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The Impossible Dead
- Narrated by: Peter Forbes
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
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The Impossible Dead
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Summary
Malcolm Fox and his team are back. They've been sent to Fife to investigate whether fellow cops covered up for a corrupt colleague, Detective Paul Carter. Carter has been found guilty of misconduct with his own uncle, also in the force, having proved to be his nemesis. But what should be a simple job is soon complicated by intimations of conspiracy - and a brutal murder committed with a weapon that should not even exist.
The spiralling investigation takes Fox back to 1985, a year of turmoil in British political life. Terrorists intent on a split between Scotland and the rest of the UK were becoming more ruthless, sending letter-bombs and poisonous spores to government offices, plotting kidnaps and murder, and trying to stay one step ahead of the spies sent to find them. Fox has a duty to get at the truth, while the body count rises, the clock starts ticking, and he fights for his professional and personal life.
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What listeners say about The Impossible Dead
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Michelle
- 16-01-12
A down-to-earth thriller and all the better for it
Great story, great reader. Rankin's prose is plain but somehow lyrical. The second book to feature Malcolm Fox of 'The Complaints'. I enjoyed it even more than the first one, if only because the characters are now familiar. (It was hard letting go of Rebus.) Builds on the first story without rehashing the same ground. Can be read as a stand-alone. The action sequences are particularly exciting in a down-to-earth fashion. Foxie is no Jason Bourne, he is a flawed but decent man, an excellent policeman and willing to bend the rules to get to the truth and stop the bad guys. And still find time to visit his ailing father in hospital.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maggie Kiely
- 18-01-15
Inspector Fox Character strengthening
I had never heard of Inspector Malcolm Fox when I read 'Standing in another man's grave' which is essentially a Rebus novel. Malcolm Fox was in this novel as the 'Complaints' investigating Police (essentially Rebus and his colleagues). I saw him as a nasty character, best avoided. He redeemed himself in 'Saints of the Shadow Bible" and even Rebus changed his view on him.
I then read 'The Complaints' which showed Fox as a flawed but decent character with redeeming features in his pursuit of justice and his care for his ageing father and sister.
'The Impossible Dead' takes the story forward with Fox again in the 'Complaints' department of the Police but moving outside it to solve murders both old and new and not caring who he has to take 'to task' in the process.
He is joined by two other 'Complaints' officers both interesting characters, especially Inspector Kay.
Fox continues to care for his ageing father and supports his sister who is (in my opinion) very annoying and has obvious mental health issues which have not been tackled and in fact Fox panders to her instead of confronting her.
The story progresses well and comes to a good end with the crimes solved and the pieces placed in their right order.
My only complaint was that I felt there could have been further explanation as to what happened to the characters involved in the murders after the big 'reveal' but that was not to be I guess.
I felt the narrative was excellent and Peter Forbes really brought the characters to life. Would highly recommend this book.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sandra
- 17-03-18
Gripping if a little far fetched
This is the first Rankin book I’ve listened to that hasn’t been read by James McPherson, and at first I was a little disappointed. Quickly though I got used to the change and thought the narration was excellent.
The story itself was pretty far fetched - as seems to be the case with Rankin books these days. That said, it was still really enjoyable, with a twist at the end. Well worth a listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alan Taylor
- 30-03-21
Recommeded
Well crafted with lots of twists and turns.. Lightt touches made me smile. Skilfully read.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mr. J. Collins
- 05-12-22
Not a Rebus story
I found the book very complicated with many different characters being introduced. I listened until the end which was quite a long time coming. That said, it kept me listening until the end.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- GC
- 15-10-11
Brilliant Successor to Rebus
DI Malcolm Fox is a member of 'the Complaints' - what the Americans call 'the Rat Squad' - investigating police misbehaviour in Edinburgh and its environs.
In this story, he and his team are called in to interview the colleagues of a bent cop in Kirkcaldy, but very soon there are murders (both new and old) to be investigated.
Although this is only the second in the series, I think Ian Rankin has come up with a worthy successor to Rebus. Fox is a recovering alcoholic (what fictional policeman isn't?) with both domestic (but not the usual) and work related problems which cleverly interact with his investigations. He is a realistic and sympathetic character and it is also interesting that the 'good' cop - the one the reader identifies with - is regarded by many of his colleagues as 'bad'.
Both books in the series are expertly narrated by Peter Forbes.beta inappVoteInfo
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22 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Scottish Lass
- 07-10-20
Excellent
Really enjoyed the second book in this series.
Great narration for a change. Would recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ronnie Ingledew
- 06-01-17
Excellent listen
Great story took a while to get going but couldn't switch off once it got going brilliant
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Francis
- 02-12-11
A good follow up to Rebus
I enjoyed this new character from Ian Rankin, having read plenty of Rebus books. Worth listening to.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Smuggler
- 01-09-12
Great story, a ripping yarn!
If you enjoy crime thrillers you should download this. A good length, fast paced story with good narration.
Perfect for long car journeys!
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