Watchman

Watchman

by IanRankin (Author)

Synopsis

Bombs are exploding in the streets of London, but life seems to have planted more subtle booby-traps for Miles Flint. Miles is a spy. His job is to watch and to listen, then to report back to his superiors, nothing more. The job, affording glimpses into the most private lives of his victims, appeals to Miles. He doesn't lust after promotion, and he doesn't want action. He wants, just for once, not to botch a case. Having lost one suspect - with horrific consequences - Miles becomes too involved with another, a young Irishwoman. His marriage seems ready to crumble to dust. So does his home. But Miles is given one last chance for redemption - a trip to Belfast, which quickly becomes a flight of terror, murder and shocking discoveries. But can the voyeur survive in a world of violent action?

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Edition: New
Publisher: Orion
Published: 08 Jan 2004

ISBN 10: 075286033X
ISBN 13: 9780752860336
Book Overview: This highly sought-after title can finally be republished after years of pleas from Ian's fans. Rankin's novels are now GUARANTEED number one bestsellers in both hardcover and paperback. Even his recent book of short stories BEGGARS BANQUET reached number 2 in the Sunday Times. Whilst very different from his later novels, WATCHMAN demonstrates clearly the range of Ian's writing talents. Originally published in 1988 by Bodley Head. But written just after KNOTS & CROSSES...

Media Reviews
'Very impressive...If you're worried you'll miss the comfortable presence of Jack Rebus, don't - this is totally involving stuff, delivered with the kind of panache that hallmarks the Edinburgh-set thrillers' -- Barry Forshaw DAILY EXPRESS 'What is impressive in the novel is Rankin's ability to handle a complicated plot, so that in the end its various strands cohere' -- Allan Massie THE SCOTSMAN 'WATCHMAN is one for Rankin aficionados, interesting in itself, but also revealing as to a direction he might have taken with his fiction, following his first novel, KNOTS AND CROSSES, which introduced us to Inspector Rebus' -- Keith Jeffery TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT 'A riveting read that will have you turning page after page until there are none left' -- Alex Gordon PETERBOROUGH TELEGRAPH 'A curiosity from the pen of Ian Rankin: a hardback re-issue of an early, pre-Rebus novel. Though it's not a bad read, it shows he has improved' -- Allan Laing GLASGOW HERALD 'This splendid piece of espionage fiction has not worn badly with age, nor does it seem the work of a yet immature talent. Brilliantly subdued, it has the air of a le Carre...Atmospheric and subtle, Watchman shows just how long Rankin has been our best genre novelist' GOOD BOOK GUIDE 'Intriguing to compare it with his Rebus books. It's less introspective, but still a must' GLASGOW EVE TIMES 'Watchman is of its time, of course, but it moves along at a fair old clip and shows Rankin to be as adept at writing thrillers as he is at putting together more meditative crime stories' -- Peter Gutteridge OBSERVER 'This is a biting and superbly wrought thriller that will enthrall' WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY 'more than holds its own among recent spy thriller fare, despite its age' -- Mark Evans IRISH EXAMINER 'Essential for Rankin fans - and that means most of us' CRIME TIME
Author Bio
Ian Rankin was born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960. In 1997 he was awarded the Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction for Black and Blue. His subsequent Rebus novels have all been international bestsellers. He lives with his wife and two sons in Edinburgh. In June 2002, Ian was awarded the OBE for services to literature.