I've read the first couple of Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus novels (Knots & Crosses, Hide & Seek, plus the short stories collection A Good Hanging and Other Stories) and very much enjoyed his easy style and the fact that they're set in and around Edinburgh, one of my favourite cities. I've got both 10-book Rankin sets that the Book People has sold and I think the best way to begin such a series is chronologically, so I've broken away from Rebus and read Rankin's first published novel, The Flood. This debut story is no detective mystery, and there's only a brief section based in Edinburgh, otherwise it's a completely different beast. I liked it, but it felt a bit throw away, without as much depth as a Rebus book. The story initially begins with Mary Miller's near-death experience that sees her hair turn white and her shunning within her Scottish town as a witch. She then supposedly gets pregnant by her brother at 15 and gives birth to a son, Sandy. Jump forward 15 years and we follow Sandy's awkward romance with a gypsy girl; Mary's awkward romance with Sandy's school teacher; the new vicar's arrival in town and subsequent interest in Mary; and the local sweet shop owner who likes to give Sandy free sweets for reasons revealed at the story's conclusion.
Sandy and Mary are interesting characters, but I didn't see what the point in the vicar was, other than to distract from the central mother and son duo. His story never really went anywhere, although I suppose it was a useful expositionary device to explore the history of Carsden, Mary's hometown. I wasn't sure where it was all leading, and there was a revelation at the end I wasn't expecting, but I enjoyed the journey. It was a quick read (I got through it in a week) and a satisfying one, yet not quite as good as Rebus.
No comments:
Post a Comment