Tooth and Nail (An Inspector Rebus Novel)
3 journalers for this copy...
I picked this one up at Chapters at a 4 for the price of 3 event. This is number 3 in the Inspector Rebus series, and the cover is the white cover.
From Chapters:
Scottish homicide detective John Rebus has been sent to help London police cath a serial killer with a gruesome M.O. Teamed with a London cop, Rebus lets a psychologist into the case and develops a bizarre portrait of a vicious killer. Now it's only question of who is going to get busted first: the cop with the accent who breaks all the rules--or the psycho painting London with blood.
From Chapters:
Scottish homicide detective John Rebus has been sent to help London police cath a serial killer with a gruesome M.O. Teamed with a London cop, Rebus lets a psychologist into the case and develops a bizarre portrait of a vicious killer. Now it's only question of who is going to get busted first: the cop with the accent who breaks all the rules--or the psycho painting London with blood.
Book number 3 in the Rebus series sees Rebus getting requested by the London squad to help solve the Wolfman serial killer case. Wolfman has been attacking female victims at night, slashing their throat and leaving bite marks on their stomach. The London police have no more leads and can't figure out what to do next. After researching serial killers and seeing that Rebus has experience, George Flight requests to bring him down from Scotland. Rebus doesn't fit in and his accent is too thick for some to understand. He feels like a fish out of water. But that doesn't stop him from doing his job and finding who is behind the Wolfman murders.
I didn't find this book so much about finding a killer as it was about Rebus trying to fit in in London. Of course, he doesn't do a very good job, however the London "copper" George Flight is an excellent balance to Rebus' slightly wild style. I really enjoyed Flight as a character and would have loved to see him partnered up with Rebus back up in Scotland.
The love stories in these types of books are always a bit corny. I'm not sure why mystery authors feel that these characters need a constant love interest - one per book (Connelly has the same problem). It seems to make the whole story a little less credible.
Rankin always puts a forward in his Rebus books explaining how he came to write that novel. These always provide interesting insight into his thinking process and I really hope that the rest of his Rebus series continues to have these little letters to the reader.
I didn't find this book so much about finding a killer as it was about Rebus trying to fit in in London. Of course, he doesn't do a very good job, however the London "copper" George Flight is an excellent balance to Rebus' slightly wild style. I really enjoyed Flight as a character and would have loved to see him partnered up with Rebus back up in Scotland.
The love stories in these types of books are always a bit corny. I'm not sure why mystery authors feel that these characters need a constant love interest - one per book (Connelly has the same problem). It seems to make the whole story a little less credible.
Rankin always puts a forward in his Rebus books explaining how he came to write that novel. These always provide interesting insight into his thinking process and I really hope that the rest of his Rebus series continues to have these little letters to the reader.
this book is with me now
Another excellent Rebus book. This book is slightly different as Rebus is sent to London to assist in the capture of a serial murderer. Rebus is not too sure of his ability to help out but as the plot proceeds his confidence in capturing the felon increases.
It is interesting to see London through Rebus's eyes. He is not 'in his element' and must face prejudice. Flight, Rebus's counterpart in London is a decent and good policeman and balances Rebus off very nicely. I love always how Rebus follows his own instincts and to hell with procedure.
In this book he falls for Lisa who wishes to profile the serial killer. I found the relationship a bit conntrived. Mysteries do not breed good relationships.
Rankin writes a great mystery with lots of twists and turns
It is interesting to see London through Rebus's eyes. He is not 'in his element' and must face prejudice. Flight, Rebus's counterpart in London is a decent and good policeman and balances Rebus off very nicely. I love always how Rebus follows his own instincts and to hell with procedure.
In this book he falls for Lisa who wishes to profile the serial killer. I found the relationship a bit conntrived. Mysteries do not breed good relationships.
Rankin writes a great mystery with lots of twists and turns
Mailed off today to MsJoanna, who is going to take all my Rebus books off my hands! :)
Woohoo! The next in the series. I better read #2 so I'm caught up when the next one arrives.
This is my third try reading this book; I'm glad I finally got far enough along to be sucked in. I don't read many mysteries, but I have read the previous two Inspector Rebus novels. It's amazing how quickly a book like this dates itself -- When this was published in 1992, a car phone probably seemed like pretty snazzy technology. Today, it felt sort of silly to have the characters chatting on car phones with one other.
Still, I enjoyed this novel. Rebus is not a lovable character, he isn't particularly great with one-liners, and he often goes off sort of half-cocked. Yet, somehow, I enjoy him. His penchant for book collecting (without particular regard to the specific books) amuses me. His commitment to solving the crime and balancing the forces of good and evil is roughly endearing even as it tears up his own life.
The actual mystery here wasn't as compelling as reading about the detective, but isn't that often the case with these sorts of novels?
All in all, a good read. I'll read the next in the series at some point.
Still, I enjoyed this novel. Rebus is not a lovable character, he isn't particularly great with one-liners, and he often goes off sort of half-cocked. Yet, somehow, I enjoy him. His penchant for book collecting (without particular regard to the specific books) amuses me. His commitment to solving the crime and balancing the forces of good and evil is roughly endearing even as it tears up his own life.
The actual mystery here wasn't as compelling as reading about the detective, but isn't that often the case with these sorts of novels?
All in all, a good read. I'll read the next in the series at some point.
