Re: RARA-AVIS: one rankin, and pattison...

From: Stewart Wilson ( stewart@stewartwilson.com)
Date: 28 Dec 2001


Michael Robison wrote:
> picked up another name here, ian rankin. i got _the black book_.
> there was an earlier one and i would have started with it but the print
> quality was pathetic.

I started reading Rankin well after THE BLACK BOOK had been published, but I did read the series from the first book. I remember thinking that Rankin was good, but I couldn't see what the fuss was about. I recall hearing Ellroy had called Rankin the 'Scottish Ellroy', and until I got to THE BLACK BOOK, I had no idea why. THE BLACK BOOK marks a huge change in Rankin's ability to juggle plot and pacing. I enjoyed the books leading up to it, but it wasn't until that book that I bothered recommended the series to a friend (with the caveat that he would get payback starting with THE BLACK BOOK).

If you aren't going to start at the beginning, THE BLACK BOOK is a good choice.

I've got THE SKULL MANTRA on my shelf. Sounds like it's time to dust it off...
--Stewart

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