Gold Dagger-winner and best-selling author in the United Kingdom, Ian Rankin crafts absorbing crime novels with solidly drawn characters and first-rate plotting. In Strip Jack, he portrays a shocking murder investigation that exposes the sordid side of Edinburgh politics and society. Detective John Rebus suspects a set-up when a respected Member of Parliament is caught in a police raid on a brothel-and his flamboyant wife suddenly disappears. After the woman's badly beaten body shows up, it becomes Rebus' job to find the killer. Is the MP really self-destructing as circumstances suggest? Or is a bitter enemy out to get him? Suddenly Rebus finds himself facing off with a cunning killer who holds all the cards. Narrator Samuel Gillies' well-paced performance underscores all the tension in this intriguing read.
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"I'm reluctant to add this kind of book for fear the book snobs who are my friends will laugh at me for reading schlack instead of "litrature" (please use the English pronunciation when you say this in your mind), but this was a pretty good medium between the two. Ian Rankin was recommened to me by Barry, my Dallas/Baltimore/Philly "whatcha readin' these days" guy who usually has his nose in some non-fiction that would put me to sleep. However, this author reminds me why I always think British people are just smarter than Americans. They use puns, they reference literature in everyday discussions (at least the characters do, but it's lit nerds reading writings from other lit nerds, right?), and they have a lot of fun writing semi-seriously about pop subjects. Just plain fun with a recurring character, Inspector Rebus, to boot."
— Brent (4 out of 5 stars)
“Ian Rankin is up there among the best crime novelists at work today.”
— Michael Connelly“A police procedural for readers weary of those stuffy cops who lack a sense of humor and spirit…Rankin gives his inspector a refreshing personality.”
— San Francisco Chronicle“A solidly absorbing procedural—all enlivened by a succession of offbeat characters and by the author's eccentric but appealing narrative style.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Ian Rankin, you cannot go wrong.”
— The Boston Globe" Even when this tale in the continuing adventures of Edinburgh's Inspector John Rebus gets bogged down in political exposition and paragraphs of political explanation, the tenacity and doggedness of the main character continues to make the story about victims and people. Straying from the by the numbers procedural seems to get Ian Rankin's prose into some convoluted narratives, but Rebus is such a great character, it makes it all worthwhile. "
— Beausephus, 2/12/2014" Inspector Rebus is an SOB but I like the setting (edinburgh) and the supporting characters. I'm in an Ian Rankin phase. "
— Carrie, 2/7/2014" Another fast one. A bit obvious ending though, this time. "
— Karis, 1/23/2014" Another good read, The plots of these books are becoming much more rounded and intricate as the author obviously matured and for want of a better word "improved". I enjoy reading the introduction that Ian Rankin has written it truly does enhance the experience for me to know his situation and his thinking at the time of writing them. It has been fascinating to see the character of John Rebus uncurl through these books and to meet the characters. The crime is there at the kernel but the personalities are for me what make the books such fun to read. Mr Rankin is very fond of his puns and as a pun lover myself I see where he is coming from - some of them do make your toes curl though :-) I am now away to buy the next one. "
— Diane, 1/23/2014" The Rebus novels get better the further along you get in the series. The early ones chase the puns a bit too much. "
— Dawn, 1/19/2014" An excellent rollercoaster of a book, lots of twists and turns, some well drawn characters and shot through with humour. The Rebus character continues to grow and become even more curmudgeonly. The peripheral characters are becoming more fleshed out and absorbing too. "
— Godzilla, 1/17/2014" It's not been my favourite read so far in the series but Ian Rankin is a great crime writer and even this book was a good read. "
— Deborah, 1/13/2014" Every once in a while, I've got to read a Rankin. What can I say? "
— Marian, 12/19/2013" I'm really getting into the mysteries these days, and Ian Rankin's Rebus novels are like candy--can't get enough. I'm trying to read the older ones first so I can watch the character evolve. "
— Kendra, 12/9/2013" Firs of the Rebus series when the character starts to take on the full depths of later outings. The early books are less formed but vital in understanding the characters background and history. "
— Kim, 10/27/2013" As they say in Scottish: "Aye geeet yer heeed eyntoo dah hea weeee booohk"! "
— Amy, 10/13/2013" Loved this, well paced, well written. I'm getting to know Rebus a little bit now and I like him! I particularly enjoyed the way Rankin breaks down the characters in this story, starting you off on one footing with them but then seeing their true colours gradually showing through. Excellent. "
— Jen, 5/22/2013" Interesting mystery and police procedural. The press hound a Scottish MP when he is found in a brothel. His wife subsequently goes missing. Rebus investigates. "
— Lara, 4/20/2013" He is a great detective writer. His hero Rebus is a character who is all too human and very likeable. "
— Philip, 3/10/2013" Very good. Not Rankins best, but very good indeed. "
— Böðvar, 3/4/2013" This is the first Rebus book to really hit stride. The plot is convoluted, but seems to grow organically from one bad decision to the next. All the characters are rounded. I really enjoyed this book. "
— Alex, 12/27/2012" My least favourite Rebus book so far. "
— Brandon, 12/23/2012" A good mystery with all the classes well represented,especially the types that attended prep schools "
— Nancy, 12/6/2012" good read. I am a Rebus fan! "
— Robert, 10/16/2012" good mystery. Great British humor which I love. "
— Ami, 5/19/2012" Not the best of the John Rebus books, but still enjoyable. I had a hard time keeping up with the nicknames of the suspects. "
— Buddy, 3/18/2012" These books are all very well written so far. However, I probably won't read them again and the mysteries aren't so amazing that I find myself enraptured by every page. Hence the 3/5 so far. "
— Vi, 12/16/2011" Inspector Rebus gets involved in a raid that inevitable leads to his having to solve a murder that involves a cast of characters who are all old school chums, all while dealing with personal matters that police work always keeps him from focusing on. "
— Charles, 11/28/2011" I liked the story and thw fact that it was so coooplicated! But I prefer Gill above Patience :P "
— Anna, 10/30/2011" Rankin wird von Buch zu Buch besser; ich liebe seinen feinen Humor! "
— Diana, 9/22/2011" A good mystery with all the classes well represented,especially the types that attended prep schools<br/> "
— Nancychapman, 8/20/2011" I liked the story and thw fact that it was so coooplicated! But I prefer Gill above Patience :P "
— Anna, 7/30/2011" Did not enjoy this book as much as the rest of the Rebus series but did like the way Rankin put more scottish words and phrases in the story - made it more authentic and believable. "
— Elizabeth, 7/23/2011" Bah humbug! It was a typically OK story, BUT the author left an inconclusive ending. VERY ANNOYING. Like he himself could not figure out why the murderer did it. BLAH! Skip this one. Save your reading time. "
— Irene, 7/16/2011" Another fast one. A bit obvious ending though, this time. "
— Karis, 7/6/2011" I'm really getting into the mysteries these days, and Ian Rankin's Rebus novels are like candy--can't get enough. I'm trying to read the older ones first so I can watch the character evolve. "
— Kendra, 5/26/2011" Not up to his usual standard. Found it slow and didn't bother finishing it. "
— Juliedon, 4/30/2011" A decent fourth entry in the John Rebus series of novels by Ian Rankin. I liked it more than the third book,Tooth and Nail, but not as much as the first two, Knots and Crosses and Hide and Seek. "
— Brian, 4/29/2011" Firs of the Rebus series when the character starts to take on the full depths of later outings. The early books are less formed but vital in understanding the characters background and history. "
— Kim, 2/6/2011" Pretty good, a little formulaic, and I miss Rebus' introspection. It seems to come and go depending on the plot of the book. "
— astrangerhere, 12/28/2010" Another well written Rebus mystery. also a good movie. Overall I think I prefer Ken Stott's Rebus to John Hannah, although they do each have something different to offer. "
— Bill, 11/12/2010" Ian Rankin is always such a quick and highly enjoyable read... "
— Andrea, 9/25/2010" Politics rears its ugly head...again...another great Rankin read. "
— Kathy, 9/12/2010Ian Rankin, a New York Times bestselling author, is the recipient of an Edgar Award, a Gold Dagger for fiction, and a Chandler-Fulbright Fellowship.
Sam Gillies is an experienced audiobook narrator whose titles include A Fearsome Doubt, Legacy of the Dead, Let It Bleed, Wings of Fire, and others.