Doomed from the start?
Ian Rankin is well established as one of the most successful contemporary crime fiction writers. According to the Guardian, he accounts for 10% of all UK crime fiction sales. This latest novel brings Rebus out of retirement in a supporting role to his previous junior, Siobhan. Its classic Rankin and Rebus, and for the devoted follower of Rankin or crime fiction, it does not disappoint. The characters are masterfully developed, the dialogue's strong, plotting is tight and Edinburgh looms as large as ever.
Despite Rankin's mastery, he did not delight all the Hussies. He didn't flop but he failed to excite or delight.
The harshest criticisms of this book concerned his plotting. Why was it all so like an adult Enid Blyton? Each episode was followed by lashings of Malt, all the mysteries solved and all the baddies captured.
Cynics interpreted his celebrated dialogue as shameless scripting for an inevitable TV production.
Other critics simply expected more thrills and drama - the stuff of crime thrillers rather than traditional crime fiction.
So were the Enid Blyton remarks negative or positive? Surely successful crime fiction is characterised by its predictability and its adherence to certain rules? Fans of this genre expect to find out whodunnit, how the baddies were captured and how all the loose ends and red herrings were tied up. Are crime fiction fans seeking the comfort, familiarity, and safety offered by their childhood stories? If so, perhaps a Blyton comparison is a compliment?
Similarly, the TV adaptations of previous Rebus stories meant that all the Hussies approached this book as viewers as well as readers. Such an audience surely presents additional challenges for successful authors?
Ultimately, it seems that the Hussies just aren't huge fans of crime fiction and so, as a master of this genre, Rankin was doomed from the very first page.
Bouchons Bistro in Hexham displays certain Rankin tendencies. It too is a master of its own genre - french style cooking - and consistently delivers a small selection of its most popular dishes. It knows what it's about and doesn't try to be all things to all palates. If you like good quality French style food then you will like Bouchons. If you fancy curry, fast food or a huge choice of dishes then you're doomed from the start!
 |
| If you don't want french style food then you're doomed from the start ! |
Our next read is something completely different. Was Slavomir Rawicz doomed from the start ? Or not?
