BOOK REVIEW: Midnight & Blue by Ian Rankin
The latest Rebus novel is out and in the Footscray Mechanics Institute (FMI) library!!
Rebus is Ian Rankins protagonist in a series of 24 novels. Set in Scotland, where the stories and characters are based in Edinburgh. Rebus is in gaol in this book He has been a naughty boy. Characters from previous books reappear, some pleasant and unpleasant. The story line is around a murder in the prison where Rebus is being held; he is unable to avoid sticking his nose in. A secondary case is also running in the novel around a missing girl with Rebus's' old sidekick Siobhan Clarke and her new partner. The multiple story line and the number of characters clutter the book to some degree but there is sure a good read for all — especially afficionados.
The book is structured into sections Before, Day One thru Seven and Afterwards. Each 'Day' section has its own chapters. 'Before' takes you into the story (without giving anything away) and 'Afterwards' sets the scene for hopefully another forthcoming book. There are some great words such as 'gouching' a new one on me. Lugubrious as in the 'same lugubrious face was behind the desk" also makes an appearance. Music, as is common with Rankin, is a subtheme with reference to a girl group informing the reader of the characters appearance with a full description. Illusional. Generational difference in terms of which music the characters listen to are a theme. Reference to Bert Jansch, Killer, NWA and the Bay City Rollers confirm Rankin's wide music interests. In the denouement to one case the all important clue to the solution is of a musical nature! Another word play, one of nominative determination occurs with a police character named Allbright.
One grouse I has with the book was that at one point, two thirds of the way in, it almost seemed as someone other than the author was writing. One word I found a little odd in that section was the word 'teasing 'in a context that 'wind up' would be more appropriate. You dear reader can find this and see what you think.
Anyway the FMI library has many Rankin books and all of the Rebus series. We are gonna hold a chat group to discuss the works of Ian Rankin on the 14th of February 2025 between 1 to 3pm so come on in borrow and have a chat. NF
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