Another good Rebus crime novel but this one set in London - to where Rebus was invited as there was a serial killer on the loose. ( )

Ik was niet zo stuk van dit boek als veel andere lezers. Een jonge vrouw is verdwenen en waarschijnlijk vermoord. Door wie? Waarom? Er volgt een ingewikkelde en omslachtige zoektocht met twee hoofdthema’s:: een serie door de jaren heen gevonden poppetjes in primitieve doodskistjes en een puzzelspel of een venture game op de computer waaraan de dode vrouw deelnam. Dit wordt op zich allemaal wel interessant en goed beschreven, Rankin zelf doet voornamelijk de poppetjes en komt in een relatie terecht, zijn sitdekick de computergames die vooral ingewikkelde cryptogrammen zijn. Wie de dader is, is al een hele tijd gedeeltelijk duidelijk, een motief is er eigenlijk niet, er is vrij veel ruis in de vertelling. ( )

I like Rebus and his unorthodox ways of solving crimes and an enjoyable companion through the streets of Edinburgh and environs. ( )

First read this in April 2010 and gave it 5 stars but it was early days on Goodreads and I wasn't reviewing things then. Am now re-reading it so will give my thoughts when I finish.
******************************************************************************
A complex story which starts with a missing person: daughter of a wealthy businessman. Rebus is fascinated with miniature coffins which he is convinced are being left by a killer in the vicinity of abductions, but as usual has problems convincing those in charge. His old boss, 'Farmer Watson' retires and his once-girlfriend Gill Templer takes over, determined to put him in his place despite his previous help to her (Black and Blue) in giving her crucial information on a case that built her reputation. In fact, she throws her weight around rather unattractively especially when she sets up another woman officer to fail, resulting in the latter doing something very stupid for which Rebus covers and carries the can. Having just re-read Black and Blue, I wouldn't quite give this a full rating and am dropping it from my original 5 stars to 4, but still a good read. ( )

My grandma actually gave me this book before I left for Japan in 2012, and I only got around to reading it in 2020. I was surprised at how much it's dated since its release in 2001. Like, a character has a WAP phone, cutting-edge tech at the time. Or the word "barista" is italicized, as a non-integrated loanword.

Anyway the Edinburgh and East Lothian setting made me nostalgic. Crime story was nothing special, there was something about riddles I think. ( )