In the world of the modern detective novel, the name Ian Rankin rarely goes unnoticed, since it belongs to one of the most “consistent” writers who managed to pave the way of modern realistic crime fictionlighting up quite a bit at the same time sociopolitical issues.
The “knight of police literature”, as it could be characterized by the readers o Scottish writersince in 2022 Queen Elizabeth II had anointed him knightoccupied the world of detective fiction from a very early age with his pen full of realism and twists, but also with the unconventional character of his protagonist, inspector John Rebus.
Ian Rankin introduced this special inspector, with his high intelligence, intense inner struggle with his moral side, but also obvious “anti-sociality” in places, to the reading public in 1987 and it has given him ever since 24 adventuresleaving us witnesses of his evolution as an inspector, but also of the evolution of the city in which the author chose to place his hero, his beloved Edinburghwith intense pathogens but also unique beauty.
This character was to chart the literary path of the author, who manages to make fans of the policeman hang from the pages of his books to this day, and talk about one of the most balanced writerssince Rankin always manages to see his work with a strong realistic and socio-political eye, without resorting to exaggerations.
On the occasion of both the birthday of the author, who turns 64 on Sunday, as well as his visit today to the Amphitheater of Hellenic American Union in Kolonaki, for an evening dedicated to his work, we “leaf through” them 4 most recent books by Ian Rankin – which have been translated into Greek by Metaichmio publications – and we present them to you, so that you are as ready as possible for today’s event.
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The Waterfalls
Although in Greece we again remembered this characteristic detective novel by Ian Rankin in 2021, with the release of anniversary edition from Metaichmio, this was the book with which the publications introduced the author to the Greek reading public, in the now distant 2002. The reason for “Waterfalls”, the 12th project of the author starring Inspector Rebus, who logically appears quite younger, giving us the opportunity to slowly follow, book by book, his evolution in the field of action.
Moving on to the plot, his dark side Edinburgh comes once again to the center of discussion when the young student Philippa, daughter of the big banker John Balfour, mysteriously disappears. Then, 4 old cases will come to the surface that have been haunting the city for about 2 centuries and seem to be directly connected to the current case of Rebus and his team. Especially when the young inspector Siobhan Clarke, an ace in new – given the time the case was written – technologies, discovers a rather dark aspect of the missing girl, the case will take an even more complicated turn, to which only the demon Rebus can give solution, even if the killer’s macabre touches are meant to disorient him.
In the house of lies
Making a brief review of 10 literary cases and 16 years, in “House of Lies” we find a somewhat more mature side of the inspector, who has now grown quite a bit, and this is beginning to show in his stamina. Now retired, Rebus finds himself not enjoying the tranquility of his new potential everyday life, which is hardly surprising we might say.
So when his dead body is discovered private detective Bloom -who is ignored for 12 years -, in a place that had become, seemingly, leaf and feather in the first official inquiries, Edinburgh police will upset, since strangely enough, everyone has something to hide from that period. Except for Rebus of course, who will find the opportunity he was looking for to return to his familiar lands. But Aeolos’ pouch has now opened for good, drifting away lies decades in his wake, with Ian Rankin’s well-written company having to be very careful from here on out.
A song for hard times
Rebus may no longer be in active action, but active action will forever be with him and follow him wherever he goes. For this reason and circumstances have not let him enjoy his official pension at all, and while the former inspector struggles with the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseasewith “A Song for Hard Times” company, and his daughter’s partner, Keith, to is ignoredRebus will once again take on Scottish crime.
Headstrong as he is, he will do anything to reheats the hitherto frozen relations with his daughter and to clear her name of course, since very soon she is declared as one of the suspects in the murder finally Keith’s. And somewhere in there, Sivon enters the equation, who investigates the murder of a 23-year-old Saudi student, with her old acquaintance, Malcolm Fox to participate and create a dynamic that will particularly concern the plot.
What I don’t want to say
From the list of Ian Rankin’s detective novels that should not be missing from any library, his most recently translated book into Greek, “What I don’t want to say”, could not be missing, which he will talk about today afternoon in Hellenic American Union the writer. So those who want to attend today’s event, but haven’t had time to read the book yet, should know that it is one of the author’s best, with the suspense increasing with every turn of the page, as the beloved inspector this time he sits on his figurine accused and leaves Sivon, who has taken on one of the most demanding and… corrupt affairs of her career. With Rebus in danger of spending the rest of his life in prison, Inspector Clarke’s trust in her colleagues begins to be seriously shaken, while at the same time she is called upon to make a rather difficult choice, with ominous results.
Rebus, on the other hand, while waiting for the court’s verdict, tells us how he got to this point and how the well-known… businessman from Edinburgh is involved in the story, Big Jer Cafferty. Between accusations, fraudsters, possible health problems and many threats, this adventure reminds us that 24 literary cases have already passed through the hands of Inspector Rebus, who may even… now count marks for his pension from literature as well. The cliffhanger at the end of the book, however, definitely promises us at least 1 more case with him.
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Tags: Ian Rankin novels knight detective fiction worth discovering
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