A collection of short stories. I'll be interested to see how this genre affects Rankin's style, given that his plots are usually very complex.

On offer as a UK relay
http://casualreader.net/bookrelay/relay.php?id=172

Released on Thursday, June 17, 2004 at Mailed to a fellow BookCrosser in Postal Release, Book Relay Controlled Releases.

Mailed to purple pixie as a book relay
http://casualreader.net/bookrelay/index.php

Arrived today, thanks Tehuti!

A very mixed bag of stories, some I enjoyed thoroughly and some I just didn't get.

On its way to my NSSSS partner, I know you say you're a slow reader, well here are some short stories for you!

I hope you enjoy the gift enclosed too!

This was *part* of my NSSSSSSSSthingy that we do on BCuk.

It did scare me when i saw how *big* this (HB)book is, but if it's short stories then I can obviously do it in stages!

Thanks purple-pixie! *bigsillygrin*.

I've made an 'exectutive decision' that this is my next/current read :O)

Partly because I couldn't figure out which book I 'needed' to read next, partly because I've just read and enjoyed a book of 'short stories' (I don't read them often), and partly because this is one of the first NSS (Not So Secret) book I remember receiving (so it's about time I read it)

I am aware that Ian Rankin is a respected author and I know he's regarded highly amongst many bookcrossers so I was intruiged to see what the 'fuss' was about. I have to admit it took me a while to find it. I think it was 'Talk Show' or maybe 'Castle Dangerous' before I'd read something which actually stayed with me a little after I'd read it.

I've never watched any 'Inspector Rebus' dramas on the television, but after reading some of these stories - and maybe it's only because I've read several, rather than just one? - I may watch one next time I notice it on tv.

Overall I did enjoy this book, and whilst I won't rush to read a novel by Ian Rankin, I will at some stage probably join a bookring or bookray for one of his books, just to experience his writing in the longer format.

I will probably put this up for a bookring or something before I really decide what to do with it, but for now I'll mark it as AVL.

Ok, here's the running order so far for the bookray:

MrsBridgewater (UK)
Astrofiammante (UK)
bike51man (UK)
wilksie (UK)

Edit - 29/01/08

Posting to MrsBridgewater today.

Arrived this morning - have started reading it already.

I love Ian Rankin's novels, but for me this selection of short stories, while being enjoyable, did not come close to them. The ones I enjoyed most were the Rebus stories, mainly because I knew the character. Spike - if I were you I would give one of his full length novels a go, if you do want to watch the dramatisations on TV the ones with Ken Stott are far better tahn the ones with John Hannah.

Will PM Astrofiammante for an address today.

Received with thanks - will look forward to reading.

Hello, Astrofiammante here. Have nearly finished reading this and am almost ready to pass it on.

Because I'm winding up my bookcrossing activity my account is as close to being disabled as I can make it and that means not using the messaging system. But I'm keen to keep this ray going.

I believe bike51man is the next person due to receive this book - contact me at queen.astrofiammante AT googlemail.com, if that's OK, and I'll gladly post it on.

Astrofiammante, I've copied your message into a PM and sent it to him for you.

The book arrived today - thanks Astrofiammante. Looking forward to reading this, although it may take a while - three bookrings have now arrived in the last ten days!