Standing in Another Man’s Grave by Ian Rankin

Published on by Margaret

Yesterday I received Ian Rankin’s new book, Standing in Another Man’s Grave and it’s looking good.

It begins:

He’d made sure he wasn’t standing too near the open grave.

Closed ranks of other mourners between him and it. The pall-bearers had been called forward by number rather than name – six of them starting with the deceased ‘s son. Rain wasn’t quite falling yet, but it had scheduled an appointment.

The deceased is a retired policeman. The unnamed man, standing at the funeral had known him. He was desperate for a cigarette. After the coffin is lowered into the grave one of the mourners approaches him with a nod of recognition:

‘John’, he said.

‘Tommy’, Rebus replied, with another nod.

Rebus is back!

With the rain now falling he heads for his car, turns on the car’s CD player and Jackie Leven’s voice emerges singing about standing in another man’s grave. Except he isn’t – the track is called ‘Another Man’s Rain’.

I paused and decided to look for the track. Here it is:

I’m trying to read this book slowly, but the plot and Rebus is gradually pulling me in. I just have to keep turning the pages. So, it’s back to the book now.

Fro more Book Beginnings on Friday see Gilion’s blog Rose City Reader.

12 thoughts on “Standing in Another Man’s Grave by Ian Rankin”

  5. I love this series, although I came to it late. I’m reading it in order but got stuck because I didn’t have a copy of Mortal Causes. Your post was a reminder — I just ordered it from Thrift Books. Thanks!

    And thanks for including your post on Book Beginnings!

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  8. Margaret – This does look like a good ‘un. And of course, it means John Rebus is back . 🙂 I’ll be very interested to see what you think of it when you’ve finished.

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  11. Still waiting for this to arrive from the library, who are completely re-orgaising and won’t be bringing in any new books for at least a month. What a time to choose!

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