Doors Open (Hardcover)

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Review
'It convincingly shows that he can move with aplomb into another crime form, and tell a story that's typically at once gripping and full of subtle effects, without his depressive detective holding it together' (John Dugdale SUNDAY TIMES )

'Doors Open is a lot of fun. It's pacy, witty, full of action, twists and splendid dialogue. And Rebus does make a subtle appearance when an officer describes his police station as "a damn sight quieter since you-know-who retired" ' (THE TIMES )

'Because Rankin is a master story-teller, that means the reader is quickly swept up and carried along. I read this in one sitting, on a swelteringly hot beach in Greece; I kept meaning to do other things - find a beer, fetch a sunhat, check the BlackBerry - but somehow had to keep putting them off until I finished this chapter; and then the next; until I'd reached the end' (Andrew Marr GUARDIAN )

'An immensely satisfying, bloody and constantly surprising story of middle-class amateurs mixing it with the big boys. And, as usual, Edinburgh - "a village masquerading as a city" - is a character in itself. So much so that "you-know-who" is hardly missed! (EVENING STANDARD )

'Rankin has taken a holiday from Rebus before, notably in the Jack Harvey thrillers. Here he is trying something new, a "caper" that is also a publishing experiment. Doors Open was serialised in the New York Times so it should reach even more readers than Rebus did' (TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT )

'It's different - and it's good' (Carla McKay DAILY MAIL )

'Rankin is having fun here, name-checking Ocean's Eleven and Banksy, inverting the Rebus idea and writing a heist thriller from the criminals' point of view' (METRO )

'Ian Rankin can pull off an audacious criminal caper even without his trademark detective' (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY )

'a superbly-plotted, light-hearted romp which owes a debt to Ocean's Eleven, but has plenty of charm of its own too' (BIG ISSUE IN SCOTLAND )

'Rankin is enjoying himself here examining the flipside of Rebus' world: the mindset of the criminal attempting the perfect crime. The plotting and suspense are as impeccable as ever, and his ear for dialogue and insight into his home city remain perfectly honed. Freed from his Rebus back-story, Rankin sets a rattling pace, and Doors Open is an untrammelled joy to read. Consummate in its execution, this is another fine addition to Ian Rankin's career, Rebus or not' (THE LIST )

'As you'd expect from Rankin, a good plot and an interesting collection of Edinburgh characters' (CHOICE )

'You won't be able to turn the pages fast enough' (RED )

'The king of crime returns with another rip-roaring thriller' (WOMAN )

'Rebus might be resting but Rankin has lost none of his skill in creating a pacy plot set in Edinburgh. It's a compelling story with some great characters, at least one of whom I wouldn't be surprised to see in a future book. Recommended' (THE BOOK BAG )

'There is acute psychology and social commentary in Doors Open' (STANDPOINT )

'This comic crime caper is a real treat, with Scotland's superlative author masterfully delivery thrill-a-minute plot twists on every page. Rankin fans, and even Rankin amateurs, will be crying with laughter, as well as crying out for more' (NHS MAGAZINE )

'Rankin has produced another stunningly clever plot, and peopled it with convincingly intriguing characters. Can this man do no wrong?' (DAILY MIRROR )

'Perhaps Rankin's most entertaining book yet, an old-school caper with a sting in the tail' (John Connolly IRISH TIMES )

'Fans of Rankin's successful Inspector Rebus series can stop crying into their whiskies. The publication last year of Exit Music, the final novel featuring the hard-drinking detective, has not stopped its author writing some excellent new tartan noir. Doors Open is Rankin's first stand-alone thriller for a decade. A fast-paced, intriguingly plotted tale of a heist in Edinburgh's art world, it also features the city's shadier side - where Rebus so often hung out' (Melissa McClements FINANCIAL TIMES )

'This is exhilarating stuff, markedly different in tone from the kind of book we are used to from Rankin, but welcome proof that he has much more than one string to his bow' (GOOD BOOK GUIDE )

'Rankin's superlative prose and well-crafted plot twists make this a must-read, especially for those still in mourning for the grumpy guy with a bus pass' (Shari Low DAILY RECORD )

'Now Rankin has retired Rebus he can use his considerable talents to create standalone titles like this' (THE INDEPENDENT )

'Having retired Rebus, Rankin concocts a sharp, cleverly plotted, smartly paced criminal novel, throwing amateur crooks plannng an art theft to the professional sharks of Edinburgh's underworld' (SAGA )

'a compelling new departure for Scotland's king of crime' (THE INDEPENDENT )

'An amusing bloody tale of middle-class amateurs mixing it with the big boys to pull off an audacious art heist' (EVENING STANDARD )

'a gripping crime novel that gradually enmeshes the reader in its dark world of wrong choices and deception' (DEADLY PLEASURES )

'We love the thought that went into this Rankin release. He's a legend, and books like this prove why' (U MAGAZINE )

Product Description
For the right man, all doors are open... Mike Mackenzie is a self-made man with too much time on his hands and a bit of the devil in his soul. He is looking for something to liven up the days and perhaps give new meaning to his existence. A chance encounter at an art auction offers him the opportunity to do just that as he settles on a plot to commit a 'perfect crime'. He intends to rip-off one of the most high-profile targets in the capital - the National Gallery of Scotland. So, together with two close friends from the art world, he devises a plan to a lift some of the most valuable artwork around. But of course, the real trick is to rob the place for all its worth whilst persuading the world that no crime was ever committed. But soon after he enters the dark waters of the criminal underworld he realises that it's very easy to drown... THIS BOOK IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON AUDIO

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33 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:  (4) 3 star:  (7) 2 star:  (7) 1 star:  (13)           Average Customer Review 2.2 out of 5 stars (33 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   38 of 42 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars A Break From The Day Job (3.5* Stars), 29 Sep 2008 By  G. J. Oxley "Gaz" (Tyne & Wear, England) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    You're a celebrated crime author and you've just retired your most famous character - DI John Rebus, as if you didn't know - so what do you do next? Answer, you write an old-fashioned heist caper. You'll have read the plot synopsis so I'll not summarise it again, I'll simply confine myself to making a few general points about the book: First of all, this originally ran as a serial in the same publication that first printed Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch-lite `The Overlook' before it was published as a novel last year. I don't know if Ian has padded out `Doors Open' a bit before publication, but it doesn't seem stretched beyond its natural length. I found `Doors Open' to be a satisfying read, even if it doesn't come close to approaching the quality of the best of the Rebus novels. For anyone else it would be decent little book, but Rankin has set his own standards so high, that you're perhaps looking for a bit more. I personally suspect that he wrote this as a bit of light relief after creating the increasingly complex plots of the `you know who' series for the past twenty years. That and the large wad of cash he was apparently paid for writing it. His policeman here, DI Ransome could not be less like John Rebus if he tried. For a start, he doesn't rush bull-headed into things with no care for insulting his betters - or anyone, else for that matter. Ransome has a facility for diplomacy when among his peers (his counterpart from another station is the one officially investigating the art theft) and has subtle plans for his own advancement. He's no less effective than Rebus, but like I say, his methods are totally different. However, in local Edinburgh gangster Chib Calloway he's created a baddie cut from the same cloth, or perhaps that should be, hewn from the same block of granite, as 'Big Ger' Cafferty from the Rebus novels. There are a few times in this novel where Rankin has his characters spit things out... as in "`Blah, blah, blah', he spat". This despite the fact that the sentences often contain no sibilants. This is a bit lazy, and proves to me that Ian himself regards this as no more than a frippery; a break from the real day job. Having said that, it's still a professional effort and contains a good number of decent twists. In summary, this is an effective and efficient little thriller. It's Ian Rankin writing in a much lighter vein - but it's no less enjoyable for that. If I'm going to be picky, there are writers around like Christopher Brookmyre who, frankly, do this kind of thing much better. Still it's a nice enough stab at the sub-genre, and it's never less than entertaining. But it isn't major league Rankin and anyone approaching it with that expectation is going to be disappointed. Comment Comments (2) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   38 of 48 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars A strong start to his post-Rebus career, 22 Sep 2008 By  M. D. Smart (London, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    Ian Rankin is at something of a turning point in his writing career. Although he wrote other novels early on, he is mainly known for the Inspector Rebus series which has enjoyed enormous critical and popular success in recent years. Now Rebus is taking a break, at least temporarily, and Rankin has just released his first stand-alone novel since the Inspector retired. After such a popular series has ended, it can be difficult for the author to win over former readers with an entirely new book, but 'Doors Open' suggests that Ian Rankin still has what it takes to entertain us even without his most famous creation. It seems he has intentionally set out to create something as different as possible from his previous work. 'Doors Open' is, for want of a better word, a 'caper.' The tone is lighter than the Rebus novels (although things take a serious turn towards the end), and the book reminded me of a modern Scottish version of the classic film 'The League Of Gentlemen'. Mike Mackenzie has made a fortune from computer software at an early age; now he's bored and looking for a bit of adventure. When his friend Robert Gissing suggests 'liberating' a series of paintings from the National Gallery storage vaults in Edinburgh, it's just what he's been looking for. With his other pal Allan and a student forger in tow, Mike approaches gangland boss Chib Calloway (who was at school with Mike) to aid them in their plan. Needless to say, some major complications ensue - greedy partners, an obsessed policeman out to nail Calloway and a monstrous Scandinavian debt-collector called Hate are drawn in to the situation and Mike and friends quickly find themselves completely out of their depth and in serious danger from both the police and the criminal underworld. At first I was unsure about the book; it seemed to me rather unconvincing the way that Mike and Allan almost immediately fell in with Gissing's plan despite being normal, law-abiding citizens previously. However, as the day of the heist approaches that niggle was swiftly forgotten. Despite the change in subject and tone, Rankin has lost none of his ability to grip the reader. He also knows how to create likeable but fallible characters - readers will be willing Mike and his cohorts to succeed in their plan and get away with it. One of the author's favourite themes - the duality of the public and private sides of Edinburgh - is once again to the fore, complete with allusions to Jekyll and Hyde. In fact, there is enough that's familiar in this book to reassure Rebus devotees, but the fresh approach keeps it from seeming stale or repetitive. I must admit I hope Ian Rankin will write more Rebus books at some future date, but I still thoroughly enjoyed 'Doors Open'. The end of the novel offers the possibility that we may see some of the characters again, and I would definitely welcome their return. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   9 of 11 people found the following review helpful: 2.0 out of 5 stars Not as bad as some say but still probably Rankin's weakest effort, 7 Dec 2008 By  Big Jim "Big Jim" (London, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    Positives - the characters are reasonably amusing if a tad stereotypical. The Edinburgh locations are as vivid as ever. Negatives - Plot too too obvious. Ending too obviously contrived. All in all I think Rankin has to leave Edinburgh to Rebus and if his next book isn't to concentrate on Rebus and/or his successors, move the action elsewhere. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 33 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 2.0 out of 5 stars Agreed. I have nothing to add to G.J. Oxley's review below - he's summed up my feelings about this book admirably. Read more Published 3 days ago by Reader 2.0 out of 5 stars easy money a very long drawn out story with light weight characters & a very week plot & predictable ending,loved rebus but this was poor. Read more Published 10 days ago by Mr. K. Mitchell 1.0 out of 5 stars Awful - perfect for an ITV drama mini-series Terrible. Shallow, no characterisation, cliche after cliche and reads like its been commissioned for ITV as a drama mini-series. Read more Published 1 month ago by G. Moss 5.0 out of 5 stars As good as any Rebus novel This book seems to get very mixed reviews, but I for one thoroughly enjoyed it. It can proudly stand next to any of the Rebus novels. Read more Published 1 month ago by Red Mosquito 3.0 out of 5 stars Doors still open, but only just! If you're a fan of the Rebus series, in particular, I'm afraid you may feel a little let down by 'Doors Open'. Read more Published 2 months ago by THE Music Enthusiast 4.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant suprise - not Rebus I have read many, but certainly not all, the Rebus series and was pleased with the new book I was given as a present. Read more Published 3 months ago by C C 1.0 out of 5 stars Very Poor - Don't waste your money like i did I will spend as much time on this review as Ian Rankin spent on the story line. Probably the worse book I have read - don't bother!!!! Published 4 months ago by Shaggy 1.0 out of 5 stars I thought it was me I own and have read all the Inspector Rebus books, and missing him greatly I duly bought the new Ian Rankin. Read more Published 5 months ago by Pagan 2.0 out of 5 stars Rebus Redux Ian Rankin has left his successful sleuth Rebus behind. We hope he is sipping his single malt and laughing at Inspector Ransome, his humorless successor. Read more Published 5 months ago by Newswoman 1.0 out of 5 stars Oh Dear... I found myself wondering whether this was a very early effort that had found it's way from the top of the wardrobe - how else to attribute this poor work to the author of the... Read more Published 5 months ago by cleudo Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 33 customer reviews...

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