Fleshmarket Alley

Inspector Rebus, Book 15

By: Ian Rankin

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Inspector John Rebus has confronted Edinburgh's most hardened criminals, its bloodiest crime scenes, and its most dangerous backstreets, but nothing could have prepared him for what he finds on Fleshmarket Alley.

In the city's red-light district, men live out their sordid fantasies, and women with no other choice sell their bodies to make a buck. It's a neighborhood of lost inhibitions, forgotten scruples, and hopeless dreams. In its seediest clubs, refugees seeking asylum are subjected to the whims of the most ruthless characters in the crime world...men Rebus knows all too well.

Crack another case with Inspector Rebus.

©2005 Ian Rankin (P)2005 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is a superb crime novel, a pivotal entry in a uniformly fascinating series, and a remarkably perceptive analysis of the contemporary immigration dilemma at its most achingly human level." ( Booklist)

Great Story

I really enjoy the Rebus Novels. But, I do not enjoy listening to the narrator read these novels.
I find it distracting to listen to him mispronounce words e.g. "Niaff" , "Irn Bru", place names etc.
As I'm from Scotland these errors jump out at me. Others probably will not find this an issue at all.

Decent entry into the series

This is a good, very timely story regarding the exploitation of immigrants both legal and illegal. Overall though it seems that Rebus and Rankin are just going through the motions waitng for the time they can both retire from the series. Not bad, just not very memorable. In five or seven months I'll probably have to check to see if and when I listened to it.

I love Rebus

I can't say enough about this series. Rankin's writing is simply superb.

I read this book (listened to it) days after the London Bridge attack. The same issue of immigration that's described in this book is still on the front burner in 2017. Very relevant and disturbing.

There are a lot of characters in Rebus life and there are times I have to write them down to keep them straight. I credit listening to the book instead of visually seeing the characters' names as part of my problem. In any case, these characters enrich this long story and make life interesting for John, Siobhan, and the other CID officers they work with. Illegal immigration, slavery, bigotry, and former cases all come into play.

John and DS Clark have to make their home in a new police station and it's not comfortable. They pursue separate cases that just may overlap.

I had to drop a star from my rating because I found the depiction of telephone voices on the audiobook to be distracting.

I'm sorry I discovered this series so late but I'm thankful I don't have to wait to read the next book. Long live Ian Rankin.

Kind of boring

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Better plot and better writing

What was most disappointing about Ian Rankin’s story?

I though the plot was weak and not compelling. Had I not paid for the book, I would have stopped listening to it. I have have other of this series and liked them. This one fell flat.

What about Michael Page’s performance did you like?

He has a great voice and interprets the wording well.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Fleshmarket Alley?

In that I thought it was really boring, I would cut the whole book.

slow moving

In listening to this book I settled into a semi comfortable state of boredom, it was as if the characters and I had been involved in a long stale marriage. You kind of knew them but there was nothing exciting about either them or the story. The villains, such as they were, weren't all that villainous and the ending was more of a dull thud then a surprise. I didn't hate this book but I was glad when it was over and I could get on to something more engrossing.

Small Gripes

Well written & engaging, but...

This book is immigration commentary first and police procedural second. I am ok with the messaging, but it was a little heavy-handed & inartfully executed. I could have done without the slight of hand, and would have preferred police procedural first and immigration commentary second. The mystery should be the main course;

The reader mispronounced returning character "Shug" throughout.

a good book and a good performance in the series

our character seems to stabilize some not quite in the downer mode as before. an interesting plot line with good recurring characters and I really like this audio performance much better than the last one

Michael Page

It is the narration that kept me in this...without Michael Page, the incredible writer, Ian Rankin doe not go good with English speaking audience as the others have such a thick Scottish accent they are indiscernible, Mr. Page makes Inspector Rebus come alive as if you know him personally....

Please keep James Macpherson reading

The Rebus books are so entertaining, full of complex characters and marvelous details -- thanks Rankin.

The stories are terrific and give the reader a great slice of Scotland in general and Edinburgh in particular. This series from audible is hit and miss for me due to the narrator swaps. When Paige reads Rebus titles they sound stilted and disconnected. Paige's accents are off, and his inflection feels too intense for the sarcasm intended. He's certainly good with other books, but does not capture this well series at all.

I recommend the titles with James Macpherson, who just brings the stories to life. An absolute joy to listen to and helps the reader with insights into this complex and oft obsessed detective.