Mortal Causes (Inspector Rebus Novels) [Paperback]

Ian Rankin (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (1997)
• ASIN: B001UPBVES
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Troubles In Edinburgh, June 27, 2001

By 

Untouchable (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mortal Causes (Dead Letter Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

After a particularly gruesome murder is discovered during Edinburgh's Fringe Festival, Inspector John Rebus is seconded to the elite Scottish Crime Squad. The reason for this is that aspects of the murder make it appear that a terrorist group was responsible and Rebus's previous SAS experience would come in handy. The investigation takes him from his home base to the villages of rural Scotland and across to Belfast and back again.

Throughout the book, the Catholic versus Protestant problem is continually raised, comparing Scotland to the Troubles in Northern Ireland and suggesting that the same uprising could be imminent. While the characters were discussing terrorist organisations there were enough three letter acronyms being bandied about to make me think I might have stumbled into a Microsoft manual.

Once again we are treated to the bare bones of Edinburgh's back streets and dingy estates that have fallen into ruin. Rebus is as inscrutable and removed from his fellow officers as ever, yet, at least for me, he is becoming more and more likable. I feel this series is getting more and more enjoyable with every book I read, this one is no exception.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rankin's best John Rebus mystery to date!, January 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Mortal Causes (Dead Letter Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I only discovered Ian Rankin's John Rebus mysteries quite recently and have read through all those available in a relatively short time. Rebus is a memorable character and Rankin's portrait of Edinburgh and the police department in his procedurals rings as very convincing and true-to-life.

In _Mortal Causes_, the most recent of the Rebus titles to see paperback, Rankin's hero must investigate a particularly gruesome murder which begins to look like it might be the work of a terrorist cell from Northern Ireland. Rebus had spent time there earlier in his career, before joining the police. His expertise comes to prove valuable in this case, on in which not everything is as it appears.

Set during Edinburgh's annual summer Festival, readers are treated to an exciting, realistic mystery which takes place in the side streets and housing estates that tourists don't normally see. Inspector John Rebus continues to develop into one of the more multi-faceted and interesting characters in contemporary mystery fiction and Ian Rankin's ability to grab the reader by the throat shows no signs of letting up. All in all, this is the best of the Rebus series, with a new book, _Let it Bleed_ currently out in
hardcover, and another, _Black and Blue_, waiting in the wings. Receives my highest recommendation

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Yarn, May 12, 2004

By 

Charles Miller (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mortal Causes (Dead Letter Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

It's a good thing that Inspector Rebus is so smart. Otherwise, drinking too much and losing every fight he gets into would surely do him in. When a brutally murdered body turns up during the Edinburgh Festival, Rebus starts our tour of the city's seamier underside. There are more than enough additional murders, beatings, pubs, slums, betrayals, and manipulations to satisfy any mystery fan. The story is taut, well-paced, and peopled by memorable, well-developed characters. Although there was a bit too much impenetrable British slang for my taste, it certainly adds credibility and color to the tale. Pour yourself a single-malt, sit back, and enjoy the ride.