Originally published in 1992 as Wolfman, this is an early Inspector John Rebus novel, and all the better for that. Lately Rankin has been padding out his Rebus novels - on the premise of big is beautiful? - with a consequent dissipation of pace and suspense. Here we have a tightly drawn tale, with our protagonist leaving his own patch of Edinburgh to give a helping hand down in the Big Smoke. Uneasy in unfamiliar surroundings and disliked by his Scotland Yard opposite number, Rebus makes friends with an attractive lady psychologist, an alliance that in the end does neither of them much good. In the meantime he must find the Wolfman, a serial killer who likes to give each of his victims a playful bite. Astringent as he is, Rebus still maintains the human touch. He is one of the very best of the fictional detectives and the Orion publishing house is to be congratulated on bringing out these re-issues.
Vincent Banville