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Publication
Minotaur Books (2008), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 288 pages
Description
At night the summer sky stays light over Edinburgh. But in a shadowy, crumbling housing development, a junkie lies dead of an overdose, his bruised body surrounded by signs of Satanic worship. John Rebus could call the death and accident but won't. Instead, he tracks down a violent-tempered young woman who knew the dead boy and heard him cry out his terrifing last words: "Hide! Hide!" Now, with the help of a bright, conflicted young detective, Rebus is following the girl through a brutal world of bad deals, bad dope and bad company.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Lman
At once a homage to, and a tongue-in-cheek poke at, famous and much-loved literary characters, this second instalment of Rebus, Hide & Seek, delivers another appealing tale, ingenious in the construction with its prominent The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde inference; from the quotation at
John Rebus, possibly resulting from events in Knots & Crosses has finally been promoted to Detective Inspector; and while this has rather improved his professional circumstances, his personal life is as much a mess as ever. Called to the discovery of a body in the housing estate area of Pilmuir, at the beginning of his working week, Rebus is unable to accept the death as a simple drug overdose, due to the specifics of the case. Meanwhile his new superior, Chief Superintendent Watson has corralled Rebus into being the face of his latest anti-drug campaign, funded by some notable, local businessmen - a very reluctant poster-boy at that. By Tuesday Rebus has chosen methodical Detective Constable Brian Holmes to aid him in his investigation of this death in the Edinburgh squats, while simultaneously rubbing shoulders with the elite of Edinburgh society. And inevitably, these contrasting arenas begin to merge into one murky mass of depravity until, at the end of the week the split personality of this city – the sordid underbelly of cultured, upper-class Scottish elegance - is exposed, in all its moral reprehensibility.
This episode, distilled within a total of six consecutive working days, is really quite a clever creation. Along with the entire basis of the plot alluding constantly to Jekyll and Hyde, the naming of Rebus’ associates is almost flippant, providing a lighter timbre to what is, in actuality, quite a dark and disturbing tale. Added to this are the tangential intrigues in this narrative, and while peripheral to the main premise, they are noteworthy in themselves. And there is no doubting the overall deliberate intent; the ending calculated to provide, unambiguously, a stark denunciation and condemnation – a grim reflection - on parts of our culture, even today.
And again the author shows his considerable writing skill with another fast, graceful read. As for Rebus, his character continues to mature; his elevation in the ranks allows his considerable talents to expand, albeit in direct contrast to the decline in his personal happiness - his own worst enemy in that regard. The quintessential police detective - his multifarious character subtly flawed and suitably driven - I find I must reluctantly agree with his colleagues’ conclusions: "Rebus was a bastard after all." (p.97)
I, on the other hand, can live with that!
(May 6, 2009)
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the start of the book to the resolute comparisons within the vibrant, urban environs of Ian Rankin’s home - Edinburgh. And from the first word… “Hide!”John Rebus, possibly resulting from events in Knots & Crosses has finally been promoted to Detective Inspector; and while this has rather improved his professional circumstances, his personal life is as much a mess as ever. Called to the discovery of a body in the housing estate area of Pilmuir, at the beginning of his working week, Rebus is unable to accept the death as a simple drug overdose, due to the specifics of the case. Meanwhile his new superior, Chief Superintendent Watson has corralled Rebus into being the face of his latest anti-drug campaign, funded by some notable, local businessmen - a very reluctant poster-boy at that. By Tuesday Rebus has chosen methodical Detective Constable Brian Holmes to aid him in his investigation of this death in the Edinburgh squats, while simultaneously rubbing shoulders with the elite of Edinburgh society. And inevitably, these contrasting arenas begin to merge into one murky mass of depravity until, at the end of the week the split personality of this city – the sordid underbelly of cultured, upper-class Scottish elegance - is exposed, in all its moral reprehensibility.
This episode, distilled within a total of six consecutive working days, is really quite a clever creation. Along with the entire basis of the plot alluding constantly to Jekyll and Hyde, the naming of Rebus’ associates is almost flippant, providing a lighter timbre to what is, in actuality, quite a dark and disturbing tale. Added to this are the tangential intrigues in this narrative, and while peripheral to the main premise, they are noteworthy in themselves. And there is no doubting the overall deliberate intent; the ending calculated to provide, unambiguously, a stark denunciation and condemnation – a grim reflection - on parts of our culture, even today.
And again the author shows his considerable writing skill with another fast, graceful read. As for Rebus, his character continues to mature; his elevation in the ranks allows his considerable talents to expand, albeit in direct contrast to the decline in his personal happiness - his own worst enemy in that regard. The quintessential police detective - his multifarious character subtly flawed and suitably driven - I find I must reluctantly agree with his colleagues’ conclusions: "Rebus was a bastard after all." (p.97)
I, on the other hand, can live with that!
(May 6, 2009)
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LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
#2 in the series featuring Inspector John Rebus. In this installment, John Rebus is called in to investigate the death of a drug addict in a dilapidated flat in one of the worst parts of Edinburgh. He notices a lot of strange things right away, and shares his findings his fellow officers who do not
The mystery is solid, and the message the reader is left with is no surprise, but I'm still not sure that Rankin (at this juncture -- I haven't read any others but the first in the series) has a handle on exactly who he wants Rebus to become characterwise. His personal life is a bit of a mystery and he dislikes interacting with other policemen unless he feels an absolute need, And although this book is listed as a police procedural, I'm not sure that's entirely accurate. I also have to note that the ending was a bit rushed and a little unsatisfying.
Overall the book was good -- I love the way Rankin writes, and Rebus is so enigmatic that I have to keep reading the series to see what happens with his character. Definitely recommended for readers of UK crime fiction.
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seem to care. It's just another OD. The victim's girlfriend, however, says that the last thing he said was "Hide..." and that "they" murdered him. Rebus' investigation takes him into both the seamy side of Edinburgh as well as its social heights. The mystery is solid, and the message the reader is left with is no surprise, but I'm still not sure that Rankin (at this juncture -- I haven't read any others but the first in the series) has a handle on exactly who he wants Rebus to become characterwise. His personal life is a bit of a mystery and he dislikes interacting with other policemen unless he feels an absolute need, And although this book is listed as a police procedural, I'm not sure that's entirely accurate. I also have to note that the ending was a bit rushed and a little unsatisfying.
Overall the book was good -- I love the way Rankin writes, and Rebus is so enigmatic that I have to keep reading the series to see what happens with his character. Definitely recommended for readers of UK crime fiction.
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LibraryThing member nakmeister
Rebus book 3
A dead junkie is found in an Edinburgh squat, and no one sees the death as anything more than a drug overdose, everyone except Rebus. When no one else cares, Rebus takes an interest in the citizens of Edinburgh’s underbelly, convinced that this was no simple accident…
I really
A dead junkie is found in an Edinburgh squat, and no one sees the death as anything more than a drug overdose, everyone except Rebus. When no one else cares, Rebus takes an interest in the citizens of Edinburgh’s underbelly, convinced that this was no simple accident…
I really
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enjoyed this Rebus book, and was hooked from very near the start! I've given it 8 out of 10, which is probably about right, though it's very difficult to individually rate a book that's part of a series, like the Rebus books. Show Less
LibraryThing member dh-writer
Excellent. Inspector Rebus is on a case where there is no case. Just threads that intersect and trip over themselves. A dead junkie. A new partner. A new boss. High flyers. And low flyers. The story moves right along and is a quick, satisfying read. I bet you can't guess the ending. And be sure to
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read the intro if you are a Rebus fan. Show Less
LibraryThing member Darrol
A novel that justifies the Tartan Noir label. Still the ending is a little unsatisfactory.
LibraryThing member Heptonj
This has got to be the best Inspector Rebus book yet. Well written, unputdownable and leaves you wanting more.
Inspector Rebus gets involved with two opposites in society after the murder of a drug addict, but the real 'sleaze' comes from the upper members of the elite including police officers,
Inspector Rebus gets involved with two opposites in society after the murder of a drug addict, but the real 'sleaze' comes from the upper members of the elite including police officers,
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lawyers, judges etc. One or two of his colleagues aren't what they seem and neither are the 'scum'. This tale is one you would like to think would end properly in the real world but leaves you with the distinct impression that it probably wouldn't. Excellent. Show Less
LibraryThing member marek2009
Far, far better than the 1st Rebus novel. A compelling mystery about a dead smack addict & an underground boxing club.
LibraryThing member Romonko
No one knows his city like John Rebus (Ian Rankin's detective). He knows all the good things and the things that tourists like to see, but he also knows the seedy and secretive things. These are things that occur in the hidden alleys and bolt holes throughout the city. In this book, even John Rebus
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is surprised at what he discovers when he starts to investigate a junkie's death. The man appeared to die of a drug overdose, but it turned out to be murder, and the investigation took Rebus to places he'd never been before. These books are extremely well-written, but they are hard-hitting and definitely darker than the average UK police procedural. But it kept my interest piqued, and I will certainly continue to read this excellent series. Show Less
LibraryThing member the.ken.petersen
I have read most of the Rebus books in an ad hoc order based upon what the local library had upon their shelves. This book must either have been so popular that it was always loaned out, or so unpopular that they did not bother to hold a copy.
Having read it as part of my quest to read/re-read the
The story here is of a drugs over dose but, was it self inflicted, or was it murder? I am dubious that a real police force would have the time to investigate such a circumstance but, if one lets this pass, the story hangs together well. In the end, of course, Rebus gets his man: or does he?
Having read it as part of my quest to read/re-read the
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Rebus novels in order, I would understand the former but find the latter to be a monumental error on the part of the librarian. Rebus continues to grow into the character that we know and love in his later exploits. The affair with Gill Templar has cooled and the early signs of Rebus' fight with 'the booze' are in evidence. I suspect that Rankin must have had a life plan for Rebus before the books were written. This has the advantage of giving us a detective who develops: he is not, like some of his famous counterparts, stuck at one age through the decades and his weaknesses swell and fade with a believable rhythm again in contrast to certain detectives.The story here is of a drugs over dose but, was it self inflicted, or was it murder? I am dubious that a real police force would have the time to investigate such a circumstance but, if one lets this pass, the story hangs together well. In the end, of course, Rebus gets his man: or does he?
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LibraryThing member Joycepa
The second in the Detective Rebus series. Rebus has been promoted to Inspector.
A dead junkie--looks like a straightforward case of overdose. But the discovery of the body becomes a baffling case with too many clues, too much information--leading nowhere.
Another tightly written novel with excellent
Highly recommended.
A dead junkie--looks like a straightforward case of overdose. But the discovery of the body becomes a baffling case with too many clues, too much information--leading nowhere.
Another tightly written novel with excellent
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plotting and good characterization, with Edinburgh a distinctive background. Rankin's writing is superior.Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member smik
A junkie lies dead in an Edinburgh squat, spreadeagled, cross-like on the floor, between two burned-down candles, a five-pointed star daubed on the wall above. Just another dead addict - until John Rebus begins to chip away at the indifference, treachery, deceit and sleaze that lurks behind the
Ian Rankin introduced us to John Rebus in KNOTS & CROSSES in 1987. In HIDE & SEEK he's recently been promoted to Detective Inspector. He's still a bit of an unknown to the readers, but we are beginning to appreciate that he is willing to follow his nose, to take the dangerous path, and in HIDE & SEEK he does just that. To Rebus, the social status of the dead doesn't really matter. He just wants to get at the truth.
I don't usually read or listen to abridged books, but this was lent by a friend. Bill Paterson does an excellent job of portraying a variety of voices. I always ask myself with the abridged books, what it is that was left out. I suspect that in this case it was a considerable amount of descriptive text.
One of the nice features about this recording though was the considerable foreword by the author Ian Rankin in which he explained the struggle he had to begin publishing in his work, as well as some of the changes he had already made in the Rebus character by this, the second novel in the series.
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facade of the Edinburgh familiar to tourists. Only Rebus seems to care about a death which looks more like a murder every day, about a seductive danger he can almost taste, appealing to the darkest corners of his mind . . .Ian Rankin introduced us to John Rebus in KNOTS & CROSSES in 1987. In HIDE & SEEK he's recently been promoted to Detective Inspector. He's still a bit of an unknown to the readers, but we are beginning to appreciate that he is willing to follow his nose, to take the dangerous path, and in HIDE & SEEK he does just that. To Rebus, the social status of the dead doesn't really matter. He just wants to get at the truth.
I don't usually read or listen to abridged books, but this was lent by a friend. Bill Paterson does an excellent job of portraying a variety of voices. I always ask myself with the abridged books, what it is that was left out. I suspect that in this case it was a considerable amount of descriptive text.
One of the nice features about this recording though was the considerable foreword by the author Ian Rankin in which he explained the struggle he had to begin publishing in his work, as well as some of the changes he had already made in the Rebus character by this, the second novel in the series.
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LibraryThing member Joybee
Good book. A street kid is found dead, presumably of an over dose, in an abandoned building used as a squat. A pentagram is painted on the wall and the body is splayed between two candles. Could this be witch craft or satanism? The autopsy finds that the heroine the victim used was laced with rat
The Rebus books are not fast reads, the action is slow and builds weaving an intricate plot. The endings can be kind of dark, and Rebus is slightly depressing, yet you really start to feel for him. A good series so far.
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poison,yet the heroine found at the scene was clean. Something does not sit right with Rebus, and he won't drop this case as an unfortunate accident. Why was the boy given poison, who wanted him dead, what did he know? The Rebus books are not fast reads, the action is slow and builds weaving an intricate plot. The endings can be kind of dark, and Rebus is slightly depressing, yet you really start to feel for him. A good series so far.
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LibraryThing member Peppuzzo
Hide is a noun. And in it, the secret of a murder is hidden. Rebus fails to find it, since he sees too many things in Hide, the verb and the name, for instance. So, instead of trying to make connection between different events, Rebus has to separate the stories and simplify apperances. Rebus is
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older, without a woman, and does not listen any more to alternative rock, but only to some anonymous jazz. His alcoholism is genuine, but despites the age he is still the good guy seeking the truth in the corrupted city. Links between characters are as unrealistic as ridicolous, and the book gives enough clues for the reader to understand everything about page 100. The most erotic moment is the discovery of the picture of one of the characters, naked. If you would get some thoughts after reading that, please consult your shrink. But that's Edinburgh, not Vigata or Barcelona. If Rebus would have met, only once, with Pepe Carvalho, he would have seen what he missed in life. Show Less
LibraryThing member -Eva-
After reading this second book in the series about Rebus, I am officially a fan. The plot is very suspenseful and the shady characters are extremely shady, although it's a great guessing-game which ones are and which ones aren't the baddies (and which ones are a bit of both). Rankin has a brilliant
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ear for dialogue and his characters are one-of-a-kind, not only in their personalities, but in their actions, their outlook, and their humor, which is my preference when it comes to stories - I can live with a hazy plot as long as the characters are as solid as they are here. The literary theme is even stronger in this installment too with a plot which parallels Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Edinburgh's dual nature (a real-life one, by the way) is developed even further. Show Less
LibraryThing member miketopper
great detective novel set in scotland
LibraryThing member Jiraiya
One of those blooming books that I don't have much to say about. This book was like a page torn out of a recipe book about how to make a sizzle with no steak. I could have rated it a 2 or 3, it felt like that to me. Shimmering, ethereal. I'm giving it a 1 because at one point(no pun) I really
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thought about scrapping this book. Also, the ending is gripping but the characters are too ghostly to flesh out. I can't explain it better. Show Less
LibraryThing member majkia
Marginally better than the first book of the series, the author seems to still be attempting to define Rebus, and currently using most of the usual tropes to do so.
The mystery was all over the place, with Rebus chasing shadows rather than bothering to think things through.
Character development is
The mystery was all over the place, with Rebus chasing shadows rather than bothering to think things through.
Character development is
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minimal. Show Less
LibraryThing member mahallett
i first read knots and crosses and couldn't understand how tis guy got published let alone famous. it was such a downer. knots and crosses was much better. rebus is still depressed and drinks too much but functions better. i liked the book better than the ending, but then i always do in mystries.
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the ending never seems to justify all the trouble. Show Less
LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: Rebus gets involved in the world of drugs, fight clubs and Satanic worship, predicated by the discovery of the beaten body of a young man. He is also struggling with his relationship with his brother.
Review:This is a gritty, police procedural that lays open the not-so-pretty side of
Review:This is a gritty, police procedural that lays open the not-so-pretty side of
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Edinburgh. The narrative wanders a bit, providing much more detail of the areas than is really necessary. Show Less
LibraryThing member olegalCA
Didn't enjoy this one as much as the first Rebus book. I hope they get better!
LibraryThing member mstrust
In the second book of the Inspector Rebus series, Rebus checks out the death scene of a junkie in an Edinburgh squat. There are aspects that look ritualistic, from the placement of the body, the candles, the drawing on the wall, though it's also clear the deceased had recently shot heroin. Rebus
Interesting premise, good mystery, though there are some cheesy parts that are likely from Ranking being a young writer at this point.
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works to figure out if it was suicide or murder, while also finding that his new commander has volunteered him to head a drug prevention team that brings him into contact with the city's elite.Interesting premise, good mystery, though there are some cheesy parts that are likely from Ranking being a young writer at this point.
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LibraryThing member lauralkeet
This solid, if somewhat dated, book is the second in the Inspector Rebus series. Rebus is called in to investigate a young man's death by drug overdose, with a possible connect to Satanic rituals. On the personal front, he is living the bachelor life after an unsuccessful relationship, but his star
The mystery held my interest, although its resolution seemed rather contrived. I was also left wondering where Rankin is taking his character. In the first book he was a bit of a curmudgeon; in this he is more of a romantic lead with more scenes alluding to his physique and sexual encounters. That didn't work as well for me, since I already had a certain picture of him in my imagination. And again, it may be due to the age of this book (published in 1991), but he seems to embody every detective stereotype.
Still, I'll keep going because these work well for me when I'm in the mood for something light.
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is rising within the Edinburgh police force, and he is asked to serve on an anti-drug commission with some of the city's most influential leaders.The mystery held my interest, although its resolution seemed rather contrived. I was also left wondering where Rankin is taking his character. In the first book he was a bit of a curmudgeon; in this he is more of a romantic lead with more scenes alluding to his physique and sexual encounters. That didn't work as well for me, since I already had a certain picture of him in my imagination. And again, it may be due to the age of this book (published in 1991), but he seems to embody every detective stereotype.
Still, I'll keep going because these work well for me when I'm in the mood for something light.
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LibraryThing member jmkemp
A fairly easy read. Rebus is an interesting character and the story was well plotted with a less than obvious outcome. It has a realistic feeling to it and lives within the time that it was written, although much of that would still work now.
I read it because it was cheap and I have always
I read it because it was cheap and I have always
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wondered if the Rebus novels were any good. I think that they are based on this one (the second of many) and I can see why they sell by the truckload. Show Less
LibraryThing member scot2
A good Rebus book. I love the Rebus character. A typical dour Scot with a conscience. Contrary to other reviews I liked the ending. It is the kind of ending you could see happening in real life in order to avoid a scandal and protect important people. In fact cover ups have happened in the UK
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before now as I'm sure they have in the U.S. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
This is only the second book about Detective John Rebus but it was written a few years after the first book in the series, Knots & Crosses. Since Ian Rankin made a conscious decision to let Rebus age naturally I presume a few years have also elapsed between the action in the previous book and this
Rebus is called into a suspicious death in a squat that should really have belonged to DI Tony McCall but he was not available. A young man's body was found laid out on the main floor with his one hand clutching a package of what appeared to be heroin and a jar of syringes by the other hand. Two candles by his head had burned down to nothing. Nearby was a drawing of a five-pointed star inside two concentric circles. Perhaps this was some kind of ritual sacrifice. Or perhaps not. Rebus has to sort through all the false leads to come up with why this young man was killed. Meanwhile his supervisor wants Rebus to work on an anti-drug campaign that some of the top businesspeople in Edinburgh are financing. This leads Rebus into milieus that he has never frequented before. From a filthy squat to an expansive apartment in the best part of town, Rebus works his magic and solves the murder as well as making a considerable dent in the illegal underworld. Perhaps he is not quite the character we came to know and love in later books but it is great to fill in a few more gaps in his life.
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one. At least, Rebus has been promoted to Inspector and his romance with Gill Templar is over so I think I am correct.Rebus is called into a suspicious death in a squat that should really have belonged to DI Tony McCall but he was not available. A young man's body was found laid out on the main floor with his one hand clutching a package of what appeared to be heroin and a jar of syringes by the other hand. Two candles by his head had burned down to nothing. Nearby was a drawing of a five-pointed star inside two concentric circles. Perhaps this was some kind of ritual sacrifice. Or perhaps not. Rebus has to sort through all the false leads to come up with why this young man was killed. Meanwhile his supervisor wants Rebus to work on an anti-drug campaign that some of the top businesspeople in Edinburgh are financing. This leads Rebus into milieus that he has never frequented before. From a filthy squat to an expansive apartment in the best part of town, Rebus works his magic and solves the murder as well as making a considerable dent in the illegal underworld. Perhaps he is not quite the character we came to know and love in later books but it is great to fill in a few more gaps in his life.
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1991
Physical description
288 p.; 8.24 inches
ISBN
0312536933 / 9780312536930