A Cool Head by Ian Rankin

Gravy's name has nothing to do with food. It came about because he works in the graveyard. He's not bright and sometimes the people from the hostel where he lives have to come and tell him that it's time he was coming home. Occasionally he hides things in the graveyard for some of his friends and one day Benjy turned up in a strange car and with a bullet hole in his chest. He lived just long enough to ask Benjy to look after his gun. When Benjy looked in the car he found a balaclava, a lot of blood and a bag full of money.

It's not surprising that there are rather a lot of people wanting to get hold of the money, a witness who'd rather like to make herself scarce and some frightened people. There's corruption, robbery and murder is always a clean way out of a difficult situation.

Ian Rankin has written A Cool Head as a Quick Read. They're shorter books, aimed at people who might have lost the reading habit or who want a short, enjoyable read. Rankin, as ever, delivers. In just over a hundred pages you'll get a story which has you on the edge of your seat and some wonderful characters. Gravy is a masterpiece with his trusting nature, worries about minor details and the need to do things 'right'. There's an excellent selection of Edinburgh's villains and a very satisfying ending.

Don't be mislead into thinking that as this is a Quick Read anyone who is used to tackling longer books won't find it enjoyable. Think of it as a short story with a great plot line and well-developed characters. If you look very carefully (and know what you're looking for) you might notice an absence of longer and more difficult words, but it's skilfully done and is never patronising. I read it in about an hour and for a cover price of £1.99 I thought it was excellent value. If I'd bought it to read on a journey, I'd have been delighted.

Reading is important, you know. In March 2008 Quick Reads commissioned a survey of adults who had been in contact with them and they found that there was evidence of people becoming more competent readers and that there were improvements in their job prospects and relationships. Now that's got to be worth £1.99 hasn't it?

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

A Cool Head by Ian Rankin is in the Top Ten Books To Read In One Sitting.

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You can read more book reviews or buy A Cool Head by Ian Rankin at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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