It is late autumn in Edinburgh and the final days of police service for Inspector Rebus. Nothing to look forward to and many loose ends to tie up before he retires, Rebus and his sergeant Siobhan attempt to solve the murder of a dissident Russian poet.
I am delighted to tell you that Inspector John Rebus is not killed off but the prospect of his retirement is not a happy one. The man is a very flawed character, so wonderfully depicted by Ian Rankin throughout the series - each book lets you in to another secret about his life - and he faces a lonely retirement. As usual, the story is a cracking yarn that fairly speeds along recounting the events of one week in the investigation.
My artwork is an attempt at a watercolour evoked by the description of Rebus returning at night to his flat.
"Rebus had driven through the silent pre-dawn streets to Marchmont, an eventual parking space, and his second-floor tenement flat. The living room had a bay window, and that was where his chair was. He was promising himself he'd make it as far as the bedroom, but there was a spare duvet behind the sofa just in case. He had a bottle of whisky, too - eighteen- year- old Highland Park, bought the previous weekend with a couple of good hits left in it. Ciggies and booze and a little night music. At one time they would have provided enough consolation, but he wondered if they would sustain him once the job was behind him. What else did he have?"
A jolly good read.
Thank you for stopping by and do feel free to leave a comment - I appreciate them all.
This sounds like a marvelous series. It would be a fun read, I'm sure. A little night music. What images that conjures up!! And your art is right on the money, right down to the booze beside the chair in front of the window. AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteComing from just outside Edinburgh, my mind is whizzing through the streets of the town and finding that parking space !! Love your artwork. A xx
ReplyDeleteOh what a sad moment your piece invokes. After so much excitement of the chase, to be left with nothing....beautifully done :D XXX
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun series filled with some good mystery. Your art is perfect for a lonely man at the end of a hard day...made me smile...sadly!
ReplyDeleteGreat water colour. The view through the window is so good and adds to atmosphere and the rather forlorn feeling in the room. The book sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteJen x
Oh, such an atmospheric water-colour. I keep thinking I should read some Ian Rankin because he seems like a really interesting and clever man when I've seen him on TV. I do enjoy watching crime series or dramas, but not reading crime novels so much; but he does appeal because I sense his characterisation would be good. Great art, Janet and great review. Thank you for sharing! Julie Ann xx #16
ReplyDeleteAfter reading one Rankin years ago I decided he was not for me, but I enjoyed your review and artwork which has a really relaxed feeling.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the synopsis of the book. I love the watercolor and it perfectly depicts the scene your wrote about. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteYour evocative painting really reminds me of my dad when he retired - he didn't hit the bottle but he was definitely lost, without his career it seemed he no longer knew what his purpose was....glad to say he snapped out of that after a year or so of moping and started to really enjoy his retirement :) Glad you enjoyed the book and that it inspired such a moving piece of art
ReplyDeleteHow about a painting of Rufus' face and enter the 29 Faces?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read, he looks a little lonely in your artwork, but at least he's comfy in that chair.
ReplyDeletePerfect artwork for the story which I found unbrearably sad (this is one of my favourite series). You'll have to watch out for the new Rebus story....Ian Rankin has brought him out of retirement..yay!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs xx
Sounds like an interesting book. Love your watercolor. :)
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