What do You think about Resurrection Men (2004)?
This book is definitely a winner. Classic John Rebus, and an excellent book in this wonderful series. This is book number 13 in the series, but it is also a good book for anyone to begin with if they want to sample this series. But I must warn those new dabblers, that this series is seriously addictive. Rebus is always in trouble with the higher-ups so it's not a surprise to find him sent to a retraining group to learn how to be a team player. And it's not a surprise to find out that he got himself sent to this purgatory because of an act of anger which he inflicted on his superior officer. Rebus and five other edge of the fringe cops are living and training together. All of them have flouted authority for most of their careers, and for their sins, have been sent to the police college for some intermediary help to get them back into the mainstream. As a group they are asked to solve an unsolved cold case, and then that's when things get interesting for John Rebus. It's an old case of his that they're working on, and he has some secrets from the case that he doesn't want to get out. But the other five officers also have secrets of their own, and everyone is working to keep his own secrets buried so they will never see the light of day. Of course it doesn't stop there for John. Secrets to him are like an elixir that he must try to uncover, and he always finds himself in dangerous territory once he's on a case. And he has a habit of bringing Siobhan Clarke into the fray with him. I could go on, but I don't want to ruin all the fun for those who haven't read this book yet. And fun it is. This is a wonderful, galloping, page-turner of a book. I loved every minute of it.
—Shirley Schwartz
Another solid outing for everyone's favourite slightly rumpled, dissolute & clever DI. Rebus is sent back to the academy for retraining. It's the last stop on the career ladder for officers who have attitude problems or don't play well with others. Normally, he'd fit right in but this time he's a plant. Several of his classmates are suspected of helping themselves to the spoils of a drug war but the higher-ups have never been able to find the evidence they need. Many have long suspected Rebus of being in the pocket of Big Ger Cafferty & the brass is hoping his reputation will allow him to get close to the bent cops. Back in Edinburgh, new DS Siobhan Clarke has a murder case on her hands. A local art dealer has met his maker & due to his lifestyle, the threads of the investigation stretch out in all directions. She has to take a hard look at sauna houses, galleries, artists, taxi companies & Big Ger, himself. The pressure is on & having a new junior partner, the return of an old colleague & no Rebus aren't helping. And soon there are more bodies.Rebus allows her to think he's actually been sent for "resurrection". As they compare notes, common names start to pop up in both investigations & it's clear they're each dealing with different parts of one big mess. As for playing well with others, well...in the end, they only trust each other & Rebus pays a high price.If you're a fan of this series you don't need this review. You'll pick it up because it's Rebus. He has become one of the most popular & venerated fictional characters for a reason. Reading these books by Rankin is one of the few sure bets out there. He's just that good. The characters he creates always feel like they're flesh & blood & following the reoccurring ones make each book required reading. You get invested in these people & their lives are never static. Their relationships, positions & jobs are always evolving, mirroring real life. The dialogue is tight, witty & each character has a distinctive voice.The plot is intricate & impossible to guess 'til it clicks into place in the final few pages. As usual, it's not only about the current cases but ghosts from previous ones reappear to complicate things. We know Rebus has always coloured outside the lines & some of his past actions threaten to come to light, actions that would not only skupper his undercover work but result in criminal charges. He has to wonder who they're trying to get the dirt on...him or the cops they sicced him on. If he didn't know better, he'd worry about being paranoid. It's a good thing, he jokes to a colleague, that not only does he know where all the bodies are buried but has the photos to prove it.But that's Rebus. Not the most strictly ethical man you'll ever meet but one you'd want in our corner. Typically well plotted, paced & intriguing, this is compulsive reading & you'll resent having to put it down.
—Sandy
The conclusion to this left me wondering.... Rebus finds a solitary place, accepts his lot in life, wipes his hands and gets back on with life. Siobhan finds a listening female ear, begins to offload her burdens but decides eating chocolate is the better way to deal with the stress. A wry observation about the sexes perhaps?These books have become a favourite companion for me at work (minerals processing research). There seems to be something familar about Rebus dogged investigation of fleeting leads amidst the miriad of possibilities withfew resources adn the obstacles of office personalities and organisatinal politics. Inspiring in one way, but sympathy with his dour, somewhat cynical, approach is probably what I enjoy the most.In this story, REbus is sent, inevitably, fo retraining in the hope he can resurrect his career, or at least his attitude, aftre venting his frustration with a cup of tea flung oward the boss. Siobhan is given lead of an investigation into the murder of a local art dealer. both of course end up working together to figure things out, as much as Rebus independet style allows. The retaining cold case exercise allows some skeletons from Rebus past (which I may have missed but understood well enough) to be dredged up to join the usual suspects, such as MG Cafferty.Conintues to be a gret read..
—Angus Mcfarlane
