Reviews

A Question of Blood by Ian Rankin

owenreads's review

dark 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

4.5

I didn't want to put this one down, nor did I want it to end. 

I did not see the turn near the end coming. The explanation, so mundane, as to jolt the reader.

helenace13's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

The story was great, well written. Sometimes with thrillers you sometimes feel like you missed something, I didn't have that with this one. The pace wad good and the plot was not predictable whatsoever.

kingfan30's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

ajnel's review

mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Another well-written Rebus whodunnit,  but maybe just a tad too many breadcrumbs.   On a different note, I really missed Big Ger not being in this novel. 

mazza57's review against another edition

another superb read from Ian Rankin. Twists and turns and Rebus getting himself into trouble to boot.

bibliobethreads's review against another edition

Really enjoyed this book, one of Rankin's better Rebus one's. The storyline is excited and well thought out and loved learning more about the characters other than Rebus. Terrific ending as well.... what happens next?!

neff's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

First Rebus book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Would definitely read another one.

woolfardis's review

4.0

[Short review from memory before I re-read and review at a later date:

More Rebus. I can't remember individual books well enough to write something here about them. Need to re-read them. All of them...]

lauranisbet's review

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

nonna7's review

5.0

NOTHING is ever simple in an Ian Rankin novel, but THIS one was among the most complicated and surprising ones I've read. When a posh private school experiences a gunman who seems, at random, to have killed two students and wounded a third one before turning the gun on himself, the assumption is made that it is a cut and dried case. Rebus is on the hot seat after a frying pan fire causes the death of a thug who was harassing Siobhan, a member of his team, and a special friend. It doesn't help that his hands are badly burned - a result of putting them in scalding water - or so he says. The school murders aren't in his patch, but an old friend, Bobby Hogan, specifically requests Rebus, and, by extension, Siobhan. Soon it's obvious that there is more to this than meets the eye. The gunman, a former member of an elite British army unit, is considered unstable. He left his wife and children after leaving the army unexpectedly. He has an expensive boat and drugs are found in his boat shed. Also the army is sniffing around about a helicopter that crashed. The gunman was a member of the group that investigated the crash. He apparently took something away with him. Then there's the guy who operates a flying school and corporate jet. Something doesn't add up for Rebus. Plus he is also trying to clear his name and soon discovers a connection to the case. This one really took me by surprise. The ending was a complete shock. I have one more Rebus to read, and then I'll be caught up in the series. I'm looking forward to his next book.