Exit Music (Inspector John Rebus Series #17)

Not Over Till The Last Note

This is #17, and possibly the final, in the police procedural series featuring Detective Inspector Jon Rebus and his partner Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke. The crime initially involves the murder of a Russian expatriate poet, who has taken up residence in Edinburgh, Scotland. The investigation expands to include another related murder and an attack on a local crime boss, Big Ger Cafferty. Street criminals as well as high standing financial and government leaders are equal suspects in this fast moving novel. The trail winds masterfully through a wonderfully detailed cast of characters who have motive and opportunity. This is reportedly Rebus's last case before he retires and his need to clear the details not only of this case, but of some long standing cases linked to a suspect in the current murder,border on obsession. DI Rebus is certainly worth another go round.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Exit Music

This is the first Inspector John Rebus mystery that I have read. "Exit Music" by Ian Rankin is supposedly the last story to involve the inspector. Rebus is retiring from the Edinburgh police force, but must deal with the death of a Russian poet, politics, new policemen, an old rival, another murder and his retirement. Not knowing the character, it was hard for me to appreciate some of what was going on, but the mystery aspect is quite suspenseful and entertaining.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Exit Rebus?

Rebus, of course, means a puzzle and the Scottish hero is an enigma. DI Rebus is on the edge of retirement as the novel opens. The case brings old friends and enemies across his path. I won't recap the plot except to say the finale leaves us guessing if the series is ending. Ian Rankin is a Scottish Hammett and writes probably the best cop stories from across the water. (Someone should put out a soundtrack of the music Rebus listens to. He has some of the most interesting musical tastes of any protaganist in detective fiction.)

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Detective Inspector John Rebus's final case?

Nearing retirement, Detective Inspector John Rebus is savoring his last days and readying himself for the change. Edinburgh may become a different place once he loses the protection of his shield; old enemies and hurts have threatened to resurface. Rebus starts to prepare, ties up loose ends, and plans how to fill his days.

Then ten days until Rebus's retirement, Rebus and Detective Sargent Siobhan Clarke suddenly land a brutal murder case. The victim is a dissident Russian poet. Though it looks like an mugging gone wrong, Rebus suspects that the death is somehow linked to the elite delegation of Russian businessmen that are looking to invest in Scotland. The murder raises questions and as Rebus digs further, he finds links to an old enemy. But there's growing pressure from local power brokers and politicians to solve the case quickly and quietly. How much can Rebus accomplish before his time is up?

Review:
Legendary Detective Inspector John Rebus is as difficult, prickly, and engaging as ever. Observant, persistent, and unafraid to overstep, Rebus takes us all over Edinburgh as he uncovers hidden relationships and pieces together the events of that fateful night. Working with the soon-to-be promoted DS Clarke and her new mentee Todd Goodyear, Rebus uses all tools and tricks, calls in favors, and takes us on a thrilling adventure. Engrossing and carefully crafted, Exit Music is a terrific final novel to a legendary series. It's hard to believe that DI John Rebus has retired for good.

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; First US Edition edition (December 2009), 530 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Zero

Guest bedroom

Rankin puts a good finish on this series

This was a good finish to the Rebus series. It had a good plot and, as always, a lot of atmosphere of the locale. I have read all of the Rebus books and am going to miss them. I hope that Rankin comes up with a new interesting character that his devoted readers can follow.

No Exit

Even though the storyline occasionally dragged, I was sorry to see the book end. I hope Rebus in Retirement gets a look.

Fans will be thrilled with the return John Rebus.

Fans will be thrilled with the return of Detective Inspector John Rebus. Exit Music begins with the Inspector reluctantly preparing for his mandatory retirement. Just as he thinks his desk is clear of cases in comes a new one. Rebus once again teams up with Detective Siobhan Clarke in the investigation of a murdered dissident Russian poet. What at first glance appears to be a mugging, soon shows signs of something much deeper. Another death brings more questions. Exit Music shows a personal side of Rebus. He dreads retirement while partner Siobhan looks toward a future where she does not work in his shadow. Ian Rankin has open doors in which Rebus may return. Fans of Rankin will rejoice in this new novel. While they will mourn Rebus¿ purported retirement, they will eagerly turn the pages of Exit Music.

Exit Music

For the first time he can remember Edinburgh Police Inspector John Rebus is worried about the future. In ten days, the long time cop is turning sixty, which means mandatory retirement although he does not feel ready to leave the force.---------- Still, Rebus plans to finish his last cases although he only has ten working days left. His prime investigation is the murder of Russian poet Alexander Todorov in which he and his associate Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke find no motive, but a horde of odd conspiracies bantered about that include Russian businessmen, Scottish bankers and local politicians rallying behind an independent Scotland. The case turns even more bizarre when a second homicide occurs the victim taped a recital of Todorov reading his work. Increasingly the inquiry points towards Edinburgh crime boss ¿Big Ger¿ Cafferty, but finding proof to pin two murders on the mobster in under ten days seem impossible.------------ The investigation takes a back seat to Rebus¿ final police case before going into forced retirement. Thus, as good as the previous entries are, this may be the most personal as the emotions are high as fans wonder what will their hero do. EXIT MUSIC is an excellent complicated police procedural as the great John Rebus works what is his apparent last police case.---------- Harriet Klausner

Exit Music

For the first time he can remember Edinburgh Police Inspector John Rebus is worried about the future. In ten days, the long time cop is turning sixty, which means mandatory retirement although he does not feel ready to leave the force.------------- Still, Rebus plans to finish his last cases although he only has ten working days left. His prime investigation is the murder of Russian poet Alexander Todorov in which he and his associate Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke find no motive, but a horde of odd conspiracies bantered about that include Russian businessmen, Scottish bankers and local politicians rallying behind an independent Scotland. The case turns even more bizarre when a second homicide occurs the victim taped a recital of Todorov reading his work. Increasingly the inquiry points towards Edinburgh crime boss ¿Big Ger¿ Cafferty, but finding proof to pin two murders on the mobster in under ten days seem impossible.---------------- The investigation takes a back seat to Rebus¿ final police case before going into forced retirement. Thus, as good as the previous entries are, this may be the most personal as the emotions are high as fans wonder what will their hero do. EXIT MUSIC is an excellent complicated police procedural as the great John Rebus works what is his apparent last police case.------------ Harriet Klausner

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