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| Plot Summary of Hide and Seek |
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"There are two sides of Edinburgh, Scotland. There's the side that tourists see: the city of Grayfriar's Bobby, of the annual Summer Festival, of the quaint pubs and the scenic castle sitting on a hill called Arthur's Throne. Then there's the other side of Edinburgh, the domain of Detective Inspector John Rebus. This Edinburgh is one of boarded up housing tenements inhabited by the hopeless, the city of AIDS ridden junkies and prostitutes, of deals made in back alleys at midnight amid violence and sometimes death.
Inspector Rebus is sent to what appears to be a junkie's death in an abandoned housing estate. The man's body is laid out spread-eagle with Satanic symbols and candles decorating the room. While the other cops are convinced it's just another all-too-familiar overdose victim, Rebus gets the inkling there is more to it than meets the eye. A young female witness is found and tells Rebus that the last words the dead man said were "Hide! Hide!". Assisted by his protegé, Rebus explores the dark side of Edinburgh, seeking justice for a young man too easily dismissed both in life and in death.
Ian Rankin is the best mystery writer I've ever read. The character of Inspector John Rebus is melancholy, brooding, cynical, funny, intelligent, a workaholic and a perfectionist. He's both addicted and repelled by his work. Being a copper has absorbed his entire life. Rankin's style has been described as "Tartan Noir" and the label is fitting. But to think this book and the series it's part of are dreary would be a mistake. Rankin takes the reader to the depths of dark moodiness then surprises with bright flashes of humor. Watch for tongue in cheek touches, such as a detective named Holmes and a superior named Watson. Do yourself a good turn and read not only HIDE & SEEK, but the entire Inspector Rebus series."
Vicky Shultz, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Hide and Seek |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of story
- Dry-cynical
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 80%
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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