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Westwind cover art

Westwind

By: Ian Rankin
Narrated by: Ian Rankin, Julian Rhind-Tutt
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Summary

Europe, 1990. As the US begins to pull out its troops in a tide of isolationism, Britain is torn between its loyalties to the USA and its continental neighbours.

In America, a space shuttle crashes on landing, killing all but one of the crew on-board: a British man named Mike Dreyfuss, who will become vilified by the US press and protesters.

Halfway across the world, Martin Hepton, an English ground control technician watches as they lose contact with the most advanced satellite in Europe. A colleague of Hepton's who suspects something strange is going on is signed off sick, and never comes back.

Hepton decides to investigate his friend's suspicions and his trail leads him to Dreyfuss, MI6, the American military, and back to his former girlfriend, Jill, who is an up-and-coming journalist with the contacts and the courage to cover the story.

But there is much more at stake than anyone realises - and many more people on their trail than they can possibly evade....

©2019 Ian Rankin (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group

What listeners say about Westwind

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

What a disappointment.

I had heard good things about Rankin’s writing. So I was particularly looking forward to this. Unfortunately it reads like a juvenile attempt to cram every cliched 70s and 80s spy thriller and conspiracy plot between two covers. The story line is weak and characters are inconsistent. It just does not stack up.

It is well read. But even the greatest reader could not save this.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping

A 30 year old story about satellites and hi tech would normally be way outside my comfort zone. However, this is by Ian Rankin, and is up to his usual very high standard, and I was gripped within minutes. The narrator is good, making it easy to know which character was speaking. I can’t say much about the plot in case I reveal too much. Do read it though, you won’t be disappointed.

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Thank goodness IR improved with time.

Not a patch on the later works. I listened for as long as I could out of a sense of loyalty but the characters got the better of me. I will await the next offering - hopefully with Rebus, Fox or Siobhan.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really got gripped by this!

An early Ian rankin with spies and computers. Quite dated in some ways but I enjoyed that..cassette tapes smoking on planes no mobile phones etc etc. was a good story well told

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Quite a gripping thriller.

Really enjoyed this. Been meaning to read Ian's early stuff for a while but I think the audiobook performance added to the story.

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

echoes of Ian Fleming and moonraker and others

couldn't help but see similarities between this plot and other similar tales however I enjoyed it for all that. as others have said it is a bit far fetched and lacks credibility but its fast paced enough to paper over the cracks but then I enjoy rankin tales that don't involve rebus....

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Should not have been published

Plot ridiculous and intricate
Should not have been published
Story well read but I debated whether I could be bothered to finish the book

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Scary

I found this book quite exciting but scary because it could so nearly be true. Well written and so believable.

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

Spies and Space

Gripping and convincing with a satisfying dénouement, well narrated. Sorry to have reached the end

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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

Eerily close to our current reality

While in places bizarre and far fetched the central plot of intrigue and sinister power games rings rather true at the moment. Set in the 80s there's plenty of nostalgia to get lost in too.

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