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Black And Blue (Inspector Rebus) (Paperback)

by Ian Rankin (Author) "'Tell me again why you killed them.' ..." (more)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Orion; New edition edition (12 Jan 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0752809482
  • ISBN-13: 978-0752809489
  • Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 11.1 x 4.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 235,116 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #92 in  Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Authors, A-Z > R > Rankin, Ian > Complete List

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Product Description

Product Description

Rebus is juggling four cases trying to nail one killer - who might just lead back to the infamous Bible John. And he's doing it under the scrutiny of an internal inquiry led by a man he has just accused of taking backhanders from Glasgow's Mr Big. As if this wasn't enough, there are TV cameras at his back investigating a miscarriage of justice, making Rebus a criminal in the eyes of a million or more viewers. Just one mistake is likely to mean an unpleasant and not particularly speedy death or, worse still, losing his job.


About the Author

Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982, and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987, and the Rebus books are now translated into thirty-six languages and are bestsellers worldwide. Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow, and is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award. He is the recipient of four Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards including the prestigious Diamond Dagger in 2005. In 2004, Ian won America's celebrated Edgar Award for Resurrection Men. He has also been shortlisted for the Anthony Award in the USA, won Denmark's Palle Rosenkrantz Prize, the French Grand Prix du Roman Noir and the Deutscher Krimipreis. Ian Rankin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, Edinburgh, Hull and the Open University. A contributor to BBC2's Newsnight Review, he also presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin's Evil Thoughts. Rankin is a number one bestseller in the UK and has received the OBE for services to literature, opting to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his partner and two sons.
Inside This Book (Learn More)
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'Tell me again why you killed them.' Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Why not start here - a good intro the the world of Rebus, 20 Jan 2003
This is a great detective book with a number of plot threads to keep you hooked. I demolished this book in only a few short reading sessions desperate to find out not only who serial killer Johnny Bible was but how this would tie in with the resolution of everything else Ian Rankin has packed into this story.

John Rebus is now a strong central character and Ian Rankin has also created a strong cast of characters centred both around Rebus's home and work life.
This series of books have a definate reading order and events in one book often effect future stories. Despite this Black & Blue may be a good book to start with - Rankin is very much at the height of his powers on this story. Black & Blue gives a much better account of how good his books can be than some of the earlier novels.
Although this book talks about events in Rankin's 'Knots & Crosses' tale the ending of that is never given away. Other plot points from other stories are alluded to but, in my opinion, should not reduce your enjoyment of his earlier tales.

So if you want a solid, intelligent, exciting detective story with added Scottish grit (and humour) look no further.

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I have ever read., 2 Jan 2001
As this was my first Rebus book, i was a little sceptical at first, however I was proved wrong. So much that I've started buying the other books in the series. This book has insane attention to detail and the research for this book is incredible. The dialogue is also stunning, realistic and is packed with humour. Rankin uses dialogue with the precision of a chess master and techniques far beyond my expectations. Being a citizen of Aberdeen, i found the detail very accurate and i could picture the settings in my mind with ease. The description in this story also creates images and pictures that make the book easy to understand. You can picture what people look like from Rebus' descriptions. Dont listen to the Yanks who have read the Rebus novels and hate them- They arent Scots so they wouldnt understand our slang and culture. Just buy it.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars complex, gripping, satisfying Scottish crime novel, 25 Jan 2002
By Dr. Sn Cottam "Steve the medic" (Preston, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Inspector John Rebus returns in a multi-stranded novel, ostensibly starting with the murder of a North Sea oil worker in Edinburgh, with ramifications including an old and new serial killer, an investigative TV program claiming a miscarriage of justice and vicious gangland drug operations. Ian Rankin is bang up to date with his background and brings these diverse strands brilliantly together to a satisfying and realistic conclusion.

Perhaps the strongest feature of Rankin's writing is his evocation of the social, political and of course criminal landscape of modern Scotland, and this novel is no exception as Rebus travels between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen and then on to Shetland and the North Sea itself to follow his leads and make his cases. Rankin's narrative sweeps along as strong as ever and the occasional implausibilities and jarring cliches just do not seem to matter.

All in all, Rankin continues on form in another richly satisfying and gripping read. If you like crime fiction, you'll love Ian Rankin's books.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Rankin and Rebus, low odds..
Low odds, because it's always a winning concept.

John rebus, the half alcoholic, half outcast, much hated DI is back. Read more
Published 17 months ago by B. Jonsson

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest novels of the 1990s in any genre
I don't usually post reviews to amazon but felt that this book shouldn't have a two-star critique at the head of its feedback. Read more
Published on 29 May 2007 by S. R. Body

2.0 out of 5 stars A lot of better books around
The version I read started with an introduction by the author where he says that this is the best Rebus he has written yet - which I found vaguely irritating. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2006 by Janie U

5.0 out of 5 stars Wicked!
I picked this book up simply because it featured in a 3 for 2 offer at Dublin airport and I needed something to read on the way home from the Republic. Read more
Published on 20 Jul 2004 by aaron_atkinson_16

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Rebus
Rebus really outdoes himself in this book. He manages to get himself into serious trouble by annoying superior officers in three different cities at the same time…and I... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2003 by Untouchable

4.0 out of 5 stars For those that don't know...
Another great read. Admittedly not the best from him, but good all the same. In order to fully appreciate the any series one needs to start as close to the beginning as possible... Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2001

1.0 out of 5 stars black & blue - extremely hard work
I was inspired to read one of Ian Rankin's novels after listing to a radio interview with him. During the interview Rankin brought Inspector Rebus to life with vivid descriptions... Read more
Published on 17 April 2001

1.0 out of 5 stars A dull book.
I had to keep re-reading to follow the plot. It just was not worth the effort. Very little tension - no surprises - many characters and scenes that confuse but rarely interest. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling and dark
I read an article about Bible John about five years ago and found it fascinating. Rankin has done a great job of weaving the truth of the story with the fiction of his novel and... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2000 by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley

4.0 out of 5 stars The type of book you don't want to put down
I started reading this book when i saw its adaptation on the T.V a while ago and just had to read the book. I was not disappointed. The book was just as good as the t.v show. Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2000

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