>>Arrrgghhh! The beginning of the "Garden of Evil" was so depressing and frustrating!!!!!! An excellent read though. Great recommendation.
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>I started "Garden of Evil" a couple of days ago. and I agree about the depressing part (about Emily). I haven't finished it yet, so don't give away any of the plot! <s>
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I will take this opportunity to recommend Ian Rankin to all mystery / police procedural fans here. A couple of weeks ago, in response to a rave review, I read "Exit Music," the most recent in his series featuring John Rebus, a detective in Edinburgh, Scotland. (As opposed to all those other Edinburghs, LOL -- and extra points if you can pronounce it the way they do). Good characterization, good plots (what happens next? whodunit?), good writing. As good a sense of Edinburgh right down to street and shop level and misguided low income highrises as I will probably ever get. What I may like best is that his writing isn't always exactly about what it's describing. It's probing something deeper. I am halfway through my second Rebus book now, "Fleshmarket Alley" (one of the later in the series), with "The Naming of the Dead" waiting on deck at the library. Recommended. What an unexpected pleasure.