10 Great Rebus Novels (John Rebus) (301 page)
Read 10 Great Rebus Novels (John Rebus) Online
Authors: Ian Rankin
For much of the story, Bible John is more effective at hunting Johnny Bible than the police are. Why is this?
How does Ian Rankin use the oil industry to examine Scotland’s industrial development? What does oil mean to Scotland, and to
Black & Blue
?
What does Rebus think about the idea of the ‘frontier police’ who keep order on the oil platforms?
How does Ian Rankin show Aberdeen to be a different type of city from Edinburgh?
Ian Rankin claims that because of frustrations in his own personal life, in
Black & Blue
he used Rebus as his personal ‘punchbag’. Is this apparent?
Considering the difficulties he has sustaining loving relationships with women, Rebus goes on to acknowledge that the problem lies somewhere within himself: ‘
Rape was all about power; killing too, In Its way. And wasn’t power the ultimate male fantasy? And didn’t he sometimes dream of it too?
’ How revealing are these comments?
Consider the ways in which Ian Rankin might use the weather as a metaphor for what is happening in the story.
Where does Rebus stand on the assertion that oil and politics cannot be separated?
What is the message that Rebus receives on the streets of Aberdeen?
Bible John makes a huge mistake and gives Rebus his business card. Should Rebus berate himself for not realising earlier the clue he’d been gifted?
Is Bible John more concerned by physical strength or attitude? Why might that be?
What is Rebus thinking when he finds himself crying? What do the people he’s identifying with say about him as a person?
What are daughter Sammy’s motives for working with ex-cons?
For Miranda
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