It was strange reading a Rankin story that was not set in Edinburgh, but in London although the change was worthwhile. If this is Rankin’s new locale I’ll be happy to join him there. ( )

I am a big fan of Ian Rankin’s books featuring the jaundiced and prickly John Rebus – a man for whom the Scots term ‘thrawn’ might specifically have been coined – although I have never managed to feel the same enthusiasm for his other books. I am not generally keen on short stories, either, but my interest was piqued sufficiently to buy this novella.

The Rise is a luxurious apartment development in West London, within walking distance of Paddington Station. The development offers a wide range of exclusive services, and the reception area is presided over by a uniformed man combining the roles of concierge and security guard. As the story opens, the incumbent of that role has been found dead in the foyer, having suffered a heavy head wound. From there on we are introduced to the owner (and lead investor) of the development, and the inhabitants of several of the individual apartments. These include a Russian oligarch, the wife of an imprisoned London gang boss, and a former soap actress and model who has recently lost her most lucrative employment.

Rankin deftly weaves these ingredients into an engrossing novella following a standard police procedural approach. His principal investigator, Detective Sergeant Gish, is engaging and empathetic, and certainly easier for her colleagues to work with than Detective Inspector Rebus ever was. I am wondering whether Rankin has any plans for more stories featuring her. He has consciously aged John Rebus in real time, so may feel that he is reaching the end of the line as far as his plausibility as an investigative lead is concerned. While I love the Rebus books, I would be intrigued to see a series featuring Gish. ( )

Classic Ian Rankin. Just wish Inspector Rebus was included - love his character. ( )

A 48-hour Police Procedural
Review of the Amazon Original Stories Kindle edition (via Amazon Prime First Reads) (October 1, 2023) in advance of the official release November 1, 2023.

This is a fast-paced short story set in an exclusive high-rise apartment building in London, England. It is therefore not set in the usual Tartan Noir world of Rankin's regular Inspector Rebus series and its offshoots. I usually feel let down by the First Reads ARCs but with a veteran writer like Ian Rankin you are in good hands, even if the setting is not his usual Edinburgh and its environs.

The police inspectors arrive in the middle of the night when the building concierge / security guard is found murdered at the security desk. Further investigation reveals a missing apartment key fob, a disabled security system, and yet another body in the trunk of a car in the apartment garage. The building does not lack in suspects. An over-extended real estate developer, the wife of a crime lord, a Russian oligarch, an Arabian princess, a down-on-her-luck actress, her stalker businessman, etc.

It proceeds in a whirlwind of a police procedural where the detectives are kept on the chase for most of 48 hours until the surprise reveal of the motive and the culprits.

Trivia and Links
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region). ( )

I got this as an Amazon Prime free read and enjoyed it. It drew me in right away and I only wish it had been a full length novel. Short stories are always a bit too short for me. ( )