Product Description

"My dad used to say to me, 'Try to keep a cool head and a warm heart'. At least I think it was my dad. I don't really remember him." Gravy worked in the graveyard - hence the name. He was having a normal day until his friend Benjy turned up in a car Gravy didn't recognise. Benjy had a bullet hole in his chest, but lived just long enough to ask Gravy to hide him and look after his gun. Gravy had looked after things for Benjy before, but never a gun. When Gravy looked in the car he found blood, a balaclava and a bag stuffed with money. Gravy's not too bright but he wants to help his friend. So Gravy finds himself caught up in the middle of a robbery gone wrong, a woman who witnessed a murder, and some very unpleasant men who will do anything to get back the money Benjy stole...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5720 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

About the Author
Ian Rankin is a regular No.1 bestseller, and has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Diamond Dagger. He lives with his family in Edinburgh, and in 2003 received an OBE for his services to literature.

Customer Reviews

Short and sharp
Although this Quick Read is only about 100 pages, it's long enough to display Rankin's excellence in building an intricate plot, developing fascinating characters, and holding the reader's attention; as ever, his prose is rich, readable, and well paced. The story involves a character, Gravy, who inadvertently gets caught up in a complex series of events involving various prominent members of the local underworld, as well as a few prominent figures in the community. His friend Benjy has been shot and entrusts his gun to Gravy, who inadvertently becomes a target of the local crime boss.

Rankin presents the story in short chapters, each from a different viewpoint, which achieves a great sense of pace and excitement, while they're short enough that jumping back and forth between different characters isn't a problem. The conclusion is stark, almost understated, and typical Rankin.

If you don't already know Rankin's work, this is a great way in and should prove a great encouragement to explore his DI Rebus series. For Rankin aficionados, although it's short, it's a must-have!

Dull Potboiler
OK, this is intended to be a skimpy volume, but since Rebus retired (and maybe even before that) Rankin appears to have ceased caring whether he publishes good detective fiction or simply a dull potboiler. This one definitely belongs in the latter category.

Short and curlies
Short story from Ian Rankin. He's always written short stories as he did with the rebus collections A good hanging and Beggars Banquet.
It only takes an hour to read and rattles along the story has no real twist to it which is usually the hook of a short story it feels like an episode of The Bill everything nicely wrapped up in a hour.

I quite enjoyed Doors Open but if this didn't say Rankin on the cover you really wouldn't know it was an Ian rankin story
I'm intrigued to see what Rankin comes up with post Rebus but hope he's not planning more of these short stories