Standing in Another Man's Grave

By: Ian Rankin

Narrated by: James Macpherson

Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins

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

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

an excellrnt mystery!

Would you listen to Standing in Another Man's Grave again? Why?

Its hard to andwer this question when the book is a mystery. I know the ending!!i

What did you like best about this story?

The charscters were very believable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I want to read more of this author

Clever, good lead character.

Any additional comments?

It's a bit confusing at points - hard to tell all of those names apart and I found myself rewinding a lot. The reader is fine and the plot engaging, although not as emotionally engaging as I would have liked. I love the wit, intelligence and rebellion of the main character though, and it was enough to keep me interested all the way through. I might try another in this series sometime. More of a Denise Mina fan, but this was pretty good.

Happy to have Rebus back

What made the experience of listening to Standing in Another Man's Grave the most enjoyable?

The Scots accent for Rebus that I cannot reproduce in my head if just reading

If you’ve listened to books by Ian Rankin before, how does this one compare?

Top 10, but maybe the mystery itself isn't as developed and tangled as he usually does it, so not a top 5. But the joy of having Rebus back and exploring another stage of his life (retirement) make this definitely worth a credit if you are already a fan.

Any additional comments?

Much better than Rankin's recent Complaints books; he is on firm ground with his old characters here.

Another great Rebus book

Would you listen to Standing in Another Man's Grave again? Why?

Maybe someday when I go back through the Rebus series. It has been great.

Any additional comments?

Great series from a great author. I love to hear of all the places in Scotland and having the narrator be Scottish is a bonus. Love to hear the book with a Scottish accent.

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!

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

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.

Maybe it is just me, not particularly compelling

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Pretty good police procedural. But it did not seem compelling to me. I am having trouble remembering the other Rebus books, but my recollection is they were more compelling, and that the Rebus character resonated with me a lot more. He did not seem very complex this time. Just drank and smoked a lot. Narrator had an authentic Scottish accent to my ear. Which means in part, he was relatively hard to understand. The Scandanavian thrillers are blowing things like this book away, it seems to me.

Would you be willing to try another book from Ian Rankin? Why or why not?

I have read other of the Rebus books. I think I basically like them.

What aspect of James Macpherson’s performance would you have changed?

I would just as soon books be read in a regular American English accent. I had to concentrate to understand the narrator, just as I have to do in Scotland!

Did Standing in Another Man's Grave inspire you to do anything?

Not that I recall.

Any additional comments?

No additional comments. I will probably listen to other Rebus books.

Superb Scottish thriller complete with the accent

I loved the twists of political intrigue in telling of the detective work in cold cases set in Scotland. The narration brought joy to my ears having grown up with Scottish brogue in my home, but I admit that some might find it harder to listen.