Standing in Another Man’s Grave by Ian Rankin

Interesting coincidence that Midwest Dave and myself posting Inspector Rebus stories.

In this episode, Rebus is sort of retired, but working as a civilian attached to a cold case unit in his former precinct. In comes Nina Hazlett to register a missing person, her daughter, who has been missing since New Year’s Eve of the new Millennium. Apparently she asked way back when happened and keeps coming back but after 10+ years, she is largely ignored. Rebus takes a bit of pity on the lady and starts checking.

And what he finds is that 4 other girls have gone missing over the subsequent years and during his investigation another goes missing. That makes things an active case pushing the now civilian Rebus to the back burner.

A local mobster is romancing the mother of the latest missing girl. And her 18yo son is a recent MIT grad – mobster in training. And there are mobsters all around, including a quasi-retired heavy who Rebus actually saved by performing CPR while the guy was in the hospital; now he’s Rebus’ new best friend, sort of, and continues to provide, and pump, Rebus for information. Not only does Rebus reluctantly take tips from a mobster, he also has been know to do whatever it takes to solve the case, even if his antics run afoul of their internal affairs, who really can't sink their teeth in Rebus cuz he really isn't on the force. 

The investigation centers on a tiny waterside village on the North Scotland coast with enough possible perps for both the cops and mobsters to stay busy. And it's not just the cops who are wrong when they think they have their man in the crosshairs. 

I’ve read a couple of Rankin’s Rebus books and find them extremely entertaining. His Rebus character’s career has been established over nearly 20 books and reminds me a bit of MRB fav Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch. The main difference between Rebus and Bosch is that Bosch seems far more world-weary while Rebus just can’t seem to keep his mouth shut when he should. If Connelly is high on your list and you are looking for something to tide you over while awaiting the next Bosch entry, head direct to Ian Rankin. You’ll enjoy his Inspector Rebus series. 

East Coast Don