaints' (IAD) to being a detective, is the weak link in this story. He's just not very good nor very sympathetic, despite the presence of his dying father throughout the book.
The plot of 'Even Dogs...' is fairly standard: there are killings (and one attempted one) whose only connections seem to be cryptic notes found at the scenes containing the same verbiage and 9 MM bullets (a side note... it's weird reading about how there are so few guns over in Scotland that it's extremely tough to even find one. I live in the Chicago area where there are likely 10X the guns in the entire country in a square mile of some Chicago neighborhoods). The attempted shooting is of Big Ger, who's also semi-retired. Complicating things is the arrival in Edinburgh of a bunch of gangsters from down the road in Glasgow who may or may not be attempting a takeover of criminal activity and the murder of one of their rivals.
As you can imagine, the remainder of the plot involves attempts by the police and their crack consultant, Rebus, to find some sort of connection between the crimes. They eventually do and things are sorted out at the end, but probably not how you'd expect.
'Dogs' is a good, not great, Rebus novel with a somewhat standard plot and a slight twist at the end. Worth a read, especially if you're a fan of the series.
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nemesis Big Ger Cafferty. As you can imagine if you've followed Rebus through the years, a little thing like not being an 'official' law enforcement agent doesn't really hold him back.Rebus is one of my favorites in the genre. He's kind of a lone wolf but has a few close friends. He's very opinionated, level-headed, has great intuition, and is generally fair. Drinks and smokes a lot, has woman problems, etc. Sort of like many of the characters who populate these books. The thing I like best about him, though, is that he knows his territory and its inhabitants like the back of his hand and he doesn't just see black and white but also the many gradations of gray between them. Another strong character, Siobhan Clarke, was introduced in previous novels and is quite competent. However, Malcolm Fox, who has moved from 'Complaints' (IAD) to being a detective, is the weak link in this story. He's just not very good nor very sympathetic, despite the presence of his dying father throughout the book.
The plot of 'Even Dogs...' is fairly standard: there are killings (and one attempted one) whose only connections seem to be cryptic notes found at the scenes containing the same verbiage and 9 MM bullets (a side note... it's weird reading about how there are so few guns over in Scotland that it's extremely tough to even find one. I live in the Chicago area where there are likely 10X the guns in the entire country in a square mile of some Chicago neighborhoods). The attempted shooting is of Big Ger, who's also semi-retired. Complicating things is the arrival in Edinburgh of a bunch of gangsters from down the road in Glasgow who may or may not be attempting a takeover of criminal activity and the murder of one of their rivals.
As you can imagine, the remainder of the plot involves attempts by the police and their crack consultant, Rebus, to find some sort of connection between the crimes. They eventually do and things are sorted out at the end, but probably not how you'd expect.
'Dogs' is a good, not great, Rebus novel with a somewhat standard plot and a slight twist at the end. Worth a read, especially if you're a fan of the series.
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LibraryThing member runner56
After so many years it is still great to read about that wonderful creation from Ian Rankin, that wily old fox who even in retirement can never let go; John Rebus. "Even Dogs in the Wild" is once again written to a very high standard and inevitably sees Rebus not so much confronting but consulting
Those readers acquainted with the style and wit of Ian Rankin will devour this story, just like stepping into a comfy pair of slippers. The only sadness is knowing that in the not too distant future John Rebus must surely finish leaving the reader to ponder if he will finally be stopped... his own decision? ill health? or perhaps have his life ended suddenly by an old acquaintance or underworld operator!
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with his great adversary Big Ger Cafferty. As the years have passed they have developed perhaps not a fondness but a grudging respect for each other. The plot revolves around the murder of a well known MP and his association with "Acorn House" a care home for children. Given the amount of news coverage attributed to sexual abuse and in particular sexual abuse of minors it comes as no surprise the direction and shape this story takes. To me the bolder than life characters are more important than the theme and in this Rankin excels with shady underworld connections in the guise of Darryl Christie and Morris Cafferty and the robust old fashioned policing, nor forgetting the deadpan humour, of Detective Inspector John Rebus (retired) Rebus is everything you would expect a detective, whose routes lie in the past, to be. His methods are more suited to dogged hands on police work rather than as I am sure he would describe...fancy computers. He has no interest in the comforts of this world preferring to drive an old Saab, listen to bygone bands on his record player (The Steve Miller band and the amazing Rory Gallagher) and relaxing at the end of the day in his favourite watering hole The Oxford Bar with a pint of IPA close by.Those readers acquainted with the style and wit of Ian Rankin will devour this story, just like stepping into a comfy pair of slippers. The only sadness is knowing that in the not too distant future John Rebus must surely finish leaving the reader to ponder if he will finally be stopped... his own decision? ill health? or perhaps have his life ended suddenly by an old acquaintance or underworld operator!
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LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: Rebus is fully retired - sort of. On this case he's called in as a civilian consultant because Cafferty is nearly murdered under the same circumstances as a not as lucky senior lawyer. The tangle also pulls in hoods from Glasglow and Darryl Christi, forming an uneasy alliance against the
Review: This is one of the best Rebus books. The addition of Malcolm Fox has brought more interest to the story. Hopefully Brillo with make future appearances.
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unknown assassin.Review: This is one of the best Rebus books. The addition of Malcolm Fox has brought more interest to the story. Hopefully Brillo with make future appearances.
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LibraryThing member Romonko
This is the 20th book in the Inspector Rebus series, and, as good as they all have been, I think this is one of the THE best in this series. Rebus is supposedly retired for real now, but even so he finds himself drawn into an investigation by none other than his old nemesis Big Ger Cafferty.
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Cafferty was shot at while he was in his own home, and although he wasn't hurt, he wants to find out who has it in for him. He asks Rebus to help him, and when Rebus starts looking he finds out that Siobhan is looking into a murder that has the same hallmarks as the attempts on Big Ger's life. So they each follow their own leads which eventually come together and discover that other victims may be tied in. While they are pursuing these leads, DI Malcolm Fox has been seconded to work with a drugs task force. The more Malcolm digs, the more it looks like an all-out gang war is going to break out on the streets of Edinburgh. Some of the old mobsters like Big Ger are getting older and there are younger gangs out there that want to push them out. And it appears that there may even be some dirty cops in that mix. Malcom has stirred up a huge can of worms all on his own. Rebus is stirring his own can of worms and digs out some huge big names of politicians, judges and even police constables from Edinburgh's past who reside in that can. Rankin is always good at introducing two storylines, and then having them converge in the end, but in this book he has gone a step further and has three storylines, and they all do eventually converge, with everybody getting their man or men in the end. The tension is fraught throughout the whole book and the plot does not even get remotely muddled with all of this going on. That is what makes Ian Rankin the best detective story writer out there today. If you haven't discovered Rebus yet, hopefully my review will help direct you that way. May i suggest that you start with book number one though so that you can get the full benefit of Mr. Rankin's extraordinary authorial skills. That book is called Knots and Crosses. I envy you your journey of discovery. Show Less
LibraryThing member smik
I've actually read the two titles preceding this novel in the series, so it took me a while to get my bearings and to get things in order.
The novel; brings together all the main characters from the series to that point, shortly after Rebus' (enforced) retirement.
It is a very black novel based on
It opens up avenues for further exploration, e.g. a relationship between Malcolm Fox and Siobhan Clarke, which I don't think Rankin pursued.
Definitely one for those who have read earlier books, but possibly not for those who have not dipped a toe in that water.
The novel; brings together all the main characters from the series to that point, shortly after Rebus' (enforced) retirement.
It is a very black novel based on
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the gangland underlying the structure of Edinburgh and Glasgow and the role of the police in maintaining equilibrium. The Edinburgh police find that they can't do without Rebus and his considerable knowledge.It opens up avenues for further exploration, e.g. a relationship between Malcolm Fox and Siobhan Clarke, which I don't think Rankin pursued.
Definitely one for those who have read earlier books, but possibly not for those who have not dipped a toe in that water.
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LibraryThing member malcrf
Typical Ranking/Rebus. The main protagonists are well drawn, the plot is a real page-turner, the dialogue is rich and there is no superfluous prose.
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
I can't quite give it 4 stars but it is a terrific read. This book and the next (which I read earlier) really move all the characters on. Lifts them out of formulaic expectations and gives the plot a satisfying depth.
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9781409159483
Physical description
384 p.; 5.91 inches
Pages
384