The Naming of the Dead – Ian Rankin

I suppose it’s pointless to read genre fiction and the moan about the shortcomings of the generic conventions, but in the case of this whodunit…unlikely plotting…characters who speak primarily in unfunny quips.hard-drinking maverick cop…thought processes represented by lines of three dots…

I enjoyed it despite picking the key twist (although not the murderer) about halfway through. The chief interest lay in the setting – Edinburgh during the tumultuous week of the G8 summit, Live8 concert, London’s Olympic win and the July 7 bombings. Although slightly over-researched (“Columbo starts at 2 o’clock” etc) the feel of one of my favourite cities at this strange time was portrayed evocatively and amusingly, particularly the grumpy locals resenting the hullabaloo caused by the visiting dignitaries;

“For what all this is costing you could send every starving child a Jenners hamper”