Book Review: Beggars Banquet

Reviewed By: Fiona Walker

Beggars Banquet     Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC
Ian Rankin
Class/Genre:   Mystery   [Short Stories]
Orion, July 2002 (UK only)

Here, master crime-writer Ian Rankin presents 21 stories, 8 of which are Rebus, and all of which are excellent. I prefer the non-Rebus stories, though...the Rebus ones lack something the others contain, and the ones without him are nice and fresh, it’s good to read Rankin when he’s not writing about Rebus. It showcases his talent more, giving us a bigger picture of what he can actually do.

The first story is a good opener, not too complex, with Rebus on good form. The stories that follow vary in their topic and style from the historical story "The Serpents Back", which is excellently written and evokes very well the spirit and atmosphere of old- Edinburgh, to "Glimmer" which is written in a strange, dreamlike, hazy yet blunt, shifting style, about 60's culture.

For people who like twists, there are plenty of those to be had, in particular in "Someone's Got To Eddie" and "The Hanged Man", which is a real creepy story.

"The Wider Scheme" also has a great twist, I really kicked myself for not getting. "Unknown Pleasures" has a nice, meandering peace, which ably demonstrates the far reaches of crime and its networks. "Herbert In Motion" one of the two CWA Dagger winning stories in this collection (the other being "A Deep Hole") is a very well written story, with a great plot and a nice little sting in it's tail.

Fiona Walker

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Fiona Walker