• Standing in Another Man's Grave

  • By: Ian Rankin
  • Narrated by: James Macpherson
  • Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (475 ratings)

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Standing in Another Man's Grave  By  cover art

Standing in Another Man's Grave

By: Ian Rankin
Narrated by: James Macpherson
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Publisher's summary

In book 20 of the series, John Rebus returns to investigate the disappearances of three women from the same road over 10 years.

For the last decade, Nina Hazlitt has been ready to hear the worst about her daughter's disappearance. But with no sightings, no body, and no suspect, the police investigation ground to a halt long ago, and Nina's pleas to the cold case department have led her nowhere.

Until she meets the newest member of the team: former Detective John Rebus.

Rebus has never shied away from lost causes - one of the many ways he managed to antagonize his bosses when he was on the force. Now he's back as a retired civilian, reviewing abandoned files. Necessary work, but it's not exactly scratching the itch he feels to be in the heart of the action.

Two more women have gone missing from the same road where Sally Hazlitt was last seen. Unlike his skeptical colleagues, Rebus can sense a connection - but pursuing it leads him into the crosshairs of adversaries both old and new.

Rebus may have missed the thrill of the hunt, but he's up against a powerful enemy who's got even less to lose.

On the 20th anniversary of Ian Rankin's first American publication comes an audiobook bursting with the vitality and suspense that made its author one of crime fiction's most dazzling stars. Standing in Another Man's Grave is the triumphant return of John Rebus, and a riveting story of sin, redemption, and revenge.

©2013 Ian Rankin (P)2012 Hachette

What listeners say about Standing in Another Man's Grave

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Rebus is back!

I was so excited when I saw that Ian Rankin was resurrecting John Rebus. This one was as good as the previous series which were uniformly excellent. I love the descriptions of Scotland and it's people, the story itself, and the narration was excellent.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

another good Rebus

This is my 10th Ian Ranking book so I must like him. I visited Edinburgh, Scotland in the last year, where Rankin's John Rebus detective stories are set, and it was good recognizing some of the locales. This one was also set in Inverness and clear up to the northern coast of Scotland so there were lots of descriptions of the Scottish landscape and weather. The narrator in this book had a real Scottish brogue and in in the beginning it was a bit bothersome to understand what he was saying but it didn't take long to get into a groove and the Scottish became OK. But in the end, it's the John Rebus character that pulls you in, like most protagonists do in stories you like. Rebus is retired now but he's back in helping on some old cold cases when he comes across one involving some missing women that becomes really involved and he's right in the middle of it. Many of his old colleagues keep reminding him that he didn't always follow the rules, he smokes, he drinks too much, he doesn't exercise, his diet is terrible, all of the above but he still doggedly works the case just like he did before retiring. I really like the thoughts he has to himself about getting older, retiring, what to do with the rest of his life, maybe because I'm that age myself. Anyway, I enjoyed it, got through ti quickly, and recommend it to anyone that likes crime thrillers. Enjoy!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Rebus at His Best!

As a long time Rebus fan, I was happy to see a "post-retirement" Rebus return. This latest entry is probably my favorite Rebus - a solid performance with all the right characters, an excellent mystery, and some nice twists along the way. Listening to this book was better than reading it as James Macpherson's voice was a pleasure - all the accents were exactly as they should have been, neither forced nor exaggerated. Five stars all around, a great listen and another hit from Ian Rankin.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Welcome back, Rebus

Rebus is back and in rare form. The story is classic Ian Rankin and the narration by James Macpherson added greatly to my overall enjoyment of the book. Fans of the series won't be disappointed

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Warts and All

I'm so glad that Ian Rankin brought Rebus back. What's not to love about John Rebus? Yes he's flawed but aren't we all? But he at least tries. Tries to quit smoking, tries to quit drinking and tries to get along with the pencil pushers. I only wish more of his colleagues appreciated his take no prisoners approach to solving crimes. Although, in this case it's an old crime...
I like a lot of the European authors, if you do, check out Jo Nesbo's "Harry Hole" series

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not on the edge of my seat

I must have missed something along the way because I could not get caught up in this story. Yes, the Scottish accent was a challenge, especially at first, but once I got used to it I still could not care about what happened next in the story. This was my first Ian Rankin book and, because of the positive reviews, I expected a lot more in the way of plot, characters and use of language. I'm afraid I've been spoiled by Adrian McKinty's books, every single one of which I've listened to (except the YA ones), and Rankin just doesn't compare.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

ugh

What would have made Standing in Another Man's Grave better?

someone else reading it. Can not listen to the accent!

What do you think your next listen will be?

some one that speaks better english

How could the performance have been better?

yes

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment

Any additional comments?

i would not get another one of these books if the guy reading is in the dialect he speaks.
horrid

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Story in Great Setting!

This is my first Ian Rankin audio book,and it was a fun listen. How have I missed Rankin for this long. I love a good mystery with great characters and setting. This fits the requirement perfectly. The trips through upper Scotland were as interesting as the mystery. I even did some internet searches of the places that were described so well. I also enjoy hearing the correct pronunciation of beautiful Gaelic words and places.

If I was a missing girl, I would want Detective John Rebus looking for me. He kept the momentum going even when other detectives wanted him out of the picture. He is an old-school detective with the Complaints Dept. following his every move. Ian Rankin must have a great sense of humor as I found that Rebus has some funny quips and comebacks throughout the book. The story is a straight mystery and not a thriller. The mystery was very interesting, but in the end, I felt the clues were not there to allow someone to figure it out themselves. With that said, I still loved the story and look forward to many Ian Rankin / John Rebus books in my future.

The narrator, James McPherson, has a beautiful sounding Scottish brogue. However, sometimes I had problems understanding the narration and had to listen to several chapters a second time. It was still enjoyable though.

Overall, listening to this audio book was a great experience.



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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Rebus gets better and better

Sure he is older but his instincts and worldview are unchanged. Rankin has a winner here and I hope he keeps it up.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Return to solid form

A very solid "Rebus" story, confirming Ian Rankin very much back to form after the somewhat disappointing Malcolm Fox books. A well constructed plot, with some interesting new villains emerging - seeds for future stories? - and two well-past-their prime main characters including of course Rebus himself. He's the scruffy character steeped in IPA and cigarettes, in his element in the thick bluish smoke haze of bar rooms in old British pubs. James Macpherson's narration is superb, although some may find the Scottish brogue a little thick - I thought it was 5 stars.

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