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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmmm, I'm not 100% sure about this book, which stars 3 of Rankin's main characters (John Rebus (now retired for a second time), Siobhan Clarke, and Malcolm Fox) as they investigate a series of seeming unrelated murders and attempted murders (a lottery winner, the former head of Scotland's prosecution service, and the head of an Edinburgh gang), while they try and work out what the head of a Glasgow gang is doing in Edinburgh.
The story itself is fine.... typical Rebus faire, and it rattles along at a decent rate, but it felt a little contrived (the baddies involvement felt shoe horned into the plot, as did how they identified the killer), and some of the things that happen in the story might make it feel a little dated fairly fast.
The story itself is fine.... typical Rebus faire, and it rattles along at a decent rate, but it felt a little contrived (the baddies involvement felt shoe horned into the plot, as did how they identified the killer), and some of the things that happen in the story might make it feel a little dated fairly fast.
pramsay13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ian Rankin books are always an easy read with exciting twists and turns along the way. I think it's maybe time for Rebus to retire though and let Siobhan take over.
winterreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
Even Dogs in the Wild is Ian Rankin at his best. Rebus is here, but he's retired, allowed back because Big Ger Cafferty is involved - a bullet is shot through his living room window one night and he won't talk to anyone but Rebus. Siobhan is in the middle of a complex series of murders and she and Malcolm Fox are seeing each other. Fox is stuck in a no-man's land, where he's too highly ranked to do basic police work, but there's very little available for an ex-Complaints guy. So he gets stuck chaperoning a group of Glasgow cops who have come to Edinburg as part of a long-term undercover operation. They don't trust him or want him anywhere near their work, but Fox has experience in finding out things.
It's a solid crime novel. And it's fun to see all the usual characters doing their thing. And Rebus's too cool for school attitude even has him opt out of getting information he would have found useful later, which I enjoyed seeing. This isn't a change in direction and the pattern of the series holds, but it's working well for now and Even Dogs in the Wild was fun to read.
It's a solid crime novel. And it's fun to see all the usual characters doing their thing. And Rebus's too cool for school attitude even has him opt out of getting information he would have found useful later, which I enjoyed seeing. This isn't a change in direction and the pattern of the series holds, but it's working well for now and Even Dogs in the Wild was fun to read.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Edelweiss for this ARC! I am a big fan of Ian Rankin mysteries and this one confirmed it. Reading about these characters again felt like coming home, and that's just where I stayed until I finished the book.
blairconrad's review against another edition
4.0
The best Rebus I've read in a while. Only one super improbable coincidence, and one element pulled out of left field. And the things that ended up being tied together at the end were not so shocking, really.
I liked Rebus in the book, and Malcolm. I'm excited to see more of him. And Big Ger, but who doesn't love him?
I liked Rebus in the book, and Malcolm. I'm excited to see more of him. And Big Ger, but who doesn't love him?
smitchy's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't enjoy this as much as I did collection of Rebus short stories. Could just be me - I do like the faster pace of short stories when it comes to crime.