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.

I was so happy to see the news that Ian Rankin was going to pull John Rebus out of retirement and now here he is, still politically incorrect, drinking too much and getting up the noses of the establishment. I loved this one, with Rebus using old fashioned coppers intuition and methods, and eventually showing that experience counts for more than you think. Well worth a read

Retired detective Rebus re enters the scene but is unenthusiastic about having to work again on some unsolved cases. When a local girl disappears, the trail leads John and his faithful companions in many directions before finally untangling the mess. The bodies of other missing women are found and John carefully unpicks the details until he finds the end. Old criminals, and new, put him to the test. Gripping and clever. Rebus is reborn and back to what he does best.

Rebus is back and dogged as ever, but increasingly it is mind over matter – particularly in the case of his lungs and liver. The characterisation is witty and colourful as ever, but we begin to wonder if the stereotype of the emotionally dysfunctional cop with the laser-like mind is not starting to become rather laboured. There is something rather depressing about this sad loner whose only relationships are with the bottle, the cigarette packet and his battered, old car.

This time, the story takes place mainly out of the city and along the A 9 into the wilds of northern Scotland, but inevitably, this is not what taxidrivers call the pretty route.

James MacPherson's reading provides Scottish authenticity (and for viewers of the television series, extra credibility) and he does the different accents of the various villains and police personnel to perfection.

An interesting feature is Rebus's love-hate relationship with Cafferty, the villain he once managed to put inside, although it only serves to point up the bleakness of his personal life.

It's still a good read which keeps you guessing, but for once, a little hint of romance might not come amiss.

Just listened to this and really enjoyed it. My only criticism is the speed of James McPherson's narrative. This was corrected by altering the settings to play at 1.25 speed. Sorted.

I really enjoyed this, especially as Rebus spent time listening to Bert Jansch and sipping Highland Park. I am not sure I fully believe the vendetta of Malcolm Fox against Rebus. I like Malcolm Fox but it is total hypocrisy on his part labelling Rebus as a Maverick and trying to persecute him, in fact Fox and the complaints solve the 'Impossible Dead' by breaking all sorts of conventions, rules and orders. Criticising Rebus as a rulebreaker is a case of 'pots and kettles'. Perhaps Rebus and Fox could reach some kind of understanding when they are forced to work on a case together: what do you think Mr Rankin?

Great to see the return of John Rebus .A good story with all our old favourites.

The narrator works well with an appropriate level of grumpiness mixed with professional ability just how I imagine Rebus from reading the novels

Great to have Rebus brought out of retirement. His rebellious character is still as endearing as ever. Ian Rankin is back on top form with both story line and characters (in truth Rankin and Rebus should just stay together). First class.

A reliably quality continuation of Rebus' saga; more of a culmination that a climax.



[Mild Spoilers ahead]



The book features what I imagine is for some, the long awaited meeting of John Rebus & Malcolm Fox. It's interesting to see the men and their methods contrast one another, though something that felt somewhat underplayed is Fox's use of computers and technology (something used to great effect in his first appearence), which could have really helped set the men apart.

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