Which Book Are You Reading thread

[Football us life]

We'll have to start calling you Barbara Cartland with all these books

Ol' Babs averaged 10 novels per year....most of them best sellers within their genre...

Took me 6 months to write the first draught of mine....the missus has gone through it a bit and reckons it reads like something a twelve year old would put out!!

Needs to be totally rewritten!!

 

[Football us life]

We have a friend who is a food and travel writer and a published author and today we went to Burleigh Heads for lunch with her and a literary agent who she knows.

Apparently the days when a new author sent off manuscripts to publishers in order to spike interest are fading quickly. Publishers are looking for 'sure bets' and reluctant to move away from tried and twsted authors and book brands....

There's a bit of 'nobody wants to publish fatigue' with these 'newbie' authors!

'Newbie' Authors!!

So what matters in 2026 is building up a following on social media with something like 'BookTok' a highly influential book reading community on TikTok....

Then you're training the algorithm to catergorise your reading interests, building a following and then returning your content to your following via clips and videos....

Publishers like to see big social media followings apparently!!

You can of course self publish but costs are quite high for all the various people you have to engage on the 'journey'....

Also, while people are still consuming literature but the big ticket items these days are audio books and digital serials.

The restaurant was called 'Labart' and if anyone is heading to the Gold Coast for an autumn break id highly recommend....

But bring your credit card!!!

 

[Decentric]

MR CLEANSHEETS : ADRIAN DEANS

Genre : Literary fiction/comedy.

Setting: Contemporary England

Length of book : 525 pages

Why did I choose it?
I heard that one member of G and G forum wrote it and it was cheap in an op shop.

Review:

Enjoyed non-fiction aspects of the book. Like the fact that England has a terrific football system with promo and releg down to about 10 -20 leagues, and any amateur team can make the FA Cup Final if good enough.

Fictitious Erik Judd, who AD writes in the first person for, is an ageing goalkeeper and experienced furniture removalist, approaching age 40, who leaves Aus to visit England.

Before he gets on the plane, some English football hooligans think he is a famous EPL goalkeeper, from a rival club. They try to beat Eric up, thinking he is the EPL keeper, when Eric is just a doppelganger. The hooligans come off second best.

On the plane he meets a woman where there is mutual attraction. Her name is Doreen Palmer, and is a huge prog rock star in England, unbeknown to Eric.

Eric becomes a removalist in England. Through his job he becomes intertwined with dodgy characters who own a Conference Football Club in the 5th or 6th tier. Eric becomes their keeper. They then progress all the way to the final of the FA Cup playing Manchester United.

The dodgy hooligans keep appearing, having links to more dodgy characters. They provide a lot of humour and mirth and are not cerebrally endowed!

Eric can't believe how famous Doreen is? They move back to Aus to live off her vast wealth as a muso.

I thought it was very entertaining, and quite a jolly book. I will be keen to read more AD books.

We have a celebrity on G and G - a renowned author!

 

[Football us life]

MR CLEANSHEETS : ADRIAN DEANS

Genre : Literary fiction/comedy.

Setting: Contemporary England

Length of book : 525 pages

Why did I choose it?
I heard that one member of G and G forum wrote it and it was cheap in an op shop.

Review:

Enjoyed non-fiction aspects of the book. Like the fact that England has a terrific football system with promo and releg down to about 10 -20 leagues, and any amateur team can make the FA Cup Final if good enough.

Fictitious Erik Judd, who AD writes in the first person for, is an ageing goalkeeper and experienced furniture removalist, approaching age 40, who leaves Aus to visit England.

Before he gets on the plane, some English football hooligans think he is a famous EPL goalkeeper, from a rival club. They try to beat Eric up, thinking he is the EPL keeper, when Eric is just a doppelganger. The hooligans come off second best.

On the plane he meets a woman where there is mutual attraction. Her name is Doreen Palmer, and is a huge prog rock star in England, unbeknown to Eric.

Eric becomes a removalist in England. Through his job he becomes intertwined with dodgy characters who own a Conference Football Club in the 5th or 6th tier. Eric becomes their keeper. They then progress all the way to the final of the FA Cup playing Manchester United.

The dodgy hooligans keep appearing, having links to more dodgy characters. They provide a lot of humour and mirth and are not cerebrally endowed!

Eric can't believe how famous Doreen is? They move back to Aus to live off her vast wealth as a muso.

I thought it was very entertaining, and quite a jolly book. I will be keen to read more AD books.

We have a celebrity on G and G - a

renowned author!

Don't you just love finding a great book in an op shop or a second hand bookshop?

Not just about saving a couple of dollars either....

 

[Decentric]

Don't you just love finding a great book in an op shop or a second hand bookshop?

Not just about saving a couple of dollars either....

I was reading a bit on kindle, but prefer print books so much more. Easier on my eyes!

I had 2 go to secondhand bookshops nearby. One closed. The lady had cancer and wouldn’t sell to a stuck up woman. Sadly, it doesn’t exist anymore.

The other ripper is in Cygnet, a hippyish tourist town in the Huon Valley, about 40 odd mins drive in our EV. It isn’t great for taking heaps of books to trade in on a whim either. The owner wants them though.

Being secondhand means there is less environmental damage.

By chance have known heaps of authors in recent times.

I knew our forumite Mr C was an author, but didn’t realise I would enjoy his Mr Cleansheets book as much as I have. I have also read too many books in the crime genre, where there are a lot of good authors.

To find one in a genre I like, Literary Fiction, interspersed with comedy, was a bonus.

I think Marion Keyes is very funny, but her books go nowhere. I also think Kathy Lette is very funny, but her books are crass /salacious bordering on porn.

Mr C’s, or AD’s, had a better plot/storyline. If AD’s books are as good as Mr C, he deserves to have made a lot more money from writing.

My mother had 5 books published as an author.

I love reading, but just couldn’t stand the discipline of writing a book, like you, my mother, and grandfather, various mates, and all the rest do.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

Thanks Decentric, very kind, glad you enjoyed it.

For those interested, this is the blurb on the back:

Eric Judd is 39 and his girlfriend wants him to give up playing football. Eric (aka Mr Cleansheets) is a goalkeeping legend at his amateur Sydney club because in his youth he received a letter inviting him to trial with Manchester United. The letter said to 'come when you're ready' - and six days before his 40th birthday, Eric is finally ready.

Inspired by the dying wish of his Uncle Jimmy, Eric travels to England, but does not quite receive the welcome he had hoped for. Instead, he encounters all manner of villains: murderous football hooligans, Irish mafia, dodgy football agents, beautiful pop stars, international terrorists and a range of supporting players with any number of overt and hidden agendas.

But he does get to play a bit of football.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

If you have a bit of time Decentric, you might put a review/rating on Goodreads. That would help me a lot.

Goodreads

www.goodreads.com

 

[Decentric]

If you have a bit of time Decentric, you might put a review/rating on Goodreads. That would help me a lot.

Goodreads

www.goodreads.com

Can do, Mr C.

Anything to help authors. It seems like a tough gig, for people who provide a lot of pleasure to eager consumers, like me.

A bit of advice from you, Mr C. I know it is difficult for authors to promote books. A good mate of mine, who won't be reading this, absolutely drove his extended network of mates, and facebook friends, nuts, almost demanding people buy his book on his personal Facebook account. Extended friendship circles, almost refused to buy the book, because of constant perceived badgering, or, if they read it they were hypercritical. I loved the book based on its merits!

His editor, very experienced, suggested he go hard on his own Facebook account promoting it. It almost backfired.

He is in the process of finishing his second book.

One pretty renowned author I vaguely know, the wife of one of my favourite craft beer owners/head brewer, who is quite famous, Karen R Brooks, has her own facebook page - Karen Brooks Author. To the best of my knowledge, she does not plug her books on her general Facebook account. All her authorial promotion is done on her Facebook specialist author account.

I've seen a few authors have stalls at markets and sell books. Do you do this?

 

[Decentric]

Thanks Decentric, very kind, glad you enjoyed it.

For those interested, this is the blurb on the back:

Eric Judd is 39 and his girlfriend wants him to give up playing football. Eric (aka Mr Cleansheets) is a goalkeeping legend at his amateur Sydney club because in his youth he received a letter inviting him to trial with Manchester United. The letter said to 'come when you're ready' - and six days before his 40th birthday, Eric is finally ready.

Inspired by the dying wish of his Uncle Jimmy, Eric travels to England, but does not quite receive the welcome he had hoped for. Instead, he encounters all manner of villains: murderous football hooligans, Irish mafia, dodgy football agents, beautiful pop stars, international terrorists and a range of supporting players with any number of overt and hidden agendas.

But he does get to play a bit of football.

Thanks Decentric, very kind, glad you enjoyed it.

For those interested, this is the blurb on the back:

Eric Judd is 39 and his girlfriend wants him to give up playing football. Eric (aka Mr Cleansheets) is a goalkeeping legend at his amateur Sydney club because in his youth he received a letter inviting him to trial with Manchester United. The letter said to 'come when you're ready' - and six days before his 40th birthday, Eric is finally ready.

Inspired by the dying wish of his Uncle Jimmy, Eric travels to England, but does not quite receive the welcome he had hoped for. Instead, he encounters all manner of villains: murderous football hooligans, Irish mafia, dodgy football agents, beautiful pop stars, international terrorists and a range of supporting players with any number of overt and hidden agendas.

But he does get to play a bit of football.

I've plugged it before, but both from a non-fiction prespective, the terrific inclusive promo/releg English football system of 10-20 leagues is elucidated. It highlights what we don't have in Aus.

From a fiction perspective, Mr C, is very entertaining. Either way, it should hook most members of G and G.

Most of my mates, mainly females who are avid fiction readers, are more critical than me about what we read. Although I have specific gripes with a few particular authors, who have idiosyncrasies I dislike immensely.

Linda La Plante - in her Anna Travis books I detest her almost twin protagonist, Superintendent James Langton. He is an obnoxious, overbearing, sexist, patronising bully, who belittles his subordinates, rather than mentors them, an awful partner for women in a relationship with him, bends rules to suit himself - despite being a very successful detective.
I think LLP likes arrogant men in her private life. Nice guys in the detective team are her peripheral characters. Also, LLP lets the villains get away sometimes at the end! One reviewer called James Langton charismatic! The most obnoxious protagonist in any book I've read!
Having said this, I find her books fast-paced and suck me in for the entire book. A few 300 plus page books have ' flat spots'. LLP doesn't - even at 500 pages plus. Secondhand book shop owners claim she is harder to sell ATM. LLP is a talented writer. Love Anna Travis, being more of a lead protagonist, devoid of effing James Langton!

Michael Rowbotham - Aus author who writes in the crime genre in England. I wish he would write some in Aus. Only in his Joe O'Laughlin books I don't like that he gets bullied by a female Inspector, whose name I have forgotten, to do all virtually unpaid work for her to solve crimes at her beck and call. Also, Joe's teenage daughter is always caught up in the conclusion, as an impediment, when crims are being brought to justice. It is annoying!
Plus Joe adulates his former wife, as a trophy wife! It didn't occur in the screen series, with Joe played by Aiden Turner, who also played Poldark.
Prefer Michael R's non Joe O'L books. Love Joe's great mate, retired Inspector Vincent Ruiz, as a protagonist. Notwithstanding, MR is another very good author!

Philippa Gregory - talented author, but she doesn't change her settings enough, and has too little ' adventure' for historical fiction.

Chris Hammer, Matthew Spencer - both Aus crime writers and reporters/ journos. Hammer uses journalist, Martin Scarsden, and Spencer also has a journo, as supposedly integral fixtures in solving crimes, which the police are doing. In every other crime book written by non- reporters/journos, the media is a constant thorn in the side of solving crimes, and they only write muck and sensationalist stories that hinder the process!

Have no gripes about the following authors' series, where I've read most of their books.

Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling - Strike series.
Lee Child - Reacher series.
Bernard Cornwell - Uhtred series, Starbuck series, Thomas Of Crecy series, Sharpe series(
( with Sharpe series sometimes having too much battle violence in some books).
Diana Gabaldon - Outlander series.
Michael Connelly - Bosch, and Ballard series. Lincoln Lawyer better on screen, too much court action in books. MC is a reporter, to his credit, who doesn't glorify the media!
Ian Rankin - Rebus series.
Peter James - Grace series.
Elly Griffiths - Ruth Galloway series.
Jane Harper
Sarah Bailey
Dervla McTiernan
Gabrielle Lord

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

Can do, Mr C.

Anything to help authors. It seems like a tough gig, for people who provide a lot of pleasure to eager consumers, like me.

A bit of advice from you, Mr C. I know it is difficult for authors to promote books. A good mate of mine, who won't be reading this, absolutely drove his extended network of mates, and facebook friends, nuts, almost demanding people buy his book on his personal Facebook account. Extended friendship circles, almost refused to buy the book, because of constant perceived badgering, or, if they read it they were hypercritical. I loved the book based on its merits!

His editor, very experienced, suggested he go hard on his own Facebook account promoting it. It almost backfired.

He is in the process of finishing his second book.

One pretty renowned author I vaguely know, the wife of one of my favourite craft beer owners/head brewer, who is quite famous, Karen R Brooks, has her own facebook page - Karen Brooks Author. To the best of my knowledge, she does not plug her books on her general Facebook account. All her authorial promotion is done on her Facebook specialist author account.

I've seen a few authors have stalls at markets and sell books. Do you do this?

I have a website and facebook author site but I'm not very active. Marketing is not my strength and I learned years ago not to hassle friends and family to read my stuff.

Before I was published I would often hassle people to read manuscripts so I could get a bit of feedback but almost no-one would do it, and if they did they would always just damn it with faint praise. And/or not give me any sort of useful feedback at all.

Then suddenly, after Mr C was published, people started begging me for my works in progress. It's like they couldn't take me seriously as a writer until the publishing industry gave its tick of approval. Mind you, they were probably right to do so... for every book that gets published (commercially) there'd be a thousand that don't. And of those that do get published about one in a thousand makes decent money. So every finished novel has about one chance in a million of being successful.

 

[Decentric]

I have a website and facebook author site but I'm not very active. Marketing is not my strength and I learned years ago not to hassle friends and family to read my stuff.

Before I was published I would often hassle people to read manuscripts so I could get a bit of feedback but almost no-one would do it, and if they did they would always just damn it with faint praise. And/or not give me any sort of useful feedback at all.

Then suddenly, after Mr C was published, people started begging me for my works in progress. It's like they couldn't take me seriously as a writer until the publishing industry gave its tick of approval. Mind you, they were probably right to do so... for every book that gets published (commercially) there'd be a thousand that don't. And of those that do get published about one in a thousand makes decent money. So every finished novel has about one chance in a million of being successful.

Interesting to read this?

My good mate, S, and his wife, M, both recent authors late in life, have used a very experienced editor. She has given them a lot of advice - they haven't wanted to hear. They both lost about a third of their books, based on SY's experienced advice.

SY, the pro editor, has a weakness, in that she has always been an aspiring author herself, who feels discontented she has not been able to have the discipline ( like many others), to write books. Slight envy manifests periodically.

The late in life authors, who are mates, didn't seek help in editing from amateurs.

My author mates talk a lot about the industry - and getting breaks. It seems to me, that journos/reporters/media, get much easier access to the industry to launch first books.

Fascinating how you needed a tick from the industry for friends to take you seriously as an author.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

My author mates talk a lot about the industry - and getting breaks. It seems to me, that journos/reporters/media, get much easier access to the industry to launch first books.

Fascinating how you needed a tick from the industry for friends to take you seriously as an author.

Journos etc (plus any other type of celebrity) already have a public interested in their exploits. That's why they have an unfair advantage because the industry used to take risks - betting on numerous new voices in the hope that one or more might prove to be popular. No longer - they only bet on what they expect to be sure wins so outsiders from left field (ie nobodies) have a snowflake's chance in hell of getting up with a big publisher.

The only way for an outsider to get published (commercially) is by becoming an insider. This can mean all sorts of things, including:

- winning multiple writing competitions;
- doing a creative writing Masters program and thereby meeting industry types;
- self publishing successfully and getting sales in the multiple thousands;
- becoming famous as a very active social media/influencer type;
- being lucky enough to meet someone influential in publishing who might take you seriously and mentor you;
- being talented enough to attract the attention of a mainstream and legitimate literary agent.

Getting an agent is also VERY hard these days but not as impossible as getting published by a large publisher.

Even then there are still factors that can work against you. Being male, pale and stale (like me) doesn't go down well unless you're already a big seller.

Finally, there is also the writing quality issue. Irrespective of whatever native talent you might have, it takes a long time to become good at it (especially when working by yourself in the quintessential garret). Mr C was the first book I had accepted but it was the third I wrote. I had improved out of sight since my first effort but at the time I finished my first effort (Rites) I thought it was a work of genius. These days, I can't read two sentences without vomiting blood.

Trouble is, you don't know what you don't know and things like plot construction, characterisation, pacing, voice, world building, texturing and editing over numerous drafts take a lot of learning. For me, now, they're second nature but I was writing seriously for 15 years before someone said yes.

If I'd been a celebrity criminal like Chopper I would have been published in a heartbeat.

 

[Decentric]

Journos etc (plus any other type of celebrity) already have a public interested in their exploits. That's why they have an unfair advantage because the industry used to take risks - betting on numerous new voices in the hope that one or more might prove to be popular. No longer - they only bet on what they expect to be sure wins so outsiders from left field (ie nobodies) have a snowflake's chance in hell of getting up with a big publisher.

The only way for an outsider to get published (commercially) is by becoming an insider. This can mean all sorts of things, including:

- winning multiple writing competitions;
- doing a creative writing Masters program and thereby meeting industry types;
- self publishing successfully and getting sales in the multiple thousands;
- becoming famous as a very active social media/influencer type;
- being lucky enough to meet someone influential in publishing who might take you seriously and mentor you;
- being talented enough to attract the attention of a mainstream and legitimate literary agent.

Getting an agent is also VERY hard these days but not as impossible as getting published by a large publisher.

Even then there are still factors that can work against you. Being male, pale and stale (like me) doesn't go down well unless you're already a big seller.

Finally, there is also the writing quality issue. Irrespective of whatever native talent you might have, it takes a long time to become good at it (especially when working by yourself in the quintessential garret). Mr C was the first book I had accepted but it was the third I wrote. I had improved out of sight since my first effort but at the time I finished my first effort (Rites) I thought it was a work of genius. These days, I can't read two sentences without vomiting blood.

Trouble is, you don't know what you don't know and things like plot construction, characterisation, pacing, voice, world building, texturing and editing over numerous drafts take a lot of learning. For me, now, they're second nature but I was writing seriously for 15 years before someone said yes.

If I'd been a celebrity criminal like Chopper I would have been published in a heartbeat.

Interesting post, Mr C.

Very funny suggesting the Chopper analogy!

Or it seems one already needs to be well known in some capacity to get a writer’s break with a publisher.

 

[Keeper66]

Journos etc (plus any other type of celebrity) already have a public interested in their exploits. That's why they have an unfair advantage because the industry used to take risks - betting on numerous new voices in the hope that one or more might prove to be popular. No longer - they only bet on what they expect to be sure wins so outsiders from left field (ie nobodies) have a snowflake's chance in hell of getting up with a big publisher.

The only way for an outsider to get published (commercially) is by becoming an insider. This can mean all sorts of things, including:

- winning multiple writing competitions;
- doing a creative writing Masters program and thereby meeting industry types;
- self publishing successfully and getting sales in the multiple thousands;
- becoming famous as a very active social media/influencer type;
- being lucky enough to meet someone influential in publishing who might take you seriously and mentor you;
- being talented enough to attract the attention of a mainstream and legitimate literary agent.

Getting an agent is also VERY hard these days but not as impossible as getting published by a large publisher.

Even then there are still factors that can work against you. Being male, pale and stale (like me) doesn't go down well unless you're already a big seller.

Finally, there is also the writing quality issue. Irrespective of whatever native talent you might have, it takes a long time to become good at it (especially when working by yourself in the quintessential garret). Mr C was the first book I had accepted but it was the third I wrote. I had improved out of sight since my first effort but at the time I finished my first effort (Rites) I thought it was a work of genius. These days, I can't read two sentences without vomiting blood.

Trouble is, you don't know what you don't know and things like plot construction, characterisation, pacing, voice, world building, texturing and editing over numerous drafts take a lot of learning. For me, now, they're second nature but I was writing seriously for 15 years before someone said yes.

If I'd been a celebrity criminal like Chopper I would have been published in a heartbeat.

The comment about writing quality got me thinking. One of the most poorly written books I have read in recent years was Alex Ferguson's autobiography. It was interesting but the writing quality was horrendous. So that fits in with your comment about celebrities being published without hesitation.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

The comment about writing quality got me thinking. One of the most poorly written books I have read in recent years was Alex Ferguson's autobiography. It was interesting but the writing quality was horrendous. So that fits in with your comment about celebrities being published without hesitation.

Yeah, most sporting biographies are ghost-written these days. (I ghost wrote Lawrie McKinna's bio.)

 

[Football us life]

Days of Love and Rage.. A Story of Revolution by Anand Gopal, previously a Pulitzer book prize finalist.....

a powerful true story of ordinary Syrians in the city of Manbij who bravely built a democracy after overthrowing dictatorship only for inequality, betrayal, and ISIS to tear it all apart. Moving, heartbreaking, and really quite a masterful body of work. This one might go all the way and win.the Pulitzer Prize...

It's a big read mind nearly 600 pages.

 

[Decentric]

Days of Love and Rage.. A Story of Revolution by Anand Gopal, previously a Pulitzer book prize finalist.....

a powerful true story of ordinary Syrians in the city of Manbij who bravely built a democracy after overthrowing dictatorship only for inequality, betrayal, and ISIS to tear it all apart. Moving, heartbreaking, and really quite a masterful body of work. This one might go all the way and win.the Pulitzer Prize...

It's a big read mind nearly 600 pages.

Thanks for this insightful review, FUL.

I’m a cheapskate. Would love to get my hands on this book in a secondhand bookshop!

 

[Decentric]

I started this thread, because another site where many book readers post their reviews, often only write the title of an author, with no review!

Also, occasionally a Mod who doesn't post in the thread, is a bit pedantic about spoilers, so he erases content.

Even though there are less reviews here on G and G, they are more detailed. I've even recruited a few from the other forum to here , but I think they would like it to be busier.

Anyway, I've read a lot of books lately, with none probably being as profound as Days Of Love And Rage: Anand Gopal, or, as entertaining and funny as Mr Cleansheets : AD.

A QUESTION OF BLOOD: IAN RANKIN

Genre: Crime fiction.

Setting: Scotland about 20 years ago.

Length : approx 300 pages.

A former SAS soldier has allegedly killed 2 kids and shot another. DI John Rebus and Detective Sergeant Siobahn Clark investigate. Rebus is a superb investigator, but a maverick, whilst Clark is a young, smart, fast-tracked, uni educated detective who doesn't bend rules, who recognises Rebus' great investigative skills. She is only too keen to learn from Rebus.
Loved having Cark as the twin protagonist. Like in the Bosch series, Rankin seems to have no end of high ranking cops as enemies/rivals, for solving cases they couldn't.

Entertaining book, but I think Rankin, like many crime writers, could have wound it up more quickly in 50 pages less. Some neat twists and turns, with a satisfying conclusion. Rankin is one of the best writers in this field.

IMO the only one who can sustain long books is Robert Galbraith ( JK Rowling), the richest author in the world, in her Strike series within the crime genre. Many disagree with me.

Rankin is highly regarded by his peers.

 

[Football us life]

Thanks for this insightful review, FUL.

I’m a cheapskate. Would love to get my hands on this book in a secondhand bookshop!

It's just come out in March so it'll probably a while before copies filter through to the second hand bookshops...

I bought this on kindle and it was about $18 I think.

Probably around $50-60 in hardback.

I've been buying more e-books lately because her indoors keeps on complaining about all the proper books taking up too much space!!

 

[Football us life]

I started this thread, because another site where many book readers post their reviews, often only write the title of an author, with no review!

Also, occasionally a Mod who doesn't post in the thread, is a bit pedantic about spoilers, so he erases content.

Even though there are less reviews here on G and G, they are more detailed. I've even recruited a few from the other forum to here , but I think they would like it to be busier.

Anyway, I've read a lot of books lately, with none probably being as profound as Days Of Love And Rage: Anand Gopal, or, as entertaining and funny as Mr Cleansheets : AD.

A QUESTION OF BLOOD: IAN RANKIN

Genre: Crime fiction.

Setting: Scotland about 20 years ago.

Length : approx 300 pages.

A former SAS soldier has allegedly killed 2 kids and shot another. DI John Rebus and Detective Sergeant Siobahn Clark investigate. Rebus is a superb investigator, but a maverick, whilst Clark is a young, smart, fast-tracked, uni educated detective who doesn't bend rules, who recognises Rebus' great investigative skills. She is only too keen to learn from Rebus.
Loved having Cark as the twin protagonist. Like in the Bosch series, Rankin seems to have no end of high ranking cops as enemies/rivals, for solving cases they couldn't.

Entertaining book, but I think Rankin, like many crime writers, could have wound it up more quickly in 50 pages less. Some neat twists and turns, with a satisfying conclusion. Rankin is one of the best writers in this field.

IMO the only one who can sustain long books is Robert Galbraith ( JK Rowling), the richest author in the world, in her Strike series within the crime genre. Many disagree with me.

Rankin is highly regarded by his peers.

Yep. The Rebus serie is outstanding crime fiction...

And I do like a brooding, cynical, chain smoking and bodering alcoholic detective!!

With Edinburgh being my favourite, maybe second favourite city in the world... and far more than just a backdrop in Rebus. It's essentially a living character in the series. Rankin contrasts the city's elegant, historic, tourist-friendly surface with its gritty, shadowy underbelly of poverty, violence, and all that hidden corruption....

Ian Rankin and his Tartan Noir.. Brilliance personified!!