Rather Be the Devil

By: Ian Rankin

Narrated by: James Macpherson

Rebus investigates a cold case that just turned red hot.

As he settles into an uneasy retirement, Rebus has given up his favorite vices. There's just one habit he can't shake: He can't let go of an unsolved case. It's the only pastime he has left, and up until now it's the only one that wasn't threatening to kill him. But when Rebus starts reexamining the facts behind the long-ago murder of a glamorous woman at a luxurious hotel - on the same night a famous rock star and his entourage were also staying there - the past comes roaring back to life with a vengeance.

And as soon as Rebus starts asking questions about the long forgotten crime, a fresh body materializes. His inquiries reunite him with his old pals - Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox - as they attempt to uncover the financial chicanery behind the savage beating of an upstart gangster, a crime that suggests the notorious old school crime boss Big Ger Cafferty has taken to retirement as poorly as Rebus himself.

As he connects the mysteries of the past to those of the present, Rebus learns - the hard way - that he's not the only one with an insatiable curiosity about what happened in that hotel room 40 years ago and that someone will stop at nothing to ensure that the crime remains ancient history.

A twisted tale of power, corruption, and bitter rivalries in the dark heart of Edinburgh, Rather Be the Devil showcases Rankin and Rebus at their unstoppable best.

©2016 Ian Rankin (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"It is sensational...this story truly sings." (Vick Mickunas, Dayton Daily News)

"Rankin's procedurals are strong, well-constructed, page-turning mysteries, and his latest is no exception." (San Francisco Chronicle)

"As always, Rankin delivers some fascinating procedural details, but the heart of the book - and its main appeal to crime-fiction readers - lies in the evolving personal relationships between the three cops and one bad guy. The switching of roles between Rebus and Clark continues to intrigue, but even better is the transformation of Fox from a behind-the-scenes guy...into a real cop working the mean streets." (Booklist)

"For many longtime fans of Rankin's series, James MacPherson IS the voice of Inspector John Rebus, and with good reason. At book Number 21 in the series, MacPherson perfectly blends Rebus’s tough-guy exterior and insecure interior, exposing the complex layers of Rankin's much-loved character.... MacPherson has had plenty of practice perfecting Rebus, and his performance of the supporting characters, especially the antagonists, is superb. With atmosphere, pacing, and authentic emotion, MacPherson makes this audiobook an engrossing listen for old and new fans alike." (AudioFile)

Are drinks really offered at every criminals house?

I love the Rebus books, and this is a decent addition. But thee are some tropes I’ve grown weary of. At least 10 pages of the book must be devoted to people getting drinks and/or biscuits. I know that’s always the case here, but it felt more like he needed to kill pages. I’d also like it if they stopped bringing Ger and Daryl into every case. But maybe it’s the only way to get Rebus involved. Performance was great as always

typically good

love the narrator do with the accent, and the story kept me guessing. a good Ian Rankin.

4 stars

Great narrator. Captivating storyline and in parts quite humorous. I enjoyed this audiobook very much. Couldn't find any holes in the plot, always a good sign.

Top of the line Rebus

This is the only series that I can think of which doesn't just maintain its quality (a rare feat itself), but actually keeps getting better and better.

Great story, great performance

The characters become very real as the story develops, and the performance makes that even better.

The unlikely connections among 3 different investigations make the whole mystery quite fun throughout.

As a longtime John Martyn fan, the songs mentioned in the narration pop into my head, a hallucinatory sound track accompanying the story like cool jazz would in an American noir detective story.

Multiple Characters Makes for Narrator Challenge

This narrator's voice has always been a challenge, but in this novel he's been stretched beyond his abilities I fear. Before it was a delightful color touch to a Scotland based series.

In this case, I turned the narrative speed to 50% and I still struggled This was especially true as we weaved between multiple scenes with varying characters involved. Only in scenes with Clark, Rebus, and Cafferty did I immediately know who was in the room with me. It was terribly disconcerting. I had to flounder for minutes to figure it out. Is this the resder's or the author's fault?

I determined it was the lack of character voices chosen (or not chosen) by the narrator to distinguish them from each other. They sounded so much alike at each scene beginning.

Rankin left several threads unanswered but that is the author's right and I am okay with that.

The usual solid Rebus stuff

What's not to like about it? The characters are familiar; the reader is good, the writing and the story as well.

Layered

This was not a simple book. Lots of subplots to follow. I've read plenty of Rankin's books, and always enjoy them. This probably wasn't my favorite, but it was very entertaining, and I'll be able to listen to it again in a few months and pick up details I missed the first time around.

feedback

typical good read by Ian Rankin
. looking fwd to his next novel. ciao xcc

difficult accent

Any additional comments?

I have enjoyed reading several of the Rebus novels. However the Scot accent of the narrator forces the listener to concentrate on deciphering words and missing comprehension of the story,