Standing in Another Man's Grave

February 4, 2013
Rankin's iconic Edinburgh copper, John Rebus, who retired in 2007's Exit Music, is now a civilian reviewing old police files in this satisfying crime thriller, which also includes Rankin's new series lead, Malcolm Fox (The Impossible Dead). Rebus butts heads with Fox, an investigator in Complaints, who loathes "old style" cops like Rebus who may have bent the rules to get results. When Nina Hazlitt shows up at Rebus's office, she tells him about her missing daughter, Sally, who disappeared on the A9 roadway in 1999. Though Rebus is initially skeptical, Hazlitt's persistence slowly pays off. Rebus starts taking seriously her theories that the subsequent disappearances of other young women along the A9 are connected, and a task force is formed, including Det. Insp. Siobhan Clarke, Rebus's protégée. The police comb through old case files, and Rebus logs many a mile in his battered Saab, driving the length of the A9 through Scotland, on the hunt for the killer. Rankin's ear for dialogue and sense of place is as keen as ever, complementing his twisted plot. Rebus fans will be pleased to find him as cantankerous as ever, smoking and drinking as if time in the policing world has stood still.

There may be no way of passing the time that is more pleasurable than listening to James MacPherson's lovely Scots brogue relate the activities of John Rebus, retired Edinburgh cop now working cold cases as a civilian. Several women have disappeared along Scotland's A9 road over a twelve-year period, and Rebus's cold cases may relate to his former partner Siobhan Clarke's current case. So the two of them drive back and forth from Edinburgh through the Highlands, and MacPherson rolls easily through all those multisyllabic Scottish place names, reminding the listener of the poetic background of the country. He also rolls a few "r's" for a couple of growling Edinburgh mobsters and employs a slightly gruff but bantering tone to remind the listener that Rebus is still a mischievous and alcoholic throwback of a cop. A.B. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Starred review from July 1, 2013
In Rankin's ("Exit Music") latest Rebus mystery, the unorthodox detective is retired from the Edinburgh police department, but has not retired in spirit. Volunteering in the cold-case division, he finds something that may be related to a recent murder. Working with his old colleague Siobhan Clarke, he inveigles his way into the new investigation. Meanwhile, his application to return to the police force is being vetted by slimy Inspector Malcolm Fox, hero of the author's other series ("The Complaints"). Rebus offends almost everyone before bringing the case to an uncomfortable conclusion. James MacPherson's colorful Scottish accents for the many characters--young and old, rural and urban, educated and streetwise--bring the listener into the story immediately. He adjusts his pitch occasionally--a deep growl for an old crime lord--but he doesn't make the frequent mistake of male readers of lifting his voice into an awkward falsetto for the female characters. VERDICT Altogether an excellent audio version of a complex and enjoyable mystery. Recommended for all audio collections. ["Fans of this landmark series, now in its 25th year, will cry "Hosannah!" at Rebus's triumphal return," read the starred review of the "New York Times" best- selling Little, Brown hc, "LJ" Xpress Reviews, 1/18/13.--Ed.]--Juleigh Muirhead Clark, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Lib., Colonial Williamsburg Fdn., VA Copyright 013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.