Flashmarket Close is the 15th Ian Rankin’s novel featuring Inspector Rebus, finished reading it a few days ago. In past years I read the first 14 novels (in order, although it’s not required in order to enjoy the books) and also a collection of stories, namely A Good Hanging and Other Stories.
I love those books. I love the style of the writing, the multiple plotlines, the dozen of characters.
Most of all, I love the way each novel goes well beyond telling a story and gives a deep insight of Scotland (especially Edinburgh). The focus is on the real thing: poverty, politics and corruption are almost always involved, with murder being the most common crime Inspector Rebus has to deal with.
John Rebus himself is far from being an ideal hero, or even an hero at all. It’s not a “clean-face Derrick” the Inspector created by Ian Rankin. He’s a man with a complicated, difficult life, both personal and as a police officer, in both present and past terms. He’s not a perfect man, and his Justice perception may not fit every time in what Law strictly rules.
Last, but not least, add the fact that I fell in love with Edinburgh and Scotland when I had the luck to be there a few years ago, and the picture should be complete.
I still have the two last Rebus novels to read, as the 17th (published this month) has been announced to be the last one featuring this character. I still do not know what fate has been reserved for Rebus, but I’m definitely going to find out…
Highly recommended to anyone liking noir and crime stories.
