Reviews

A Good Hanging by Ian Rankin

elegantmechanic's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

urlphantomhive's review against another edition

3.0

READ IN DUTCH

My first Rebus, after I had already watched the BBC series, which I liked. So I was interested in reading a book, and this was the one the library was offering when I went there.

It was an easy and nice read. The detective is quite cliche with its grumpy, alcoholic detective, but it's enjoyable anyway. I still want to read more books in this series, but haven't yet find the time to do so, unfortunately.

bl0ndekitten's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

miathorup's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

nwhyte's review against another edition

4.0

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1951749.html

This is the last of the Rebus books for me - though I still have about a half-dozen other Rankins on the shelves - a collection of short stories published in 1992, when Rebus's sidekick was still Brian Holmes rather than Siobhan Clarke; I missed her but otherwise really enjoyed all the stories, excellent little crime vignettes - in some cases you can see what the twist is likely to be but still admire Rankin's skill in getting us and Rebus there. (A couple of odd stylistic lapses in the second story, "The Dean's Curse", which almost made me wonder if Rankin had taken on an understudy; or else a case of Homeric nods.) Glad to finish Rebus on a high note, though chronologically I should have read it after Tooth and Nail or Strip Jack, much much earlier.

ashlislibrary's review against another edition

3.0

Good book to get you out of a reading slump, quick short stories.

benbert's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

howjessicareads's review

4.0

A solid collection of mystery short stories featuring the inimitable Inspector John Rebus. Each story is 10-30 pages long, and features a different case, but there are recurring characters and incidents as the story progresses, making for a cohesive whole. All the stories are set in and around Edinburgh, and feature a wacky and often sad collection of criminals, some of Rebus's fellow officers in the Lothian and Borders, and of course, Rebus himself in all his nuanced, alcoholic, perceptive glory.

jenniferworrell's review

2.0

I'm obsessed with this author and the whole Rebus series, but this entry didn't quite live up to the novels thus far (I read this after Tooth & Nail). Some seemed underformed, although organized in a way that Rebus seems to deepen as you read along. There are three standouts though: Monstrous Trumpet and Not Provan, which are the most vivid portrayals of Rebus, and Sunday, which I think will stick with me for a long time. It is a very slow, even dull, meander through Rebus' day off, which very slowly and subtly becomes darker and more ominous, until you're left shaken and chilled at the meaning of the day and how a man handles, (or fails to handle), the more sinister elements of his life.

alfykins's review

4.0

good solid detective stories, a couple of them great. Sunday and Auld Lang Syne were particular stand outs.