In a House of Lies

By: Ian Rankin

Narrated by: James Macpherson

Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

In A House of Lies...

Everyone has something to hide.

A missing private investigator is found locked in a car hidden deep in the woods. Worse still - both for his family and the police - the body was in an area that had already been searched 10 years ago.

Everyone has secrets.

Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is part of a new inquiry, combing through the mistakes of the original case. There were always suspicions over how the investigation was handled, and now - after a decade without answers - it's time for the truth.

Nobody is innocent.

Every officer involved must be questioned, and it seems everyone on the case has something to hide - and everything to lose. 

None more so than Detective John Rebus. 

©2018 Ian Rankin (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group Limited

Rebus is back, down but not out!

John is back, full swing. Although, for the first time, we have a true #FemaleProtagonist in Siobhan Clarke, she's matured into a well developed character, a great cop in her own right; there's plenty evidence that she's picked up good and bad traits from Rebus over the years, but she is a more well-rounded human being, less damaged at least, than former DI Rebus. She plays a prominent part in this story and performs well despite having to both look after Rebus and look out for him (coming) to try and avert the havoc he might create. Rebus is still the #TorturedHero in #SmallTown Edinburgh, but he's getting on and the years haven't come alone, however, he deals well enough with his fast approaching decrepitude, finding enough juice left to slay another one or two dragons.
Ian Rankin has written another fine Rebus story, I love Ian's voice and listening to this book was like getting into a favourite chair and sipping a favourite tipple. I very much hope that despite advancing years and serious illness, DI Rebus, retired, still has it in him to damage the bad guys like Big Ger and bring corrupt officials to justice. Long live Rebus. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Changing of the Guard?

Rebus has had such an amazing run, at times I have been spellbound by these audiobooks, some were among the very first that I listened to. Obviously that's part down to the stories and part down to the excellent James Macpherson who I swear must have a teflon coating in his throat to manage doing the rasping Cafferty followed immediately by the smoother tones of other characters. I'll always have a soft spot for this series.

But time and tide wait for no man and even Rebus is finding that old age is catching up on him. Struggling with abstinence and the results of his famous addictions he is now becoming a shadow of his former self but with hints of his old fire he isn't going down easily and he's still the same cunning fox he ever was.

He does now take a back seat for large parts of the book and it's getting slightly more awkward with each passing book for Rankin to shoehorn him into the decisive moments of the story. As a result this one doesn't quite have the intensity or levels of suspense that many of the previous books have generated.

I think I'll be buying these as long as they keep coming out, I love the interactions between Rebus and Cafferty in particular as they grow old quite ungracefully but I think Rankin needs to focus on either the old Rebus or some of his newer characters if he wants to rekindle the pure excitement of the earlier books.

20 of 20 people found this review helpful

Ian Rankin must surely have enjoyed writing this

Great narration as ever. So glad to have Rebus and his sly humour back. A first class romp.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Rebus, Ian Rankin, 'nuff said

Just as it says on the cover. An aging retired Rebus with ailing body but sharp mind. Some characters are new and Rebus is less centre stage but the style is the same. Always interesting and well constructed and populated with three dimentional characters. A well practiced and performed narration although i must admit to some character confusion as the 'man' himself takes a backseat role. Rebus will be a sad loss when he finally serums to his rather dissolute life style and old age.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Rebus should really retire!

I've read or listened to all the Rebus novels and have a soft spot for the old curmudgeon. However, he's now verging on a caricature and I think the time has come for him to leave the detective work to Siobhan Clarke who is a worthy successor for a new series. He retired 12 years ago and it's stretching credibility to keep him working on cases albeit unofficially.
I have a great respect for the author and the high standards of his books, but sadly the present book bored me. I gave up two thirds of the way and would have earlier if I'd had another book downloaded for my walk. There are too many characters to keep track of with a lot of conversations and interviews and not enough story to keep me interested.

The narrator does a terrific job creating lots of Scottish accents some of them painful to the ear!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Back and better then ever

Welcome back to many of the old characters (friends!) and a few new one's.

Loved every minute.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Ok

A bit of a complicated tale with many familiar characters as well as some new’ But still a good listen. Like the dogBrillo

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

DI Clarke to the fore.

Brilliant - Loved the way Rebus was transported into the storyline. Great to see Siobhan leading the way. Once again James Macpherson's narration was first class.

Use your credit on anything else but this book.

The only reason I finished this is that I was hoping it would improve in some way? But it didn’t. The story is old, tired and full of stale cliches. But the performance really let it down, read by one man with a thick Scottish accent - it’s impossible to discern between any of the characters. Who’s speaking now? Has it changed since the person speaking a moment ago? It was impossible to follow the story, ZERO character development. Use your credit on literally anything else but do not buy this book.

Rebus still bouncing back, lighter and fitter.

Another tour de force in the Rebus collection. The narration was excellent, the story, as always brilliant, not much more to say. Just hope we get to see him some more.

Brilliant

Great Story Rebus at his best. Gripped from start to finish. Salt and Sauce class.