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Reader Reviews 2 of 7 people found the following review helpful: Blackout over Knockout, November 26, 2002 Reviewer: Scott G. Beckley from Denver, CO United States Author of a Gold Dagger Winner and Edgar nominee, Ian Rankin writes of a detective in Scotland that champions a 5-year old murder investigation. John Rebus, the protagonist, is a rough-hewn character with uncanning ability to 'play' the other characters. Although Rebus's character is fully developed, I found Rankin left many characters lacking substance. This dissonance was illuminated through Rankin's difficulty to transition between chapters, which he delivers in an arbitrary and awkward attempt to expand minor-character attributes. The foundation of this novel (approx 225 pgs.) is a little weak, but the final 125 pages will keep you engaged. I had a difficult time following all the minor character developments, which I believe distracted from the strength of John Rebus. "The Black Book," is substantially short of a knockout and much closer to a blackout. This novel was recommended by a friend of mine, but I would be hesitant to read this author in the future. In a saturated genre like crime-novels, I suggest that you only read 5-star books, because there is a cornucopia available. This is not a 5-star novel.
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