Book reviews

Mortal Causes
Ian Rankin Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Ian Rankin Books
New book search
Ian Rankin Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Mortal Causes
"It is August during the Edinburgh Festival when Inspector John Rebus is called to investigate a brutally tortured body found hanging in the medieval subterranean streets of Edinburgh. The death looks like an execution which causes Rebus to start investigating radical activists. Even worse, he discovers the victim is the son of one of Edinburgh's most notorious criminal gang leaders, Gerald McCafferty.

Rebus' investigations take him into the slums of Edinburgh and the clubs where white supremicists gather. He begins to suspect a terrorist plot right during the height of tourist season.

This is book 6 in the Inspector Rebus series which follows an investigation which contrasts Edinburgh's tourist locations with the gang areas and slums of the city never seen by the typical tourist."

L. Watson, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Mortal Causes
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).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 20%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30%




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? - 50%
Kind of investigator - police procedural, British
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: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
Ethnicity/Race - British
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - quite fatty

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - small businessman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK

Style
Part of a series? Yes
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths? - 3-4
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to Mortal Causes
Let It Bleed by Ian Rankin
Strip Jack by Ian Rankin
Set in Darkness by Ian Rankin
Past Mortem by Ben Elton
The Dead of Jericho by Colin Dexter


Click here for more information about this book


Ian Rankin Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
L. Watson  

SCHOLARS:
Wendy Taylor  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Funny Videos
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
George W. Bush 3:22:38 AM
Robert Segarra 5:13:47 PM
Deric Longden 3:49:15 PM
Slavomir Rawicz 10:00:34 AM
Karen Armstrong 10:51:40 AM
Anonymous 1:39:52 PM
Suzanne Weyn 6:24:19 PM
Colin Forbes 12:23:54 PM
John Christopher 5:12:45 AM
Tom Clancy 2:19:45 AM
Margaret Peterson Haddix 5:36:55 PM
Nikolai Tolstoy 7:46:16 AM
J.K. Rowling 11:40:22 PM
Jack Higgins 4:54:08 PM
Eloise Jarvis McGraw 12:51:17 PM
Jane Rubino 1:21:00 PM
Lori Wick 2:11:45 AM
Betty Mahmoody 5:57:33 PM
Patricia Cornwell 2:48:17 PM
Andrew Clements 9:13:44 PM

Silicon Valley
More message boards