My Library

Tooth and Nail by Ian Rankin, originally released in 1992 under the title Wolfman, is the third in Rankin's Inspector Rebus series. Rebus is a Scottish police inspector called to London to help track down a serial killer called the Wolfman because of his habit of biting his victims. The story has the predictable coflict between the out of town expert and the locals, though it seems a bit unusual having the expert in coming in from the backwaters to the capital instead of the other way around.

Rebus carries his own baggage both from a serial killing he handled previously at home, the reason he got called to London, and from a failed marriage. As with many stories the synchronicities multiply as Rebus's ex-wife and teenage daughter are caught up with people involved with his pursuit of the killer.

Early in the book, Rebus is approached by a good looking younger psychologist who offers to profile the killer. The love interest blossoms appropriately providing plenty of extra conflict and suspense.

I have to give this one a big thumbs up for the complete surprise ending. I was at most 10 or 15 pages from the spot where Rankin reveals his killer before I had an inkling of the real culprit. I followed every red herring he offered, which made the «Ah HA!» that much sweeter.

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