Ian Rankin - The Naming of the Dead - Colin Stitt's Blog

Blogger on The Naming of the Dead
By Colin Stitt

Quick facts about the Novel

Lesley and Michael are brother and sister, Michael is known as Mickey but he doesn't mind either or. Leslie is two years younger than Michael but she has always acted like a bigger sister to her brother since they were little.

The Who ‘ Love Reign O’er Me has a big draw on the novel and its characters because it shows relevance in the problems that are going on in Scotland and the G8 countries with its lyrics, and it gives a special feeling to what people are going through all over the world, and in places where the topic of countries in the U.K. which are struggling just as much as a third world country.

This novel takes place in scotland in the year 2005 when Scotland was going through many hard times with country issues and laws being abused, and the whole country was just a mess. Not to mention the terrorist organization bombings in London.

G8 countries are the main countries involved in the novel and they have a large influence on the fate of Scotland, and how they need to sort themselves out with their internal affairs, their general public and it's safety with a serial killer on the loose.

Edinbourough takes centre stage of a murder city and its politicians and detectives sitting on the sidelines and watching. Hoping that someone other than them can help a country in need of serious help.

The authorities make sure to be quiet when two issues have the importance to be the centre of attention for global meetings. and that's a hard road to go down. If the authorities if all people have information about drastic issues

According to Ian Rankin and the other novels that he has published, John Rebus was born in 1947 and grew up in a hard working house that worked all days and night at the factory with a house in Scotland. His grandfather was an immigrant from Poland. He grew up in a small little platform veranda type house along with his brother, Michael. When Rebus was only fifteen years old he joined the army. And this detective is not one to stand by and do nothing about an out of control riot officer who assaulted his colleague’s mother. The seeking of the riot cop ultimately faces Rebus and Siobhan his coworker with choices that will change their lives forever.

Suicide shows how serious this needs to be to establish a cover up for the real crisis that no one will see coming, and I think that is a good cover up plan, but when people start killing themselves when they aren't depressed or sad, it leaves a big whole in the story. And that's what the detectives do to secure the lives of the innocent citizens of crooked cops, or gangsters who bamboozle people out of everything they have to save what is last of their dignity.

Edinburgh start to react to a serial killer who kills newly released rapists from jail. The outstanding fact is that the well where he puts the body is only a stone throw away from the head detectives
As well politics are a big part of this novel because it shows that this country has a lot of internal problems with not even the officers but with the citizens them selves. Officers take matters into their own hands by ruling with an iron fist, and using physical pressure for order, which in turn has an affect on the citizens of their country, and the way they feel they have been treated.

- Siobhan “ How do you plan to do that, you’re on suspension, remember” Rebus “ short term memory-loss, it comes with the territory" Pg. 225

That quote dignifies that if you want to make it, and hold your own as a officer and for greater good, you might need to bend the rules a little. But As well it shows that it’s a dominance game and if you want to be a detective you need to defend your territory and never stop working in this line of business, because you might be at risk of being fired. That small quote is a small part of the text in the novel and yet it can have so much prevalence, with a quick joke between colleagues.

- Anderson “ Have you been drinking inspector”? Rebus “only when off duty sir.” Rebus fussed in his pocket until he’d found his packet. Pg.283
-Anderson Quote “There’s no smoking in here,”
- Rebus looked at the cigarette pack as if it had just randomly into his hand. He apologized and put it away.
-Rebus: “Didn’t see you at the funeral, sir,”

Ultimately this conversation between Anderson and Rebus shows that a boss and his top inspector can’t have an honest relationship and if that can’t happen between two officers than it won’t help with the citizens who are dealing with them.

-Siobhan and Mr.Cafferty: Siobhan “You made John the same offer, didn’t you? That night at the church hall? I’m betting he said no.” Pg.297
-Cafferty: “He wanted to say yes”
-Siobhan: “Buy he didn’t
-Cafferty: “Rebus and me have been enemies too long Siobhan. We’ve not got that history.”
-Siobhan: “You’re a gangster, Mr. Cafferty. Any help from you, I become like you.”

This conversation clearly shows that Mr.Caffery is trying to crisscross information in Siobhan’s head so he can get her to help, but that is just a regular issue that comes up every day. When Siobhan realized that John didn’t commit to Cafferty it was a pretty clear sign that it would only end badly. But being the independent and curious women she was she couldn’t help but try to get an understanding of the situation.

In conclusion I thought that this was an interesting novel with it's fair share of twists and turns to keep me interested in it, and I might just do another blog on a Ian Rankin novel.