Tooth and Nail Audiobook By Ian Rankin cover art

Tooth and Nail

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Tooth and Nail

By: Ian Rankin
Narrated by: Samuel Gillies
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John Rebus is on a train from Edinburgh to London, where he has been drafted for his expertise in the modus operandi of serial killers. The Wolfman could be his toughest case yet - a serial killer named by the press due to a terrifying trademark of taking a bite from each victim.

Rebus' Scotland Yard opposite number, George Flight, isn't too happy at yet another interference in the investigation - especially from an upstart jock hounding him at every turn. So when Rebus is offered a psychological profile of the murderer by an attractive lady psychologist, he is happy to accept. But in finding an ally, he may have given his enemies an easy means of attack.

©1992 Ian Rankin (P)2001 Recorded Books Crime Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting Scary
Interesting Plot Twists • Engaging Collegial Relations • Fine Performance • Amusing Storylines • Suspenseful Narrative
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I enjoyed the underlying quirky humor. Intersting to learn about the Scottish view of Enland and vice versa. I felt the plot was okay, even though it was suspensful.

Tooth and Nail

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I enjoyed the characters and the writing. I read it in one sitting. I am not thrilled with the narrator.

Tooth and Nail

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The best thing about "Tooth and Nail" is the chance to see London through John Rebus's bemused eyes. Rankin has fun skewering some of the sillier and more self-inflated aspects of the English capital circa 1990—and London attitudes toward their Scottish neighbors—but gives due props to the city's vitality and variety as well. The next best thing is Rebus's London colleague, Inspector George Flight, and his interaction with Rebus; but then in the early Rankin mysteries I've read so far Rebus's collegial relations are a lot more engaging than his love interests. As for the plot... well, I can't say I found the psychology of the serial killer here very convincing, and the killer's internal monologues are pretty excruciating to have to listen to, but Rankin does a nice job of throwing red herrings in the reader's path to figuring out who it is.

Narrator Samuel Gillies is English and does a fine job with the London characters, but his voicing is too plummy for my taste and he has to work too hard at Rebus's Edinburgh accent to make him entirely convincing.

Worth it for Rebus's London

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Character handling and environment affects outcomes. Gut vs brain. Wonders which matters most. Worth a read to see what you think!

Plot twists

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What did you like best about Tooth and Nail? What did you like least?

I really want to like Rebus novels because there are so many of them and I would love to discover an appealing series. I just don't like the character Rebus.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Replace the hero.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

I keep trying to like Rebus

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Great story with great humor and really good narration.Worth every minute. I read this one out of order and it still shines.

One of his best

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I've read books by Rankin before and enjoyed them. This one did not disappoint me either. Just the right mix of amusing and serious story lines. I also enjoyed the narrator. I'm no expert on accents, but i thought he provided a perfect voice for Rebus. I'll definitely download more of the series. For reference, other authors I've enjoyed recently on audio include John Sandford and Daniel Silva. (If you've read those authors too, you can tell if we have similar tastes.)

Enjoyable Listen

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Ian Rankin is brilliant! The quality of the writing in this series makes Rebus a set of must-read books.

Rebus out of his element in London is funny at times and seriously somber at others. We get to see Sammy as a 16 year old with the troubles that alone can bring. Rebus angers his London co-workers (what a surprise!) but figures out the killer with a most interesting chase.

I enjoyed Samuel Gillies' narration a lot. Good job!

Now I'm off to download the next audiobook.

Rebus in London

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This is the third Inspector Rebus book and I think this one was my favorite of the three I have read. I really enjoyed the change of scenery and the different cultures meeting. I think the author did a really good job with character development and telling a story that was interesting. And the outcome was a surprise. Ian Rankin has you right there with Rebus the whole time, methodically solving the crime piece by piece.

Great Story

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Would you try another book from Ian Rankin and/or Samuel Gillies?

Ian Rankin yes, Samuel Gilliess NO

If you’ve listened to books by Ian Rankin before, how does this one compare?

Hard to get by the narrators cheesy Standard Broadcast English accent. For the record I was born in Scotland. His Scots dialect is,not too bad but when he switches to an English dialect....Oh go away Mr. Gillies

Would you be willing to try another one of Samuel Gillies’s performances?

NO

Was Tooth and Nail worth the listening time?

not up to Rankin's other books in this series. BUT I would listen again WITHOUT Mr Gillies

Narrator should be next victim.

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