Bible John killed three women, and took three souvenirs. Johnny Bible killed to steal his namesake's glory. Oilman Allan Mitchelson died for his pr...
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reviews
Apr 20, 2010
Joyce
rated it: 
Another grimy, gritty book, with much more of the Scots language in it making it difficult to follow at times.[return][return]The plot is complex, involving a current serial killer who is copycatting a never-caught one of 25 years previous (the latter based on a real serial killer, Bible John). Rebus becomes obsessed with both. Yet at the same time, he is investigating the murder of an offshore oil rig worker. Along with carrying out these investigations, which take him from Ediburg to Glasgo
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Jan 08, 2012
Paul
rated it: 
by Ian Rankin, published in 1997.
This is the 8th Inspector Rebus novel from Ian Rankin and it’s a very good one. Rankin mixes a real life case of murder with his own twist on what may have really taken place.
We see Rebus involved in several cases simultaneously in ‘Black and Blue’, and you never know just how each will tie in to the other until quite far into it. There is the old case of Bible John (the real killings) that Rebus just happened to be a sergeant on and has a dar More...
This is the 8th Inspector Rebus novel from Ian Rankin and it’s a very good one. Rankin mixes a real life case of murder with his own twist on what may have really taken place.
We see Rebus involved in several cases simultaneously in ‘Black and Blue’, and you never know just how each will tie in to the other until quite far into it. There is the old case of Bible John (the real killings) that Rebus just happened to be a sergeant on and has a dar More...
Dec 31, 2010
J
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 10, 2010
Glen
rated it:
I used to be quite the mystery reader, having cut my teeth on the Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes stories while still in grade school, then progressing through Agatha Christie, John D. MacDonald, and Dashiell Hammett in high school, to Rex Stout, James Ellroy, James Crumley, Robert Parker, Sue Grafton, and Andrew Vachss in college. But sometime in the early 90s I jumped off the mystery train, as well as curtailing my science fiction and fantasy reading, largely in favor of jumping around from new
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May 12, 2011
Anirban
rated it: 
I started my Ian Rankin experience with the NAMING OF THE DEAD. And, frankly speaking, I had a tough time reading the book. After reading "OLD SCHOOL" English Crime novels, it was pretty tough for me to get Rankin's sense of humor, irony or style of writing, with an end result of, not being able to grasp the plot or the characters. in short not a happy reading experience. Nonetheless I completed the book, and found myself ready to avoid any more Rankin in the future.
So, when, aga More...
So, when, aga More...
Mar 12, 2010
Kaput
rated it:
John Rebus is a hard man. He's so hard that if you beat him round the head with an iron bar he'd shrug it off as a mild hangover. This, the 8th in the series is the meanest, fittest, darkest yet. The macho factor has been turned up to warp ten. There is the usual dollop of dark humour, and the description of Edinburgh and the surrounding area is as fascinating as ever. I've loved seeing Rankin develop this character, who ages and gets more cynical with each book. It's also good to see Rankin use
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Apr 25, 2011
Nick
rated it:
Not the best Rebus story, but only because he gets everything right this time. Rebus not only outwits serial killers, drug dealers and half the oil industry, but the combined wits of about 3 Scottish police forces. The main killer does get away in the end - just 1 step ahead of Rebus - to show that in life the police cannot always get their man even when they know who it is they want (and they may even have enough evidence to convict).
Unusually Rebus spends a lot of his time outside Edinb More...
Unusually Rebus spends a lot of his time outside Edinb More...
Mar 21, 2011
Alex
rated it:
Prime Rebus. This is exactly what I was looking for, and failed to get, when I read Mortal Causes. An extremely heavy, intertwined and self-inflicted case load dogs Rebus all across Scotland.
The best Rebus books offer a strong investigation - if not a mystery - and, more importantly, strong characterisation of the man himself. Rebus is the drawcard and he does not disappoint, the cover suggesting that Black & Blue is the novel that raised Rankin to the upper echelons of crime writing. Giv More...
The best Rebus books offer a strong investigation - if not a mystery - and, more importantly, strong characterisation of the man himself. Rebus is the drawcard and he does not disappoint, the cover suggesting that Black & Blue is the novel that raised Rankin to the upper echelons of crime writing. Giv More...
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Oct 20, 2009
J
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I picked up this novel to get some sense of Scotland, at least Edinburgh, before going there last month. I was interested in language, observations about social behavior, what is important in the varied lives of the characters, and a sense of the urban community. I was also interested in reading Rankin, as he has received a lot of praise for his writing.
I got all of that. In particular, the detective John Rebus is a complex character, an aggregate of dark and light, of good and qu More...
I got all of that. In particular, the detective John Rebus is a complex character, an aggregate of dark and light, of good and qu More...
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Jan 04, 2009
E
rated it: 
Disappointing, esp. given Rankin's usually reliable Rebus tales. This book reads like at least three mysteries in one ("I think I shall write about the oil industry - no wait, the drug industry- no wait, organized crime - no wait, two serial killers"), and the connections provided by the end of the book are pretty uninteresting after one has to wade through all the extraneous material about the oil industry. Could have used a good editor to say, no, this is really two books - or three
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Dec 26, 2011
#8
John Rebus
Ian Rankin
The Americans have heroes or antiheroes. Here, we have something in between in both Rebus and Morse, who share a human middle ground where they can’t quite decide whether they want to be hero or antihero. But both are sleuths – more so than Poirot and Marple, who always failed to resonate for me, mainly because those things didn’t even come close to happening. Rankin’s Edinburgh is as true as it gets. Jack Rebus sits in the Oxford Bar, trying to be Scott More...
John Rebus
Ian Rankin
The Americans have heroes or antiheroes. Here, we have something in between in both Rebus and Morse, who share a human middle ground where they can’t quite decide whether they want to be hero or antihero. But both are sleuths – more so than Poirot and Marple, who always failed to resonate for me, mainly because those things didn’t even come close to happening. Rankin’s Edinburgh is as true as it gets. Jack Rebus sits in the Oxford Bar, trying to be Scott More...
Apr 11, 2009
Sandra
rated it:
I new detective for me, John Rebus. Your typical misfit, searching for justice at any cost. I think I am going to like this guy. Ian Rankin writes a multi-layered story, that can get confusing, and you need to keep a name on all the balls you are juggling as you read the book. The reviews tell us that it is not necessary to read the books in order, but each book does build on the personal world of Rebus. Seeing his marriage dissolve, and his daughter grow up, and meeting his co fighters in c
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May 02, 2010
Jim
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 06, 2010
Herzog
rated it:
This is, by far, the best Rebus, so far, in the series. Rebus is a much more fully realized character - his repartee far sharper than in any previous book in the series. The recurring characters have taken on a distinct role by now.
The plot was very well done with the Bible John / Johnny Bible and the Aberdeen underworld plots working well together - neither getting in the other's way.
I struggled with the early books in thsis series, but it appears as if they are beginn More...
The plot was very well done with the Bible John / Johnny Bible and the Aberdeen underworld plots working well together - neither getting in the other's way.
I struggled with the early books in thsis series, but it appears as if they are beginn More...
Jun 24, 2009
Jan C
rated it:
I am a big Ian Rankin fan. I didn't start with the first Rebus book, but I don't remember which one I started with. Jonathan gave me my first one and I have been hooked ever since.
It wasn't until I read the Afterword that I knew that this had been based on a real case in Scotland.
But, like most Rankin stories (except that dreadful volume of short stories where the only decent ones in the book were the ones relating to Rebus) it was a real page turner. The other night at 1 More...
It wasn't until I read the Afterword that I knew that this had been based on a real case in Scotland.
But, like most Rankin stories (except that dreadful volume of short stories where the only decent ones in the book were the ones relating to Rebus) it was a real page turner. The other night at 1 More...
Jan 02, 2012
Jen
rated it:
Another excellent Rebus book, this is a fair bit longer than the previous Rebus novels which is because the case is a little more multilayered. A really interesting story cleverly threaded together. I'm not sure that I liked the little "thought bubble" type quotes of what Rebus was thinking but that doesn't exactly have a major impact on the book or the writing style, I will be interested to see if it continues in the later novels. I'm quite glad I don't have the next one to immediatel
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Dec 14, 2010
Alex
rated it:
This is the first Rebus novel I read, well out of sequence I know, but I still had no problem following and enjoying it. I realised from reading the introduction that this was Rebus's first foray out of Edinburgh in the novels and I'm glad I had that information from the start as it gave me more perspective on the character. I think it's probably the best one I've read yet, although I'm only up to number 5, The Black Book, so I can see that these novels will improve as the series goes on (which
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Aug 18, 2010
Dorothy
rated it:
Inspector Rebus is in trouble again. Nothing new about that. This time he's suspected of complicity in faking evidence in a murder investigation long years before when he was still new to being a copper. The subsequently convicted murderer went on to become a noted writer while in prison and gained sympathy for his claims of innocence. Now an investigation into the long ago case is being reopened. The officer who "found" the evidence in the case is recently dead of suicide and the
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Aug 13, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
Gold Dagger Winner, 1997 - “This book almost killed me! So I’m glad there’s been some recompense.” – Ian Rankin, January 6th 1998.
Rankin's coming of age, hard-boiled police procedural is one of my all time favourite crime novels. Serial killer ”Bible John” murdered three people 30 years ago, and then disappears. He’s back – or is it a copycat, nicknamed Bible Johnny, by the press?
Rebus has his hands full with solving the murder of an oilrig painter and he’s under investigation for pla More...
Rankin's coming of age, hard-boiled police procedural is one of my all time favourite crime novels. Serial killer ”Bible John” murdered three people 30 years ago, and then disappears. He’s back – or is it a copycat, nicknamed Bible Johnny, by the press?
Rebus has his hands full with solving the murder of an oilrig painter and he’s under investigation for pla More...
Feb 07, 2012
Bettie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 27, 2008
Whitenoisemaker
rated it:
This was the first crime/mystery genre book I think I have ever read. Whilst backpacking I decided to consciously try to read stuff I wouldn't normally touch. This big idea ocurred to me in New Zealand, so I went and bought an Ian Rankin book, thinking I might as well go big and popular.
I reckoned without being stuck in the written-in-english-bookless deserts of South America, where all I can lay my hands on are bloody crime books.
What I found most notable about the book More...
I reckoned without being stuck in the written-in-english-bookless deserts of South America, where all I can lay my hands on are bloody crime books.
What I found most notable about the book More...
Mar 26, 2008
Karschtl
rated it:
Several cases occupy Rebus' mind, and somehow they all have to do with one another. But he doesn't know that yet.
It was not so hard to keep the several cases apart, but with all the traveling Rebus does it was difficult for me to keep track of which policemen comes from which city and what is he doing exactly and is he a friend of Rebus or not. Too many names for me.
In the beginning of the book Rebus describes a lot of his 'feelings' or moods with a song title. I liked this sty More...
It was not so hard to keep the several cases apart, but with all the traveling Rebus does it was difficult for me to keep track of which policemen comes from which city and what is he doing exactly and is he a friend of Rebus or not. Too many names for me.
In the beginning of the book Rebus describes a lot of his 'feelings' or moods with a song title. I liked this sty More...
Jun 21, 2011
I picked this book because it's by a Scottish author and takes place there (mostly Edinburgh, but he also made trips to Glasgow, Aberdeen and the Shetlands), so I was reading it in preparation for my trip to Scotland in a couple of months. Although hopefully I won't experience any of the 'seedier side' that he does!
I found it a very enjoyable read of the police procedural genre and liked the main character, DCI John Rebus, a lot. I could tell that many of the characters must be in More...
I found it a very enjoyable read of the police procedural genre and liked the main character, DCI John Rebus, a lot. I could tell that many of the characters must be in More...
May 20, 2011
A.J.
rated it:
Rankin sketches characters in such a way that you see them as living a life beyond the book. His infamous Inspector Rebus frequently interchanges intimidation, with maudlin romanticism - just as we might ourselves. Rebus is arguably one of the most fascinating protagonists in the category. He responds unpredictably, and because of this he comes across as human.
At his finest, Ian Rankin rates amongst the top in his field – and this story is probably among his best.
At his finest, Ian Rankin rates amongst the top in his field – and this story is probably among his best.
Nov 26, 2009
Overall opinion: about half. I'm not really a fan of the crime genre to begin with, and I only read this because it's what my Scottish Lit Reading Group was reading. Overall, it was hard to follow. Because of my school schedule, I couldn't read very much at a time and I lost track of characters and events in the days between picking up the book. There seemed to be at least three crimes Rebus was trying to solve, and I didn't feel at all satisfied when any of them were solved.
Jun 06, 2011
Karen
rated it:
I can see why this book won awards. From start to finish it had my attention. What I like was the realism of not having everything tied up in a pretty bow. Plus, seeing the growth that Rebus' character has experienced from the beginning of the series until now continues to hold my interest.
Aug 08, 2011
Zzoeeeee
rated it:
First Rebus novel I've read. I don't think its essential to read the previous ones, I understood the character and the history immediately. Its a complex crime/mystery that had me entralled for days (and worth the back pain for lugging the book around)
Jun 09, 2009
Godzilla
rated it:
As other reviewers have said, there are a lot of different plot lines in this book, but for me they converged nicely. I did find Rebus becoming teetotal slightly far fetched, given his previous predelictions, but it was an intereseting plot device towards the end, where he was left to confront the protagonist alone.
Mar 08, 2010
Nicholas
rated it:
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1403681.html
I thought this was a particularly good book in the Rebus series (which I am already almost halfway through). There are several plot lines, involving the oil industry, Glasgow gangs, serial killers old and new, and Rebus's own career problems. It is rather longer than the previous books, but I found it very hard to put down. I also appreciated the visits to Aberdeen, Shetland and the oil rigs (as well as Glasgow), taking us out of the usual Ed More...
I thought this was a particularly good book in the Rebus series (which I am already almost halfway through). There are several plot lines, involving the oil industry, Glasgow gangs, serial killers old and new, and Rebus's own career problems. It is rather longer than the previous books, but I found it very hard to put down. I also appreciated the visits to Aberdeen, Shetland and the oil rigs (as well as Glasgow), taking us out of the usual Ed More...
Jan 11, 2012
Mike
rated it:
Rebus something of a loose cannon in the B&L police set-up but is now pretty well established. Black and Blue won several crimi prizes. Certainly a decent read although one or two scenarios were totally unbelievable e.g. setting himself up for a hanging and burning (no spoiler but you'll recognised the scene) with no back-up in sight. Rankin is not haute cuisine but provides a a satisfying meal.
