<<

was was

The

1

page booklet, break break booklet, page - and Knots

, 20/11/2015

2 18/3/2001 Fi journalist, a taxman, and at at and taxman, a journalist, Fi -

Ian Rankin Author Background Newspaper, North by CBC Northwest, News

picker, swineherd, Hi swineherd, picker, the in Dogs Even -

Edinburgh, Scotland , April 28th 1960, Cardenden, , Scotland Fife, Cardenden, 1960, April 28th balanced individuals, because there's an exorcism that takes takes that exorcism an there's because individuals, balanced

- Born: Born: Resides: was published in 1986. The first Rebus novel novel Rebus first The 1986. in published was

When you meet most crime writers they tend to be very quiet, veryquiet, be to tend they writers crime most meet you When well page. the into go demons our all place, At the age of six or seven I would get sheets of A4 paper and fold fold and paper of A4 sheets would get I seven of six or age the At eight little a make to edges the cut half, them in bubbles, speech little with men stick little in put and squares into up it story. football a and story space a story, spy a have I'd and Interview with Sheryl Mackay, Interview with Robert McCrum, 2 Source: website now says that writing about Rebus and crime can be “therapeutic” and a and “therapeutic” be can crime and Rebus about writing that says now world”. ofthe sense ofmaking “way 1 services to literature. services to written: has always he that said Rankin Ian aninterview In but writer crime as a himself imagined never Ian Rankin beginning the In worked in various roles before his series became popular. He popular. became series Rebus John his before roles various in worked grape as a worked in London. Centre Folktale National the his second but drawer, bottom his in remains novel first Rankin’s Ian Flood languages 22 into translated now are series Rebus The in1987. published OBEfor an awarded also was Rankin Ian awards. many won have and Ian Rankin was born and raised in the Kingdom of Fife, and graduated graduated and ofFife, Kingdom the in raised and born was Rankin Ian Scottish in PhD a began 1982.He in ofEdinburgh University the from he university After novels. writing years three the spent and Literature

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library

has received an identical note note identical an received has

Book Summary

in the city, as in the wild. the as in city, the in time nemesis time - – brings back Ian Rankin’s greatest characters in a a in characters greatest Rankin’s Ian back brings is the twentieth book featuring detective John John detective featuring book twentieth is the

Even Dogs in the Wild the in Dogs Even

them for pals who’d known one another since school. since another one known who’d pals them for story. different a told history their But Sat together in a pub, the casual onlooker might mistake mistake might onlooker casual the pub, a in together Sat Rebus’s long Rebus’s Hands in his pockets, Rebus turned to face Cafferty. face to turned Rebus pockets, his Hands in backgrounds. similar builds, similar now, men old were They

Source: Ian Rankin website It’s a game of dog eat dog dog eat ofdog game a It’s Wild the in Dogs Even desires. and instincts our of corners darkest the exploring story found along with a threatening note. On the other side of Edinburgh, Big ofEdinburgh, side other the On note. threatening a with along found Cafferty Ger window. his through bullet a and a killer. stop dots and the connect to Rebus and Clarke to up it’s Now Glasgow from team covert a with forces joins Fox Malcolm DI Meanwhile, want, they something There’s family. crime notorious a tailing who are it. get to nothing they’llat and stop Rebus, and in this book he comes out of retirement to help an old foe. foe. an old help to ofretirement out comes he this book in and Rebus, holidays hobbies, for made wasn’t He Rebus. John doesn’t suit Retirement blood. is in his cop a Being improvements. home or need doesn’t Rebus a case, on help his for asks Clarke Siobhan DI Sowhen options. his consider to long was body whose lawyer a of senior death the investigating been Clarke’s Wild the in Dogs Even

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library

Do

1

Continued overleaf

2

then neither neither then standing popular popular standing -

didn’t begin as a story about fathers fathers about as astory begin didn’t

ble things happening.” things ble

, 23/10/15 3/03/16 Discussion Questions Discussion Questions

on the one hand it is the city of history and and of history city isthe it the one hand on

— era when the old tropes of masculinity are being being are ofmasculinity tropes old the when era

Even Dogs in the Wild the in Dogs Even

an

The Guardian Australia Which relationships did you find most true to life and why? and to life true most find you did relationships Which Even Dogs in the Wild the in Dogs Even examples few a certainly are there but apparently, sons and relationships. father/son circumstance and blood ofboth The idea of justice as an extension of the male ego might sit might ego male of the extension as an ofjustice idea The

The Washington Times, 0 he. there are all sorts of terri sortsall of are there “Edinburgh is the perfect setting for crime writing, it has a split it has writing, crime for setting perfect isthe “Edinburgh personality feeling is this there thesametime at but royalty, and museums townhouses Georgian of those walls thick the behind that

1. among them? among said, has Rankin Ian did in uneasily relic”. reliable and lovable a as survives Rebus but questioned, reviewer? this with agree you long other to compare Rebus does How Poirot, as Holmes, such writers, by British created detectives differences similarities or more there Are Dalgliesh? or Morse, matter, didn’t justice if it, puts himself Rebus “As you if and, story the in character a was Edinburgh that feel you Did it feeling the about Rankin Ian with agree you do city, the know gives?

Melanie McGrath, Paul Davis,

1 2 4. 3. 2.

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library

3

22/11/15 Even Dogs in the Wild the in Dogs Even Discussion Questions (continued) Discussion Questions One reviewer suggests that the characters in Ian Rankin’s Rankin’s Ian in characters the that suggests reviewer One

The Scotsman,

fiction to “tell the truths the real world can’t”? world real the truths the “tell to fiction 5. alliances, have “they friends, have really don’t stories Rebus and apprentices dear colleagues, professional acquaintances, How long do you think that Rebus will continue to work with the the with work to continue will Rebus that think you do long How end? might story his that imagine you How do police? Edinburgh Is this your first meeting with John Rebus? Do you think that you will you that think you Do Rebus? John with meeting first your this Is series how the in others read have you If why? and more, for back go before? read have you those to compares story this think you do using in interested writer as a himself reveal Rankin Ian does How rivals they have come to respect, but they are all strangely alone.” all strangely are they but respect, to come have they rivals you? for stories the from, subtract or to, add this Does agree? you Do

Stuart Kelly,

Source: Reading Group Guides website 3 Just for fun for Just 8.

6. 7.

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library

the dark, the

an Associates an Associates

“soulless, spiritless middle middle spiritless “soulless,

Reviews

Britain’s bestselling crime novelists without without novelists crime bestselling Britain’s

downs, satisfying plot switchbacks, plot satisfying downs, - he was prepared to take on board criticism that that criticism board on take to prepared was he

– one of one

bad men offing one another would quickly flatline flatline quickly would another one offing men bad

Even Dogs in the Wild the in Dogs Even The Guardian Australia The Guardian wide audience: playful dialogue, peppered with tangy tangy with peppered dialogue, playful audience: wide

Independent book, more conventional copper who appeared to be being being be to appeared copper who conventional more book, - the Once again, Rankin delivers all the elements that have brought him him brought have that elements the all delivers Rankin again, Once a such put beefy and banter

- about parents failing to protect their offspring. their protect to failing parents about

Barry Forshaw,Barry he himself regarded as “boring” intriguing to the reader, but the the but reader, the as “boring”to intriguing regarded himself he set when mix inthe element invaluable an be to proves Fox unassuming was this if wonders One predecessor. different very his to as counterpoint agenda Rankin’s always Ian Whatever mind. in long game a had as he colourful very wasn’t Fox the that pleased be will fans and is back, Rebus reasoning, Rankin’s was. Sinatra’s Frank as temporary as just proving is retirement detective’s from expect to come have we that authority the with is handled ofAllthis to is move masterful particularly One books. Rebus nineteen previous the Fox, Malcolm DI protagonist, male second Rankin’s narrative the into stir by the successor. as Rebus’s groomed a character ofmaking problem the solved quite never Rankin Previously, Rankin didn’t get to be to get didn’t Rankin of tales that knowing between friction the by ticking kept is ticker the Here, heart. a without as a colleague his by characterised Fox, older the and planet”, the on company boring most the from manager Rebus. McGrath, Melanie brooding setting of Edinburgh, and a strong thematic coherence. Plus Plus coherence. thematic strong a and Edinburgh, of setting brooding from title, the including expect, as you’d references, musical song

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library

No, No,

out characters characters out -

and part of him still of him still part and

– fleshed - men like Cafferty Joe and Cafferty like men

– is clearly by an author at the top the at author an by is clearly

eyed descriptions of Edinburgh Edinburgh of descriptions eyed -

Reviews (continued) Reviews

Even Dogs in the Wild the in Dogs Even Even Dogs In The Wild The In Dogs Even

that seems to me to encapsulate the Rankin aesthetic. He He aesthetic. Rankin the encapsulate to me to seems that

The The Scotsman The Sydney Morning Herald Morning The Sydney – Rankin has steadily improved as a writer over the course of his ofhis course the over writer as a improved steadily has Rankin and career flawless, is plotting the and smoothly flows story The game. ofhis well turns.The and twists numerous with Stuart Kelly, Stuart Kelly, this return for Rebus is how Rankin is at his best when he is is he when best his is at Rankin is how Rebus for return this cast. ensemble an choreographing father: his ill to see waiting scene Fox’s during Malcolm line is a There for out reached he’d realism sour father’s washis it it wanted where compromised, and frustrated are good the where world a depicts unpunished. go wicked the where and ofhonour code a have villains the doing things seems … I don't know.’ ‘Last century?' ‘Aye, maybe.’ ‘Aye, century?' ‘Last know.’ don't I … seems things doing Jeff Popple, has he hero as the noble, and as grimy subtle, and as canny novel is a This is brought retired, now Rebus, ofsleuths. pantheon the to introduced to Doyle, Conan to Arthur wink wee a sly detective”, “consulting as a back about thing notable most The Fox. Malcolm and Clarke Siobhan out help The book also contains the usual Rankin trademarks: the use of musical of use musical the trademarks: Rankin usual the alsocontains book The clear evocative, familiar the references, the to feel ismelancholy a also There ofhumour. wry Rankin's sense and the lost, opportunities on Rebus by reflections frequent with story, older: growing and oftime passage though song, long a of end the like feels 'It of way Our legs. last our on We're that. to come metoo, … and Stark are engaging and interesting and the story keeps a tight grip on the the on grip tight a keeps story the and interesting and engaging are twist. dark final the until attention reader's

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library