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Doors Open [Audiobook] [CD] [Unabridged] (Audio CD)

by Ian Rankin (Author), James Macpherson (Reader)
2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
RRP: £24.47
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Product details

  • Audio CD
  • Publisher: Orion; Unabridged edition (17 Sep 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0752897810
  • ISBN-13: 978-0752897813
  • Product Dimensions: 14 x 13.8 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 268,221 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Review
"Life without Rebus was never going to be easy [but] this new Rankin ride, still around Edinburgh but from a slightly different, non-cop perspective, is brilliant. It's fast, violent and edgy." (Sue Arnold THE GUARDIAN )

"It's a brave author who kills off the golden goose ... but Ian Rankin has produced a most satisfying, if tongue-in-cheek, new venture in DOORS OPEN. James MacPherson, the narrator, has as much fun with a new repertoire of Edinburgh characters and the sardonic DI Ransome as he did with Rebus, et al." (Christina Hardyment THE TIMES )

"A really great listen, with reader James Macpherson." (Kati Nicholl DAILY EXPRESS )

"After dispatching DI Rebus in his previous novel, a demob-happy Ian Rankin is in lighter, almost humorous mood. ... James Macpherson always adds value and, in an eerie, suspenseful epilogue, he gets to reveal, solely by his accent, the identity of the plotters' nemesis." (DAILY TELEGRAPH )

"Here is proof that there is life after Rebus ... The tough Scots narration gives it all a suitably harsh edge." (THE OLDIE )

"Gripping." (DAILY TELEGRAPH )

Product Description
Set in a very different Edinburgh to that inhabited by DI John Rebus, this new thriller will show a whole new side to Ian Rankin. With echoes of OCEAN'S 11 and THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, this novel centres on the glamorous uber-world of the Scottish capital. 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 settles on a plot 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...

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Customer Reviews

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)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
37 of 41 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)   
This review is from: Doors Open (Hardcover)
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.
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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)   
This review is from: Doors Open (Hardcover)
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.
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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)   
This review is from: Doors Open (Hardcover)
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.
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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 7 hours 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 7 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 2 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

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