A HEART FULL OF HEADSTONES, by Ian Rankin (Orion, $37.99) Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to literature and charity and scooping a British Book Award for his "act of ventriloquism" in crafting a superb prequel to Tartan Noir godfather William Mcllvanney's ground-breaking Laidlaw trilogy, it's been a good year for lan Rankin.
Now, 35 years after he first introduced "born anarchist" John Rebus, the Edinburgh author delivers a new tale starring one of the most iconic sleuths of modern crime fiction.
Not that Rankin goes easy in this novel on his old pal, who's now retired from the police, suffering from the smoker's malady of COPD and, worst of all, finds himself in court not as a witness but the accused. Could Rebus' pockmarked history of putting justice above procedure see him spend his remaining days withering behind bars?
This story is from the November 05, 2022 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 05, 2022 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.