Even Dogs in the Wild

By: Ian Rankin

Narrated by: James Macpherson

Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Rebus comes out of retirement...to save his nemesis.

Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is feeling the heat. She's investigating the death of a senior government prosecutor, David Minton, who has friends in high places. When one of their own is killed, the powers that be want answers fast. But Clarke is puzzled: If Minton died in a robbery as everyone thinks, why is nothing missing from his home? The answer may lie not in what was taken but in what was left behind at the scene - an ominous note.

Malcolm Fox is feeling useless. Shunned by his colleagues because of his past in the Complaints bureau, he's been reassigned to a grunt detail, helping a surveillance team - one that trusts him even less than his own boss does - track a notorious Glasgow crime family. Helping Clarke with the Minton case is the only thing that makes Fox feel like a real cop.

Newly minted civilian John Rebus is feeling restless. Being a cop is in his blood, and he's failing miserably at retirement. So when Clarke and Fox ask for his help, Rebus doesn't need long to consider his options. But before he can get his bearings, a call comes from Rebus' old nemesis - "Big Ger" Cafferty. Someone just fired a bullet through his front window - and sent him a note identical to Minton's. The normally unflappable old gangster is on edge, but for the life of him Cafferty can't figure out who he's wronged. And the only man he trusts with his life is Rebus.

As the cases collide, it's up to Clarke, Fox, and Rebus to connect the dots and save their unlikely ally, Cafferty, whose past harbors a shocking secret that implicates Minton's friends in an unspeakable crime. Even Dogs in the Wild reunites crime fiction legend Ian Rankin's greatest characters in an explosive story exploring the darkest corners of our desires.

©2016 Ian Rankin (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Retired Edinburgh Inspector John Rebus is back in the detecting game, and, thanks to narrator James Macpherson, he sounds as brilliant and curmudgeonly as ever.... [Macpherson] has a way with pacing as well; conversations move with realistic rhythm, barroom sections have the temper of single-malt whiskey, and action sequences are rat-a-tat-tat." ( AudioFile)

No one like Rebus!

I have yet to encounter a Rebus story I didn't like. Rankin's Rebus is one of the great fictional detectives of all time.

another good story in the series

the plot takes a lot of twists and turns and revis is fading into the background but at least he had a chance to somewhat come forth.... he's getting a little long in the tooth and I guess that you can't keep him involved forever I hope the series has some kind of closure

classic Rankin, if you like Scottish

Even though retired, inspector Rebus still manages to find trouble. All the characters known to Rankin's regular readers make an appearance!

beware! if you don't like Scottish readers, don't listen. it took me a minute to adjust, but in the end, it enhances the story!

Rankin masterpiece

Another masterpiece by Rankin - my only disappointment - not another one ready to go! When will Rebus be in action again?

Rankin is king

Love the blending of these two series, the trio really works and I hope upon hope that Rankin continues with another.

Still Rebus still good

I was concerned that Rebus retired would be much less interesting and that Clark and Fox could not capture my attention in quite the same way. But Rebus still there and the other two taking on more personality and color, I feel the future of the series and Mr. Rankin knows exactly how to go on. Thank you....I can sleep nights again!

Listen on 75% speed

I had to listen on 75% speed to be able to understand the accent. It work well and I was able to understand the content.

The story was a little slow, not withstanding the slower listening speed. Not as much action as the other Rebus books, but enjoyable.

Scottish brogue

The reader has such a strong Scottish brogue (accent) that I was unable to hear - especially since he read interpretative style rather than just read it. This is partly me of course with my ears but I listen to a lot of books on my iphone. If this is ever read in American English or even milder British, I'll give it another try. I've read or listened to all Rankin's books but this one won't be giving me a choice in method.

Loved it!

Kept me going to the end. Usually I can guess where the author is going with a story, not this one. Whether the first or the last read this author!!!

Ian rankin

Ian Rankin can really write, and I love John Rebus. I'm so glad he's back in the game. The reader was perfect.