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51st out of 571 books
—
512 voters
The Falls (Inspector Rebus #12)
by
Ian Rankin
Edinburgh police detective John Rebus, Ian Rankin's popular series detective, is a brilliantly realized character, as moody, dark, and melancholy as Edinburgh itself. In The Falls, he's almost certain that missing university student Philippa Balfour is dead, but he's less sure how she died or what her misadventure has to do with the tiny doll in a hand-sized coffin that tu...more
496 pages
Published
(first published March 1st 2001)
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One of my reading projects for the year has been to read the Inspector Rebus series. Ian Rankin first introduced his popular detective to us back in 1987, but I came to know him long after that.
I didn't complete all the Rebus books this year, but that just gives me something to look forward to in 2011. At this point, I'm up to number 12 in the series which runs through 17 books.
Rankin was always a good writer right from the beginning, but over the years he has just gotten better and better. Hi...more
I didn't complete all the Rebus books this year, but that just gives me something to look forward to in 2011. At this point, I'm up to number 12 in the series which runs through 17 books.
Rankin was always a good writer right from the beginning, but over the years he has just gotten better and better. Hi...more
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Rebus Book 11[return][return]An Edinburgh student, daughter of a wealthy and influencial banking family, goes missing. There is no signs of struggle, no ransom demands, nothing. She simply fails to turn up to meet some friends, and isn� t seen again. Inspector Rebus, assisted by Siobhan Clarke is on the case, at least for now, but the only clues to the missing girl are an internet roleplaying game and a tiny wooden coffin found near her home, eerily similar to a set of small coffins found on an...more
Not my favorite Rebus novel--where's the snappy dialogue? the incisive, witty description?--instead the strength of the novel is the full-throttle plot. Rebus and Siobhan investigate the death of a young socialite and find themselves knee-deep in hand-made miniature coffins with dolls in them and an online role-playing game run by the mysterious Quizmaster. These oddities make the mystery stand out and keep propelling the reader forward, even when the writing falls flat (!). It's like the novel...more
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I love these books for the insider's look that I get into Edinburgh, Scotland. I love these books for the realistic John Rebus, one of my favourite fictional characters. I love them for the mysteries and the intricate plotting that is in each and every book. Ian Rankin knows how to write a story. This books shows an even more complex John Rebus. A young woman has gone missing and John and his team are doing everything possible to find her. As they continue to search, John realizes that there is...more
This was one of the most dragging book I’ve read. Quite hard to point out the reason for the dragging nature. It was with a nonchalant approach I was reading through the first half of the book.
It picks pace towards the end but still fails to make an impact.
Even though it claims to be a detective story it is actually about detectives and their life style, how they go about doing their job, expository narration helps little to enhance the interest in the reader.
Very less is spoken about the crime...more
It picks pace towards the end but still fails to make an impact.
Even though it claims to be a detective story it is actually about detectives and their life style, how they go about doing their job, expository narration helps little to enhance the interest in the reader.
Very less is spoken about the crime...more
Ian Rankin is definitely growing on me and slowly I am becoming a fan of Detective Inspector John Rebus and the characters around him. The book is themed around a young girl going missing and a miniature coffin with a doll inside it being spotted near a place called the The Falls, known so because of the four feet tall falls that is in the vicinity, around the same time. Inspector Rebus goes about investigating in his own inimitable way.
Gill Templar has become the new boss and Farmer has retired...more
Gill Templar has become the new boss and Farmer has retired...more
I know that the Inspector Rebus series is very highly regarded, but this book didn't do much for me. I read the first one in the series, Knots & Crosses, which I liked better, so maybe this is just one of Rankin's weaker efforts. Part of my difficulty is that I didn't find the central character, John Rebus, that interesting. My friend LJ would probably tell me that I have no appreciation for the darker side of his character. Maybe, but I still don't think he has that much to say, at least in...more
Inspector Rebus Novel #12
From cover:
"A student has gone missing in Edinburgh and there's very little for Detective Inspector John Rebus to go on apart from his gut feeling that there's more to this case than a runaway high on unaccustomed freedom.
Two leads emerge: a carved wooden doll in a tiny coffin and an Internet role playing game. Rebus concentrates on the coffin, eerily reminiscent of sixteen similar relics found on a hillside in 1836, leaving DC Siobhan Clarke to deal with the cyberspace...more
From cover:
"A student has gone missing in Edinburgh and there's very little for Detective Inspector John Rebus to go on apart from his gut feeling that there's more to this case than a runaway high on unaccustomed freedom.
Two leads emerge: a carved wooden doll in a tiny coffin and an Internet role playing game. Rebus concentrates on the coffin, eerily reminiscent of sixteen similar relics found on a hillside in 1836, leaving DC Siobhan Clarke to deal with the cyberspace...more
The Falls is Ian Rankin's twelfth John Rebus mystery, and a good one it is. Rankin's series just gets better, as he is able to develop the complex character of DI Rebus over time. He captures a mood of Edinburgh that goes beyond the tourist view of castle and kilts - a dark, moody city with occasional moments of light. The supporting cast of Rebus' friends, lovers and antagonists grows more interesting, too, as they reappear throughout the books.
As always, Rankin puts forth more than one mystery...more
As always, Rankin puts forth more than one mystery...more
This is not my favorite Rebus novel....there was too little Rebus and too much time spent on in-fighting in the ranks. I also thought the story was a little thinner than some of the other books. The story seemed to meander from one theory to another which slowed down the narrative.
With that being said, the story is unusual as Rebus and his cohorts are looking for the murderer of a socialite college student who was involved in on-line gaming with the unknown Quizmaster. Is Quizmaster the murdere...more
With that being said, the story is unusual as Rebus and his cohorts are looking for the murderer of a socialite college student who was involved in on-line gaming with the unknown Quizmaster. Is Quizmaster the murdere...more
Oι Καταρράκτες είναι το αποκορύφωμα μιας σειράς μελέτης του χαρακτήρα. Είναι μια περίεργη νουβέλα μυστηρίου, όπως θα περίμενες από τον Rankin. Αλλά αυτό που είναι πιο μαγευτικό είναι οι αλληλεπιδράσεις μεταξύ του αταίριαστου cast που δημιουργείται για να βοηθήσει στο μυστήριο της εξαφάνισης της κόρης ενός από τους πιο σημαντικούς τραπεζίτες του Εδιμβούργου.
Το κέντρο αυτού του αταίριαστου cast είναι ο detective John Rebus, που μένει στο προσκήνιο ακόμα και όταν ο Rankin προσπαθεί να τραβήξει τη...more
Το κέντρο αυτού του αταίριαστου cast είναι ο detective John Rebus, που μένει στο προσκήνιο ακόμα και όταν ο Rankin προσπαθεί να τραβήξει τη...more
I am elated to Have found another mystery writer who weaves a story into whole cloth while creating dynamic, albeit affectionately flawed, characters who are so human and approachable. Unfortunately, I have stepped into Rebus' life far along the way, as this is book 12 in the series. I have found the characters and settings so enticing that now I can happily go back to the beginning to see all in earlier times and, hopefully, enjoy the time journey with them via the previous books in this serie...more
Lots of good writing, with a strong emphasis on locale and character. John Rebus is one of my favorite characters in crime fiction. That said, I found the story predictable, and the ending was not a surprise. I'd even call it secondary if Rankin hadn't spent hundreds of convoluted pages trying to give the novel legs. The Falls is worth reading to see how Rankin continues to develop a wonderfully flawed character, as Rebus' own sense of mortality (he's now in his mid 50s) becomes increasingly nea...more
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Dramatised by Bert Coules.
Review of the book from The Times
A student has gone missing in Edinburgh - completely out of character. She's not just any student, though, but the daughter of extremely well to do and influential bankers. There's almost nothing to go on until Detective Inspector John Rebus gets an unmistakable gut feeling that there's more to this than just another runaway spaced out on unaccustomed freedom. Two leads emerge: a carved wooden doll in a toy coffin, found in the student'...more
Review of the book from The Times
A student has gone missing in Edinburgh - completely out of character. She's not just any student, though, but the daughter of extremely well to do and influential bankers. There's almost nothing to go on until Detective Inspector John Rebus gets an unmistakable gut feeling that there's more to this than just another runaway spaced out on unaccustomed freedom. Two leads emerge: a carved wooden doll in a toy coffin, found in the student'...more
In terms of plot, this would be a very routine mystery, a detective who has problems with alcohol, authority, and women finds killers in exotic setting (assuming you don't live in Edinburgh). What makes the book stand out is that the focus is more on the lives of the detective and his mates than on the crime, and the writing has more imagination than the average thriller. One can imagine the literary fiction fan going astray here.
"Daytime drinking was special. In a bar, time ceased to exist, and...more
"Daytime drinking was special. In a bar, time ceased to exist, and...more
#13 DI Rebus Scottish police procedural set in Edinburgh. It's been ages since I read a Rebus--the last couple were rather disappointing to me--but Rankin is back in form with this book. The story, one of a young woman who had set off from her flat to meet some friends for drinks and never showed up, sucked me in right away. It's determined that Philippa Balfour ("Flip" to her friends) was playing a dungeons-and-dragons style game, with clues given by the Quizmaster via e-mail. But was this rela...more
A dark and gritty story set in the Edinburgh streets and another of Rankin's Inspector Rebus novels. The Falls follows the steadfast Rebus and his team as they fathom out the sudden disappearance of Phillipa Balfour, daughter of a renowned private banker and the on-off girlfriend of Daniel Costello. A web-based game could be behind it and looms threatening disaster but there's nothing to support the claims unless someone commits to starting.
Hunches, uncertainties and lack of evidence make this a...more
Hunches, uncertainties and lack of evidence make this a...more
Aug 22, 2011
Doug
added it
A young lady goes missing and Inspector John Rebus and his partners uncover two leads an internet based role-playing game small caskets and dolls turning up at the scenes of this and other missing people which goes back to the time of body-snatchers turning into brutal killers. A good book. I liked the characters and the subtle roll of office politics, which while not being melodramatic but they were always there in some small form. The interaction between the characters was good.
Ian Rankin is one of my favorite leisure-reading writers. I don't want to say it's a guilty pleasure, because I never feel guilty about reading a John Rebus novel. This one is long--and has some padding in it to be sure--but it's also a romp through some Edinburgh streets. If you love Edinburgh and Scots history, as I do, you'll always be happy to curl up with a Rankin novel. I just finished this one for the second time--it kept me company when the power went out!
I'd never read on the John Rebus (detective) novels before, but what a pleasant surprise! a main character who is really carefully revealed, with his quirks and likeable and dis-likeable aspects. and a good mystery with lots of angles and hidden twists.
I enjoyed the Rebus puzzle very much! He includes just enough details to paint the scene without being tedious, his dialogues are understandable and not cryptic, but doesn't put it all out in the open to make it easy.
I enjoyed the Rebus puzzle very much! He includes just enough details to paint the scene without being tedious, his dialogues are understandable and not cryptic, but doesn't put it all out in the open to make it easy.
Nov 28, 2008
Emily
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of literary mysteries
Recommended to Emily by:
Detective book discussion group read
Shelves:
mystery
Loved John Rebus, loved the descriptions of Edinburgh, loved Rankin's nod to the masters of the genre who came before him, and the mystery was a good one, including everything from strange little dolls in coffins (hinting at witchcraft), to a historical piece, to computer game clues, to even a little romance. Will definitely spend more time with this detective (and doesn't look like I'll run out of books to read from this prolific writer).
The Falls finds the intrepid John Rebus and cohorts on the trail of two killers: after a new murder Rebus stumbles on a series of apparently connected older killings. Rankin spins his compelling and entertaining tale within the familiar precincts of Edinburgh and environs. This book is everything we have come to expect of Rankin and Rebus: an ingeniously constructed mystery and characters that come to life on the page. Who could ask for more?
This is the first Ian Rankin novel I have read. Frankly, I'm wondering why it has taken me so long to discover such a talented author who is so very successful. I have a love of Edinburgh so from that standpoint I found it very interesting. More importantly I love the writing. The believability of the characters, even the descriptions of the body language were right up there with some of the very best I have read. In addition the historical aspects of the story had me hooked too. I look forward...more
CONTAINS SPOILERS.
Curious police case in which Siobhan Clarke is as primary to the action as Rankin's usual 'headliner,' Scottish police detective John Rebus.
To solve the murder at hand - of a young yuppie woman - Clarke immerses herself in an online puzzle-solving game w. an unknown party.
"Falls" interweaves a current murder case w. a string of unsolved murders going back several decades. The two men responsible even overlap a bit:
the newly dead woman's boyfriend is her murderer, and is known t...more
Curious police case in which Siobhan Clarke is as primary to the action as Rankin's usual 'headliner,' Scottish police detective John Rebus.
To solve the murder at hand - of a young yuppie woman - Clarke immerses herself in an online puzzle-solving game w. an unknown party.
"Falls" interweaves a current murder case w. a string of unsolved murders going back several decades. The two men responsible even overlap a bit:
the newly dead woman's boyfriend is her murderer, and is known t...more
Never heard of him before, but I think I like this author. It’s obvious he’s trying for PD James’ crown, with the tortured detective, Inspector Rebus, as the main character. That got a little tiresome. But the story of a current murder linked to Burke and Hare the grave robbers was interesting and the characters were well written. But the lack of a denouement! What is it about mystery writers’ inability to finish off a novel?
This was the first Rebus book I read and was a great introduction to Rebus. I originally bought the book because I was looking to write a Scandinavian crime novel based around a freelance journalist and I realized I need to know more about writing about cops. Ian Rankin filled me in beautifully and my novel is now out - THE BANKER WITH A FACE FULL OF EVIL.
I liked Rebus so much I ended up buying all 17 Rebus books.
I liked Rebus so much I ended up buying all 17 Rebus books.
One of my favorite of the Rankin-Rebus novels, though they're all great. Alot of time is spent on Rebus's partner Siobhan as she helps investigate with another partner Grant Hood. Important clues found the mysterious Roslyn Chappel, which may or may not be harboring the treasure of the Knight Templars beneath it. Though that little tidbit doesn't come into The Falls. But Roslyn's strange Pillars do.
More interesting for Rebus's reactions and current life-style than the plot. DC Clarke has a slightly bigger role as she gets to grips with the internet. Once again Rebus gets suspended, he no longer has Farmer Watson to watch his back, and he seems to be drinking even more. Fascinating stuff. I feel if Rankin could come up with a more perfectly formed plot and allied sub-plots he would be one our very best in this genre.
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| whats your take on the not soo impressive presenting nature of the book? | 2 | 32 | Jul 09, 2012 04:53am |
AKA Jack Harvey.
Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982, and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987, and the Rebus books are now translated into twenty-two languages and are bestsellers on several continents.
Ian Rankin has be...more
More about Ian Rankin...
Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982, and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987, and the Rebus books are now translated into twenty-two languages and are bestsellers on several continents.
Ian Rankin has be...more
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