Sent to London to help catch a vicious serial killer, Inspector John Rebus teams up with a beautiful psychologist to piece together a portrait of a...
read full description
reviews
Apr 20, 2010
Joyce
rated it: 
3rd in the Inspector Rebus series.[return][return]There s a serial killer loose in London, and to both his surprise and discomfort, Metro Police have requested the help of Rebus as an expert on serial killers. Rebus, who does not view himself as any expert, reluctantly goes south.[return][return]Where he runs into anti-Scots prejudice as well as unexpected problems such as the inability of some of his new colleagues inability to understand his thick Scots accent! He strikes up an unlik
More...
Jan 09, 2012
Paul
rated it:
From the mind of author Ian Rankin springs his third mystery novel, Tooth And Nail, involving Inspector Rebus. This time, John Rebus is after the “Wolfman”; a cereal killer with a grisly modus operandi.
You see, the murderer doesn’t just kill his victims, he takes a bite out of them afterwards as well. Rather unpleasant business for sure. John Rebus is sent for from his normal Edinburgh stomping grounds all the way down to London to help in the investigation. The reason is that John is More...
You see, the murderer doesn’t just kill his victims, he takes a bite out of them afterwards as well. Rather unpleasant business for sure. John Rebus is sent for from his normal Edinburgh stomping grounds all the way down to London to help in the investigation. The reason is that John is More...
Sep 22, 2011
Andy
rated it: 
Now that I've finally managed to stop reading books by James Patterson, and I don't have access to my Poirot collection at present, I've been looking for a new detective series to scatter throughout my reading. Going back and re-reading the Scarpetta story recently and realising it was a bit crap made me wonder. So I found this Rebus novel, fairly close to the begining of the series and thought I'd give it a go.
I've heard good things about Ian Rankin and his use of Edinburgh as a c More...
I've heard good things about Ian Rankin and his use of Edinburgh as a c More...
Sep 19, 2010
Benjamin
rated it: 
This morning on the way into work I completed my latest audio book, Tooth and Nail, by Ian Rankin. This was the first book I had read (or listened to) by Mr Rankin. I had picked it out of the library like I usually do...it looked interesting: a serial killer is on the loose, with the interesting characteristic that he bites his victims sort of like a werewolf. I've done a little research since then and have found that Ian Rankin is one of the top selling British novelists alive today. In fact Wi
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 20, 2010
J
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 09, 2010
Tony
rated it:
Rankin, Ian. TOOTH AND NAIL. (1992). ***. Inspector Rebus is called down to London by Scotland Yard to assist in catching a killer termed, “Wolfman.” (Be careful. That was the original British title.) He slowly builds a relationship with the British detectives on the case and meets up with beautiful psychologist to piece together the portrait of this depraved psychopath. The MO the Wolfman uses is to stab his victims – all women – and then bite them on the stomach, leaving odd teet marks
More...
May 25, 2010
Dorothy
rated it:
A vicious serial killer is haunting London and the Detective Inspector in charge of the investigation, George Flight, is stumped. He recognizes that he needs help, a fresh viewpoint, and he requests the assistance of a fellow DI that he has read about, a man who has some experience solving serial killings. His name is John Rebus and the only problem is that he's stationed in Edinburgh. A request through channels is made and soon Rebus is on his way, very reluctantly, to London to help catch a
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 12, 2009
LJ
rated it: 
TOOTH AND NAIL (Pol Proc-John Rebus-Scotland-Cont) - Ex
Rankin, Ian - 3rd in series
From Fantastic Fiction: They call him the Wolfman - because he takes a nip out of his victims and because they found the first victim in the East End's lonely Wolf Street. But there's no urban predator that Rebus fears. When Scotland Yard are anxious to find the last serial killer on their patch they look north and soon Rebus is on his way south from the chill of Edinburgh to the rain of London. More...
Rankin, Ian - 3rd in series
From Fantastic Fiction: They call him the Wolfman - because he takes a nip out of his victims and because they found the first victim in the East End's lonely Wolf Street. But there's no urban predator that Rebus fears. When Scotland Yard are anxious to find the last serial killer on their patch they look north and soon Rebus is on his way south from the chill of Edinburgh to the rain of London. More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 16, 2011
Alex
rated it:
Relatively solid early Rebus hinges on a mindbogglingly stupid leap of faith in the case's solution. There's a lot of work towards building Rebus into the model that we all came to know and worry about - he breaks a lot of rules but only gets drunk once - but the serial killer aspect is a bit weak.
Rebus and Rankin are always at their best when they deal largely in characters and investigation, and neither are designed to take the leaps into thriller territory. As a character establish More...
Rebus and Rankin are always at their best when they deal largely in characters and investigation, and neither are designed to take the leaps into thriller territory. As a character establish More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 25, 2011
Hope
rated it:
An OK story, but I am really not into serial killers who are the way they are because they were sexually abused as kids (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo being an exception). Heck, I am really not into serial killers in general, or sexual abuse stories, so the two together... It seems like a cliche, a standard type of plot for this kind of series -perhaps this wasn't the case 20 years ago, when this was first published, but other crime/mystery writers have certainly taken it up since then.
More...
More...
Dec 23, 2009
"The third book worked least well for me, taking Rebus off his home patch to London to investigate a serial killer. The London of Tooth and Claw seemed improbably small, with everyone turned out to be related to each other; its population also appeared to be entirely white. The subplot with a forensic psychologist who was not what she seemed was not very plausible. And the solution to the actual mystery was more suited to an Agatha Christie country house murder fantasy than to the gritty ur
More...
Oct 16, 2009
Brian
rated it:
This must be one of the silliest books I've ever read. The plot is rambling; the denoument is melodramatic and farcical; the central character, Inspector Rebus, comes over as a bit thick in his conversations with the young female psychology student who, predictably enough, ends up in bed with him; and the characterisation of the villain, a serial killer who leaves bite marks in his victims, is like something out of a pantomime. This novel won the 1997 Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 30, 2010
Nikki
rated it:
I don't enjoy these books as much as I did the first time reading them. I guess I know a bit more about crime fiction now; I'm a bit more aware of the tropes and influences. In any case, Tooth and Nail takes Rebus out of Edinburgh, to London. Rankin's got his finger firmly on the pulse of the Edinburgh he knew then, and it shows in the atmosphere of the first two books. Setting a book in London didn't do it for me, really.
I like that Rebus isn't made out to be perfect in any way, and More...
I like that Rebus isn't made out to be perfect in any way, and More...
Mar 30, 2009
Spm
rated it:
John Rebus is a witty and likable protagonist. In this installment of the popular series, Rankin takes Rebus to London to help out on a serial murder investigation. The Scotsman observes an entirely different culture to the one he knows back in Edinburgh. He also finds himself at the receiving end of regional prejudice from some of his London police officer peers, which gives the story an interesting slant.
Having lived on Gower Street in central London in 1991 - where swaths of th More...
Having lived on Gower Street in central London in 1991 - where swaths of th More...
Sep 13, 2008
Sharon
rated it:
Reading an early Rebus (this is from 1992) forces one to realize how much Ian Rankin has evolved. His Rebus novels have gotten not only longer but also much more complex. The crimes Rebus investigates are no longer simply the acts of an individual but part of a complex mesh of social and political issues. Rankin is able to handle this complexity because of the gifts that make the early Rebus novels worthwhile: memorable characters, a precise sense of place, and excellent balance between the
More...
Jan 10, 2012
Alex
rated it:
The first four fifths of this book is pretty good. Rebus is just as interesting as ever. Plenty of red herrings are thrown around. All characters not named Rebus are given a bit of short shift, but sacrifices must be made and all of that.
The ending is pretty lazy. Rebus is hit with divine inspiration and the London police spring into action based on nothing. The identity of the killer is a disappointment.
I wish the part of the story resolved in the last three pages was devel
The ending is pretty lazy. Rebus is hit with divine inspiration and the London police spring into action based on nothing. The identity of the killer is a disappointment.
I wish the part of the story resolved in the last three pages was devel
Mar 18, 2010
Marquesate
rated it:
By the time I had reached the third book I was pretty much hooked by Rankin's story telling. While I still at times had my issues with his style (occasional head-hopping that wasn't clear which character's head we were in) his plot is always amazingly complex and vivid.
If you read this book, read it for one scene, and it'll be worth it. Towards the end is a scene where the anatgonist is in their head/thoughts. The writing is utterly superb and left me breathless. Such an excellent us More...
If you read this book, read it for one scene, and it'll be worth it. Towards the end is a scene where the anatgonist is in their head/thoughts. The writing is utterly superb and left me breathless. Such an excellent us More...
Jan 08, 2012
Steve
rated it:
Rebus book 2[return][return]Rebus has been seconded to the London Met as Scotland s expert on serial killers, to help catch a vicious killer nicknamed the Wolfman.[return][return]This is a better book than the first in the Rebus series, and set in London it makes for a refreshing change of scenery. Constantly keeps you guessing, suspecting, questioning, this is a thrilling whodunnit.
Jan 23, 2010
Babette
rated it:
I finally got to this book on my list - many years after reading the first two in the series in quick succession. I enjoyed this quite a bit, and there is a chase scene at the end that is one of the best and funniest I have ever read. This book should be made into a movie just for that scene alone.
I am glad I picked Rankin up again and look forward to continuing with his books.
I am glad I picked Rankin up again and look forward to continuing with his books.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 01, 2009
Godzilla
rated it:
I didn't enjoy this Rebus novel as much as the first two. It takes him out of Edinburgh, and although this serves as an interesting plot device to counterpoint different approaches, it felt too much like ian Rankin was just trying to shoe horn a London based story in.
The characters seem stereotyped, rather than the normally natural ones. I enjoyed the denouement, but the plot wasn't as involving as others.
The characters seem stereotyped, rather than the normally natural ones. I enjoyed the denouement, but the plot wasn't as involving as others.
Apr 07, 2011
Erik
rated it:
Inspector Rebus goes to London to help in the search for the Wolfman, a serial killer that leaves bite marks on his victims. He has to deal with the animosity of the London Inspectors, his Daughter's suspect new boyfriend, and a killer who seems to know their every move.
Quick read, and a decent thriller. Not as dark as his first two books in the Rebus series.
Quick read, and a decent thriller. Not as dark as his first two books in the Rebus series.
May 21, 2011
A.J.
rated it:
This is another brilliant story from Rankin – truly one of my favourite authors.
The story spirals and twists quite ingeniously, with Rankin deceiving readers, like the master magician he is, all the way to the end. He stuns and astounds over and over, until the accomplished and thrilling apogee.
If you enjoy thrillers, you will love Tooth & Nail.
The story spirals and twists quite ingeniously, with Rankin deceiving readers, like the master magician he is, all the way to the end. He stuns and astounds over and over, until the accomplished and thrilling apogee.
If you enjoy thrillers, you will love Tooth & Nail.
May 06, 2011
Don
rated it:
This was the first Inspector Rebus books I've read; unfortunately, it takes place in London, rather than Edinburgh, so apparently, it's not typical. In any event, Rankin builds the suspense nicely, particularly in the last third of the book. The actual detective work is pretty minimal, but this certainly left me interested in reading more of Rankin.
Dec 07, 2010
astrangerhere
rated it:
Perhaps its reading them back to back to back, but Rankin's formulaic storytelling is starting to show itself a little. Different woman, reminders of a dark past, and having the case all wrong up until an epiphany solves all. I like the atmosphere, and I enjoy the complexity of Rebus as a character, though the plotting is growing a little thin on me.
Oct 05, 2010
Marwan
rated it:
Detective and murder story for a change, something which I don't read usually but it keeps you going flicking the pages to see the next murder and who did it and why. Interesting as well because of the nature of the mutilations and of the 'who done it' and the explanations. A bit tiring in some respects however, because in the quest for readership more and more writers are going after the 'sex to children, or 'sex in the family' routine, which may in the end kicks originality. In Tooth and Nail,
More...
Jan 27, 2009
Jane
rated it:
The plot was entertaining enough that I would've given it 3 stars had the author not tried to employ the literary technique of switching tenses without really understanding how to do that successfully. (At least I think that's what he was trying to do - otherwise he just had a shit editor). If a story is written in the simple past, you cannot just randomly insert a few present simple sentences and then go back to simple past!!!
Jul 28, 2011
Another really great book by Ian Rankin. A bit thinner than usual, compensated for by changing the setting to London, which posed interesting challenges for Rebus' character. I did miss some of the familiar side kicks and foils of Rankin's Rebus series, but the plot was terrific, the action fast, and the resolution satisfying. Read it!
Dec 14, 2011
Mike
rated it:
Not sure the psychological profile of the killer holds water and some of the action seems a touch far-fetched but an easy read. Rebus is not alone in falsely believing that Justice atop the Old Bailey is blindfolded. Maybe Rankin's research improves over the series, there are several weaknesses in the first three books. On to the next.
Jan 27, 2012
S2
rated it:
Inspector Rebus is called to London, far from his familiar surroundings in Edinburgh, as an expert in serial murder crimes, working with a new cast of characters which widens the reader's scope of potential bad guys to have to consider in trying to figure out whodunit before all is revealed.
Oct 17, 2011
Maddi
rated it:
This is the first book when Inspector Rebus really hits his stride (and so does author Ian Rankin). Lots of twists and turns, and I defy any of you to predict who-done-this-one.
Edinburgh-based detective Rebus is asked to investigate a London serial killer. Very well done mystery/procedural.
Edinburgh-based detective Rebus is asked to investigate a London serial killer. Very well done mystery/procedural.
