From Publishers Weekly
Insp. John Rebus has just 10 days to solve the apparently motiveless murder of Alexander Todorov, an expatriate Russian poet, before he reaches 60 and mandatory retirement in Edgar-winner Rankin's rewarding 17th novel to feature the Edinburgh detective (after
The Naming of the Dead). When the dogged Rebus and Det. Sgt. Siobhan Clarke look into the crime, they find an array of baffling conspiracies involving Russian businessmen, Scottish bankers and local politicians pushing for an independent Scotland. A second murder, of a man who'd taped one of Todorov's poetry readings, ensures the case gets extra resources, and Rebus's own interest is whetted by the possible involvement of Edinburgh crime boss Big Ger Cafferty. Clever, insightful prose more than compensates for the byzantine plot. There's an appropriately wistful tone to this final entry in the series. Fans will miss Rebus and wonder what on earth he'll do in retirement.
(Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Hardcover
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Review
'Prepare yourselves: this is goodbye to Detective Inspector John Rebus, possibly the most famous of the plethora of fictional policemen. And it's a classic plot to send him on his way' SHORTLIST 'with just four days left in the job, Rebus gets himself suspended for insubordination - will he be able to solve the case in time? What is guaranteed is that Rebus heads into retirement the same chippy, curmudgeon that his millions of fans have grown to love' SUNDAY TIMES 'Fans will not be disappointed, while new readers will have the added delight of catching up with all the novels they have missed' THE TIMES 'As this (according to Rankin), the final outing for Rebus demonstrates, he is always ready to shake things up for his beleagured protagonist' GOOD BOOK GUIDE 'Rebus's swansong is a typically gritty affair, with the usual twists that Edinburgh's finest cop should surely expect as routine by now. Rankin's expertly crafted plot, vivid characters and pacy narrative means fans will lap this up' NEWS OF THE WORLD 'classic Rankin...a fantastic tale that exercises his familiar gift for grabbing a reader then taking them on a dark trip through high life and low life. Doors Open is a must-read novel from Scotland's King of Crime' WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY 'Rankin paints on a Hogarthian canvas that revels in a vast cast of fully-realized characters, a well-loved setting, a twisty plot, and a wry sense of irony' MYSTERY SCENE 'In this highly significant outing, the vigorous prose is matched (as ever) by a storytelilng ability that takes no prisoners' GOOD BOOK GUIDE