The Naming of the Dead

This is the 9^th Ian Rankin novel that’s been reviewed at MRB. We’ve all read his books, so you know Rankin is one of our favorites. However, this particular novel was not Rankin’s best. It was was even darker than the others. The Naming of the Dead, the 16th in the Inspector Rebus series, starts with the unexpected death of Rebus’ younger brother from a stroke. The story also takes place during two real events in 2008, the G8 meeting in Edinburgh and the London bus bombing, both of which Rankin incorporates into the plot and subplots. Meanwhile, Rebus is nearly constantly drunk. He boldly and intentionally antagonizes his bosses who can’t understand why this man doesn’t retire already. But, Rebus has nothing else in his life to retire to, to live for. His main co-conspirator is Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke, who is much younger than Rebus but who has passed him in ranking. Still, everyone knows that he’s the detective who runs the show. This is a complex story with lots of characters, three deaths, and lots of possible suspects. I started this book with excitement, but found myself slogging my way through it. If you’re ready to read Rankin, don’t start here.