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  • The Rise

  • A Short Story
  • By: Ian Rankin
  • Narrated by: Indira Varma
  • Length: 2 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (110 ratings)

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The Rise cover art

The Rise

By: Ian Rankin
Narrated by: Indira Varma
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Summary

In this short thriller from bestselling author Ian Rankin, murder comes to London’s most exclusive high-rise—and every resident is a suspect.

The Rise is a gleaming residential tower, newly constructed from steel and blackened glass, that stands on some of London’s most prestigious real estate. Looming imposingly over Hyde Park, only multi-millionaires need apply for one of its sumptuous apartments. But when the young night concierge is found murdered in the building’s lobby, the elite residents quickly find their gilded lifestyles under unwelcome police scrutiny.

Investigating officer DS Gish has her work cut out. The only suspects, those who live in the building, aren’t accustomed to police interrogation. But it seems horribly certain that one of them must be the killer. Could it be the Russian oligarch? Or the lonely actress? Maybe it’s the family of the career criminal? Or perhaps it’s the building’s reclusive developer who lives alone in the penthouse?

Obstructed continually by locked doors, governments both foreign and domestic, and an apparent absence of motive, can DS Gish solve this impenetrable mystery and apprehend the murderer—before they slip away forever?

©2023 John Rebus Limited. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Indira Varma is the perfect match for this short mystery set in a prestigious apartment building in the center of London.… Varma creates believable and likable characters in the two detectives. She injects just the right amount of world-weariness into DI Milton's character. Her strong characterizations brings to life the key suspects, who range from a Russian oligarch and the wife of a wanted criminal to a has-been actress. Varma's spot-on pacing keeps the listener engaged as the clues and red herrings keep coming.”AudioFile Magazine

What listeners say about The Rise

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Up a meandering garden path

The story stretches credibility but a good enough short story with an almost believable twist. The performance was generally very good but one significant repeated section that should have been edited out and a few occasions where accents slipped but not quite enough to spoil the story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Pedestrian

Procedural and safe territory for Rankin. Nothing to dislike but not the compelling storytelling I usually enjoy.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

Not my most enjoyable read, didn't take to the characters. Narrator I thought was pretty good.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

"More good than bad people in the world. ...

... They just made less fuss."

In the Rise, a London 12 story luxury block.of flats also esteemed for it's art works, the janitor is found dead from a head injury and DS Gish with DI Jack Milton are called in to investigate. Not easy when all of the tenants are rich, famous or both. Although only two and one half hours in length, and well performed by Indira Varma, the story is fast paced and full of he character details, quirky crime twists and the careful description for which Rankin is famous in his long running Edinburgh based Rebus series.

Almost five stars but the unexpected ending came just a little too quickly. Nevertheless, an enjoyable English police procedural, and recommended to crime and whodunit fans

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed

An enjoyable fairly old fashioned crime tale. Just my sort of story, but may not be cutting edge enough for others. Good characterisation by the voice actor: a pleasant way to catch up on the career of Ian Rankin

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Well narrated, nice twist at the end.

Plot overall was a bit of a stretch. Rankin always reliable though and delivers the unexpected at the end of the piece.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fantastic narration, good short story

Indira Varma is an excellent narrator and I had no hesitation in buying this short story at a reduced price. I would definitely buy short stories in future if this offer continues.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A slice of perfection

Like meeting an old friend, Rankin’s abilities as a writer lift the spirits. A few minutes into the story and I feel I know these characters and care about them. It made such a refreshing change from some of the books I’ve read recently, which I only finished as a courtesy to the writer. No names, no pack drill, safe to say I will not bother to read any of their other books. Why bother, when we have the likes of Ian Rankin, Val MacDermid and James Oswald?
No spoilers from me and now I’m off to listen to the latest Rebus I have on Audible

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Ranking at his best

Enjoyed every minute. Hopefully the first of many. Made a pleasant change to a longer novel

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Built a story and rushed to conclusion

I listened to an interview with the author who talked about the extensive work required to build a short story, similar to that needed to fill out a full book… I think this book highlights this clearly with a great plot built which would have been great fleshed out all the way. But instead it went for a snap finish that did not adequately reveal how the conclusions were reached. I was totally invested in the plot and would have enjoyed trying to solve the mystery but, having all the strands laid out and the intrigue built, the finale was a simple reveal by character discussion. Disappointed.

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