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Set in Darkness cover art

Set in Darkness

By: Ian Rankin
Narrated by: James Macpherson
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Summary

Edinburgh is about to become the home of the first Scottish parliament in 300 years. As political passions run high, DI John Rebus is charged with liaison, thanks to the new parliament being resident in Queensbury House, bang in the middle of his patch. But Queensbury House has its own, dark past.

Legend has it that a young man was roasted there on a spit by a madman. When the fireplace where the youth died is uncovered another more recent murder victim is found. Days later, in the gardens outside, there is another body and Rebus is under pressure to find instant answers.

As the case proceeds, the Inspector finds himself face to face with one of Edinburgh's most notorious criminals...

©2010 Ian Rankin (P)2011 Orion Publishing Group, Ltd

What listeners say about Set in Darkness

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Far too much 'rare-lish' from the reader

I have greatly enjoyed other Ian Rankin/Jack Harvey books from Audible - notably The Complaints - as well as other Rebus books I've read in print form. However, I am struggling to stay with this one as the narration is completely over the top: as if the reader is doing a pastiche of a fruity old Scottish actor auditioning for the part of a fruity old Scottish actor. An already dense plot patchwork and a large-ish cast of characters require minimal embellishment in the narration. Rebus's mean streets need a lot less relish.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Good story, shame about the reading.

This audio-book made me realise just how much difference the reader makes to what one thinks of a book. This narrator was the wrong choice. If he is Scottish, I am surprised, as his accent[s] were never convincing and I have to say that I was stunned at how many inhabitants of Edinburgh had accents from various parts of England. There were also too many areas where the narrator tripped up over where to stress a sentence and it was a struggle to make sense of what he was saying.

I don't know how much this influenced my appreciation of the book. I always enjoy Rebus, but am not sure that this was one of the best I have listened to. The Grieve family did not altogether convince me and I felt that there were unexplored back-stories [maybe they come together in a future book ...]. I also struggle with Cafferty - he didn't come across as sufficiently menacing and I don't know how much that was down to the way the book was read, or how Ian Rankin wrote it. But, in either case, whatever possessed Rebus to continually make himself vulnerable to him? I also thought that the process of identifying the murderer didn't quite work.

I like the setting in real time, the discussions around the birth of the Scottish Parliament and the harking back to previous periods in Scottish politics. Also the development of Siobhan. But I wasn't sure how convinced I was by the character of fellow-cop Linford. There is a good cast of supporting characters and, as ever, the city has a part all of its own.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Definitely James Macpherson

Not sure what version other reviewers listened to, but it's definitely James Macpherson reading in the download I received, and he does an excellent job as usual.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

More a Mystery than Thriller

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I really liked this Rebus novel. I am going though the series form the beginning and this is my favourite so far, not as much action but a real challenge for the characters.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Siobhan really comes through in this book and shines. Hopefully she becomes a more integral part of the series going forward as she is a good foil to Rebus.

Have you listened to any of James Macpherson’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Just through this series and I love his performance. The Scottish accent is great and easy to follow characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scenes with Cafferty were most intriguing

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Read the book!...

.... then you won't have to listen to this narrator. It isn't James McPherson as listed. It is Samuel Gillies, specialist in drawling and plummy vowels. He gives Siobhan Clarke a Yorkshire accent. I couldn't listen beyond the first few chapters.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The Return of The Nemesis

Another complicated set of storylines, which seems to be common for Ian Rankin.

It’s great to see Rebus upsetting the top brass, and managing to get away with it. Something he seems to do regularly. Which I find entertaining.

It’s great to have Rebus’s nemesis back on the scene. Big Ger Cafferty being one of my favourite villains in the Rebus series.

If I had to find a negative with this story, it’s the fact that I thought that it’s probably over complicated, and feels a bit drawn out. But apart from that Ian Rankin has Rebus on top form.

Once again I only have praise for the excellent narration by James MacPherson.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Bit slow in parts

Decent listen. Same narrator as usual not sure on other reviews. Story did drag out a little but overall a decent listen with lots of twists and turns

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great Rebus book

This was the longest Rebus audio book so far. Can’t wait to download the book in the series

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Politics and corruption, a messy case for Rebus

The new Scottish parliament is being built and Edinburgh is about to reclaim its place on the world stage. Unfortunately dead bodies keep turning up, and no one but Rebus seems to want to find out why.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic as always

love Ian rankin he's the best crime writer there is. I'm working my way through all he's books

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