Black and Blue: Amazon.ca: Books

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Hanging Garden

by Ian Rankin

4.8 out of 5 stars (10) CDN$ 10.91

Strip Jack

by Ian Rankin

4.0 out of 5 stars (7) CDN$ 9.89

Dead Souls

by Ian Rankin

CDN$ 9.89

Let It Bleed

by Ian Rankin

4.2 out of 5 stars (5) CDN$ 9.89

Mortal Causes

by Ian Rankin

4.6 out of 5 stars (5) CDN$ 9.89

› Explore similar items

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

28 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Overley complicated, disjointed, Nov 12 2005

By	Nicky Jameson (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black and Blue (Paperback)

I read the rave reviews before buying this book (my first Ian Rankin novel) and was very disappointed. I am currently forcing myself to complete it. Not up to the great read one gets with Michael Connelly, the plot seemed to drag disjointedly on for ages, with all the focus seemingly on Inspector Rebus.No doubt all will be revealed in the last few pages. I'll read other authors before another by Ian Rankin.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

2.0 out of 5 stars A Disappointment, Jun 29 2004

By	Richard A. Mitchell "Rick Mitchell" (candia, new hampshire United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Black and Blue: an Inspector Rebus Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the second Rebus book I've read. If I had not read Tooth and Nail before, I would not pick up another.

The first hundred pages were completely muddled. The book finally got on path, only to lose it again in the last hundred pages.

Rebus - a loveable rebel cop in Tooth and Nail came off as a depressed and depressing malcontent and know-it-all.

The central plot is a very good one - a serial killer is emulating a serial killer from years before. The first, Bible John, returns to stalk the second, Johnny Bible. The first (potential) murder is also a good hook. But then, so much is added. At the same time Rebus is working on this (potential) murder he is still obsessing about the Bibles. During this time he is also being investigated for a murder investigation he did a decade before. The investigation runs among four locales. It is no wonder much of the book is confused. There are too many plot lines Rankin has difficulty bringing them together.

I intend to go on with the Rebus series since the reviews are so good. I doubt this one is necessary to understand the series. I wish I had skipped it and gone on to #3.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

3.0 out of 5 stars The plot thickens...and thickens and thickens, Jul 21 2003

By	Binx Bolling "Binx" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black and Blue: an Inspector Rebus Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

Let me say at the outset that I am a Rankin fan. Police Detective John Rebus is a real human character, and Edinburgh makes a fascinating background to his stories, which are generally well plotted. However, "In Black and Blue," Rankin was just a little too ambitious. There are enough plots and subplots for five books, and he isn't always deft at juggling them. I often found myself scratching my head and flipping back pages to remember who a particular character was (there are a dozen major police characters alone). This is a major distraction in a mystery novel, which should be read full steam ahead. The plot strands involve gangsters, drug dealers, rogue cops, the oil trade, and two (count them two) serial killers. The denouement of all this is far from satisfying: the strands don't come together as neatly as a reader would have wished.

I'm still high on Rankin, but I wish he had turned this one into two separate novels (perhaps "Black" and "Blue").

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 28 customer reviews...

Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Biscuit-Tins and Wooly Suits galore!
My first Rankin book (of many more to come). Loved the challenge!! Not only is there a labyrinth of plots and interesting characters, but the setting of Scotland opens up a... Read more

Published on Jun 7 2003 by Suzie Martin

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Discovery
Some friends gave me this as a Christmas 2002 gift. They knew I liked mysteries/thrillers as I am a close follower of Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Deaver, Ridley Pearson, James... Read more

Published on Feb 11 2003 by Jim McCullaugh

5.0 out of 5 stars Made My Kilt Curl
I was just introduced to Ian Rankin with this book. I loved it. Love Rebus. Rankin has a great knack for character and how to intertwine plots. Read more

Published on Jan 10 2003 by Jim McCullaugh

3.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Read Although Not Super
There were a few cases in the 400 pages case: a new and an old serial killer, a man jumped to his death, a drug-connected death, a convicted prisoner committed suicide. Read more

Published on Nov 4 2002 by Desmond Chow

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Rebus
Rebus really outdoes himself in this book. He manages to get himself into serious trouble by annoying superior officers in three different cities at the same time... Read more

Published on Nov 3 2002 by Untouchable

3.0 out of 5 stars I expected more
I just finished reading this, my first, Rankin book. I wasn't overly impressed with it. The writing style was OK but nothing special and the famous dialogue everyone is so fond of... Read more

Published on Aug 1 2001 by james575

2.0 out of 5 stars A struggle to read
Everything seemed to be going wrong for Inspector John Rebus. Tracking murderers, serial killers, with the mafia, press and his supervisors breathing down his neck, a wrong move... Read more

Published on Jun 25 2001 by fearlessfosdick

5.0 out of 5 stars hard boiled
In recent months, word has come that authors of several of the very best police procedural series have decided to put an end to their heroes adventures. Read more

Published on Oct 13 2000 by Orrin C. Judd

5.0 out of 5 stars Rankin's finest
Ian Rankin is described as the father of tartan noir, and Scotland's answer to James Ellroy. I would disagree with the latter description - Ellroy being a great prose stylist,... Read more

Published on Oct 9 2000 by scottish_lawyer

2.0 out of 5 stars Too confusing to enjoy fully
I got about a third to a half way through this book and decided that I should start over again from the beginning! Yip... its that confusing! Read more

Published on Aug 13 2000 by Mr. B. R. Wilson

› See all 28 customer reviews...

Listmania!

Inspector John Rebus: A list by Tom Nissley
Book's You'll Love and Remember!: A list by Dawn Chambers "Brumie"

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

	57% buy the item featured on this page: Black and Blue 3.8 out of 5 stars (28)
	15% buy Rebus: The Early Years 5.0 out of 5 stars (1) CDN$ 16.02
	15% buy Rankin 3 Great Novels Lost Years CDN$ 15.72
	7% buy Three Great Novels: Rebus: The St Leonard's Years

Black and Blue (Paperback)

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product Details

Tag this product

What do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item?

Customer Reviews

Listmania!

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Your Recent History