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Why Are the Best Crime Novels Always Set in the Rain?
Some Fires Never Really Go Out
Book Review: “The Black Book” By Ian Rankin
Genres: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Detective
The Black Book is the fifth in the series of Inspector Rebus novels. This is the first appearance of Morris Gerald Cafferty, “Big Ger”, as the main character. Rebus is shrouded in problems, and they keep piling up on him at every corner. His ex-con brother, Michael, crashes at his place, and Rebus is forced to accommodate him. The story starts with a minor case involving a man being stabbed in his shop. As Rebus begin to work on this case, that night he meets one of his old acquaintances, Deek Torrence. They spend the night talking about Torrence’s shady business, where one can buy “anything”. Rebus’s team is tasked with surveillance of the notorious Big Ger for his money-lending and protection services business.
Rebus is shocked to hear that his colleague, Brian Holmes, was admitted to the hospital after being attacked near the Heartbreak Cafe. While he is in a coma, his girlfriend confides in Rebus her suspicion that this was not a simple attack. Nell Stapleton says that Brian had a “Black Book” in which he kept certain details. She believes that this book is the reason behind his attack…
