THE BEAT GOES ON
By Ian Rankin. Orion. $29.99
The bad news for crime fans is that Ian Rankin has taken a year-long sabbatical from writing, which means no new novel this year. However, on the bright side there is this marvellous collection of short stories.
The Beat Goes On brings together for the first time all of Rankin's Inspector Rebus stories. Some have appeared in earlier collections, but there is also a good selection of new material and stories that have previously only appeared in newspapers or magazines. All are enjoyable and it is interesting to watch the progression of Rebus from his beginnings as a young Detective Constable to his "not quite" retirement in The Very Last Drop. Highly recommended.
POISONED GROUND
By Barbara Nadel. Quercus. $29.99
Nadel has attracted considerable acclaim for her Inspector Ikmen series set in Istanbul and her World War II series featuring London undertaker Francis Hancock. Poisoned Ground is her third book about London private eyes Lee Arnold and Mumtaz Hakim, and is an intelligent crime novel that explores the fractures that can occur in a multi-cultural, multi-religious community.
Arnold and Hakim are hired by Egyptian-born Salwa to investigate the circumstances behind her husband's arrest on terrorism charges. Salwa believes that he has been framed, but when Hakim goes undercover she finds a web of lies and deceptions.
Well written and thoughtful, this is a powerful novel that addresses serious issues and also provides some good thrills.
MISSING
By Sam Hawkens. Serpent's Tail. $19.99
Jack Searle lives in Laredo, Texas, and leads a quiet life as a builder. When one of his half-Mexican stepdaughters goes missing with her cousin over the border in the Mexican town of Nuevo Laredo, Jack tries to engage the local police force. The police, however, are not interested and Jack finds he must take the law into his own hands. As he slowly investigates he comes up against local criminals, corrupt police and a wall of silence and fear.
This is a dark and gritty read that excels in its evocative depiction of the hot and dusty town of Nuevo Laredo, which always bristles with the threat of violence. Not for the faint-hearted.
