Dead Souls

When an author is as successful as Rankin has been with his tough and idiomatic Scottish thrillers, a problem sets in after several books: how to keep the formula fresh?

Rankin has delivered a powerful series of books featuring his beleaguered DI John Rebus, and while never less than gripping, a certain tiredness seemed to be setting in. Thankfully, this new novel is a resounding return to form, with a plot as enjoyably labyrinthine as any Rankin enthusiast could wish and pithy dialogue that fairly leaps off the page. Stalking the streets of Edinburgh on the trail of a poisoner, Rebus hits upon a freed paedophile and his subsequent outing of the man leaves him with very mixed feelings. But another problem develops for Rebus: a convicted murderer has him in his sights for some lethal games. And the tabloid press lionising of Rebus won't help him in this situation. As always, Rankin is perfectly ready to tackle contentious issues--precisely the thing that gives his books their powerful sense of veracity. And Rebus, no longer in danger of having a soap opera-like accumulation of personal problems, seems as fresh and well-observed character as in those first exhilarating books. Rankin has caught his form again, with even more assurance. -- Barry Forshaw

"Hard-drinking, hard-living Rebus remains a compelling figure." --"Kirkus Reviews"
"Rankin [creates] a drum-tight characterization of Rebus as a man deeply shaken by his convictions, but unwilling to fall apart." --"Publishers Weekly"
"Rebus resurgent... A brilliantly meshed plot which delivers on every count on its way to a conclusion as unexpected as it is inevitable."
"--Literary Review""" "Rankin's prose is understated, yet his canvas of Scotland's criminal underclass has a panoramic breadth. His ear for dialogue is as sharp as a switchblade. This is, quite simply, crime writing of the highest order."
--"Daily Express""" ..".the whole is held together by Rankin's drum-tight characterization of Rebus as a man deeply shaken in his convictions, but unwilling to fall apart."--"Publishers Weekly"

"Rebus resurgent... A brilliantly meshed plot which delivers on every count on its way to a conclusion as unexpected as it is inevitable." --"Literary Review"

"Rankin's prose is understated, yet his canvas of Scotland's criminal underclass has a panoramic breadth. His ear for dialogue is as sharp as a switchblade. This is, quite simply, crime writing of the highest order." --"Daily Express "

..".the whole is held together by Rankin's drum-tight characterization of Rebus as a man deeply shaken in his convictions, but unwilling to fall apart." --"Publishers Weekly"

Rebus resurgent... A brilliantly meshed plot which delivers on every count on its way to a conclusion as unexpected as it is inevitable. "Literary Review"

Rankin's prose is understated, yet his canvas of Scotland's criminal underclass has a panoramic breadth. His ear for dialogue is as sharp as a switchblade. This is, quite simply, crime writing of the highest order. "Daily Express "

...the whole is held together by Rankin's drum-tight characterization of Rebus as a man deeply shaken in his convictions, but unwilling to fall apart. "Publishers Weekly""

Rebus resurgent... A brilliantly meshed plot which delivers on every count on its way to a conclusion as unexpected as it is inevitable. Literary Review

Rankin's prose is understated, yet his canvas of Scotland's criminal underclass has a panoramic breadth. His ear for dialogue is as sharp as a switchblade. This is, quite simply, crime writing of the highest order. Daily Express

...the whole is held together by Rankin's drum-tight characterization of Rebus as a man deeply shaken in his convictions, but unwilling to fall apart. Publishers Weekly

"

"Rebus resurgent... A brilliantly meshed plot which delivers on every count on its way to a conclusion as unexpected as it is inevitable." --Literary Review

"Rankin's prose is understated, yet his canvas of Scotland's criminal underclass has a panoramic breadth. His ear for dialogue is as sharp as a switchblade. This is, quite simply, crime writing of the highest order." --Daily Express

..".the whole is held together by Rankin's drum-tight characterization of Rebus as a man deeply shaken in his convictions, but unwilling to fall apart." --Publishers Weekly