When the privileged daughter of a merchant banker disappears, a search through her e-mails uncovers her secret life-and a bizarre correspondence with an on-line game player who delights in macabre puzzles. The first game was for the girl. The next one is for Inspector John Rebus, a man haunted by the impenetrable riddles of his own troubled past. But the lead is soon complicated by an unexpected twist.
A hand-carved wooden doll in an eight-inch coffin is found on the grounds of the victim’s home-a clue that links her vanishing to the deaths of four other women, and to a centuries-old offense that still scars the grisly history of Edinburgh.
From the shadowy world of an Internet stalker to the quicksand of lies in the missing girl’s dissolute family, Rebus is led into the soul of evil. And to a shattering crime that only he, a man who treads the fine line between investigative brilliance and personal oblivion, could ever hope to understand.
The Falls: An Inspector Rebus Novel 12
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Success has a price, and the remarkable acclaim (both critical and commercial) that greeted the gritty Edinburgh-set crime novels of Ian Rankin has set the author a considerable problem. How does he maintain the freshness of detail and atmosphere that have made his books such riveting reading? And how does he keep his tough detective DI John Rebus from degenerating into a series of mannerisms? If Raymond Chandler grew tired of Philip Marlowe and Conan Doyle of Holmes, Rankin would have been in good company if he gave up on Rebus. Fortunately, his belief in the character clearly remains as powerful as ever, and The Falls is the most impressive Rebus novel in many a moon. The detective's personal problems--overused of late--are wisely sidelined in order to concentrate on a highly intriguing (and topical) plot.
When a student vanishes in Edinburgh, there is pressure on Rebus to find her, particularly as she is the scion of a family of extremely rich bankers. Needless to say, this is more than just the case of a spoilt rich girl breaking out of the cage of family responsibilities, and a carved wooden doll in a coffin found in her home village leads Rebus to the Internet role-playing game that she was involved in. And when DC Siobhan Clarke, a key member of Rebus' team, tackles the Virtual Quizmaster, Rankin finds himself struggling to save her from the same fate as the missing girl.
Consummate plotting has always been Rankin's trademark, and that skill is put to maximum use here. The balance between developing the characterisation of the ill-assorted team of coppers that Rebus assembles and the labyrinthine twists of the plot is maintained with an iron hand, and Rankin's mordant eye remains as keen as ever:
"You okay, John?" Curt reached out a hand and touched his shoulder. Rebus shook his head slowly, eyes squeezed shut. Curt didn't make it out the first time, so Rebus had to repeat what he said next: "I don't believe in heaven." That was the horror of it. This life was the only one you got. No redemption afterwards, no chance of wiping the slate clean and starting over. Rebus said "There is no justice in the world." "You'd know more about that than I would", Curt replied.
--Barry Forshaw --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
A number one U.K. bestseller, Rankin's 13th novel featuring Scottish Det. Insp. John Rebus may be his breakout book in the U.S. Rankin's brilliant evocation of a moody Edinburgh, deeply human characters and labyrinthine plot give dimension to this always absorbing series. With his stubborn insistence on tying up the frayed ends of every knotty clue, and iconoclastic refusal to be a team player, hard-drinking Rebus is a bane to his superiors but a blessing to readers. University student Philippa Balfour, daughter of the powerful head of a private bank, disappears; the few clues are incongruous a puzzling Internet role-playing game she participated in and a doll in a tiny wooden coffin found near her discordant family's home. Rebus's assistant, Det. Constable Siobhan Clarke, tackles the mysterious Internet game; Rebus ignores his superiors by obsessively following the coffin's obscure historical implications, aided by museum curator Jean Burchill, a friend of newly appointed Det. Chief Supt. Gill Templer and a promising anodyne to Rebus's lonely personal life. Readers won't be able to skim this dark, densely written novel, but they won't want to. Artfully placed red herrings, a large cast of multifaceted characters and a gripping pace will keep them engrossed. And Rebus is a character whose devils and idiosyncrasies will leave them eager for more. (Nov. 8)Forecast: A bestseller in Ireland, Australia and Canada as well, this novel may achieve similar heights here, spurred by a tour by the Edinburgh author, winner of Britain's Gold Dagger Award.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
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By I LOVE BOOKS
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
The Product Description above summarizes this intricate thriller well, with Detective Inspector Rebus following two different leads in connection with the disappearance of a student in Edinburgh.
This was the first book I read by Mr. Rankin and all I want to say is, it was truly captivating. An edge-of-the-seat book, gripping from page one. I'm looking forward to read some more of his work.
This was the first book I read by Mr. Rankin and all I want to say is, it was truly captivating. An edge-of-the-seat book, gripping from page one. I'm looking forward to read some more of his work.
By cyberpsycho
Format:Mass Market Paperback
One of the great things about the Rebus novels is the subdued character conflicts at play underneath the plots and subplots. Not only does one come away from Rankin's work, particularly the later Rebus books, with a wonderful sense of place and atmosphere, but the characterization is so strong that even the second and third level characters are developed enough to stand on their own. The downside of this, which is unavoidable, is that the book tends to grow long in spots. That notwithstanding, the Rebus series is an excellent one. DS Siobhan Clarke has become more prominent in these books as well, and I can't help but wonder if she isn't being lined up for a series of her own.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I love Ian Rankin's Rebus series, even though I am constantly amazed at the extent to which Rebus is able to drink and hold down a job -- I think the Scots are more tolerant of heavy drinkers than American employers would be.
That having been said, reading this mystery was like a trip to Edinburgh as someone who lives and works there sees the city -- a city with very deep roots in history, still influenced by events that occurred hundreds of years ago, living under the shadow of a castle and with history in every building.
The plot involves the disappearance of a wealthy young college student, who was supposed to be meeting friends for drinks and never shows up. Because of who she is, all the stops are pulled out to find her, and Rebus finds himself one of many working on this case. He believes from the start that she has been killed and he is investigating a homicide. He also thinks there's some connection between her death and some miniature coffins that have been found from time to time, and there's a possibility that her death is connected to a puzzle-solving computer game she's been playing.
If you like mysteries that make you think, that really challenge your intelligence and are written with literary skill that will make them timeless classics, Rankin is an author for you. This is my fourth book by him and I'm relishing reading more in the series.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ehh, not bad, but nothing great.
This is one of those books that you read, and after you're finished, you're not sure if you liked it or not. It wasn't great, but there is nothing really wrong with it. Read more
Published on May 3 2003 by sporkdude
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Falls
The New York Public Library is suffering for lack of books - so I took out The Falls by Ian Rankin because there was not much to choose from (I'm not a fan of police procedurals... Read more
Published on May 14 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!
As a longtime reader of British mystery books, I have many favorite authors, but I think Ian Rankin is at the top of the list. Read more
Published on April 2 2002 by Christine L. Engleman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rankin Rules
The new John Rebus book is outstanding. The " Falls", the latest installment in the series, finds Rebus at his dark and brooding best. Read more
Published on Mar 19 2002 by Darrell L. Gettys
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Great, But Certainly Not Bad at All
Ian Rankin has managed to drag Edinburgh DI John Rebus into the 21st century. In this fine novel Rebus (through Siobhan Clarke) goes out onto the Internet to make contact with a... Read more
Published on Feb 27 2002 by Joseph A. Hines
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rankin, but down a different path
This Rebus novel is quite different from the rest of the cannon. It seems somehow less dark, les forbidding, but that is just on the surface. Read more
Published on Feb 13 2002 by RachelWalker
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rankin's weakest is still not that bad
I have read all of Ian Rankin's works, mainly because I enjoy his writing style and his descriptions of Edinburgh and environs. Read more
Published on Feb 2 2002
3.0 out of 5 stars
Quite Good
Not really a police procedural as the book is more TV mystery genre than gritty realism. Never the less it is easy to read and entertaining. Read more
Published on Jan 1 2002 by Tom Munro
1.0 out of 5 stars
What is this?!?!?!?
I began reading "The Falls" after Christmas because it was given to me as a gift from my father. Read more
Published on Dec 31 2001
2.0 out of 5 stars
A very disappointing read.
When Flip Balfour disappears, the pressure is on to find out what happened to her. Flip is the daughter of a prominent London banker, so as with any high profile case, the police... Read more
Published on Dec 27 2001 by "bibliofiend"
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