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Westwind

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Westwind

By: Ian Rankin
Narrated by: Ian Rankin, Julian Rhind-Tutt
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About this listen

THE CLASSIC LOST THRILLER FROM THE ICONIC NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

* * * * *

It always starts with a small lie. That's how you stop noticing the bigger ones.

After his friend suspects something strange going on at the launch facility where they both work - and then goes missing - Martin Hepton doesn't believe the official line of "long-term sick leave"...

Refusing to stop asking questions, he leaves his old life behind, aware that someone is shadowing his every move.

The only hope he has is his ex-girlfriend Jill Watson - the only journalist who will believe his story.

But neither of them can believe the puzzle they're piecing together - or just how shocking the secret is that everybody wants to stay hidden...

A gripping, suspense masterclass - available in print for the first time in nearly thirty years.

* * * * *

'Rankin is a master storyteller'
Guardian

'Great fiction, full stop'
The Times

'Ian Rankin is a genius'
Lee Child

'One of Britain's leading novelists in any genre'
New Statesman

'A virtuoso of the craft'
Daily Mail

'Rankin is a phenomenon'
Spectator

'Britain's No.1 crime writer'
Mirror

'Quite simply, crime writing of the highest order'
Express

'Worthy of Agatha Christie at her best'
Scotsman

©2019 Ian Rankin (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group Crime Fiction Espionage Genre Fiction International Mystery & Crime Military Mystery Political Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense War & Military Fiction Exciting Crime

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Most relevant  
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....

echoes of Ian Fleming and moonraker and others

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Loved it. Great story and remarkable that it is current considering written a long time ago. Great read.

Not Rebus but.....

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There is an explanation at the beginning by the author himself of how this work first published in 1990 came to have a 2019 imprint. Despite revisions and re-editing it is very much last century. Fascination with car central locking and name dropping now deceased models of cars as a shorthand for status and style remains and will bemuse readers who haven't heard of them.
There are some clever plot twists, but several main characters have improbable survival and although there is a satisfying tying up of story threads, I thought that the ending was rushed and again mired in hacking and satellite surveillance being novel and wondrous.
Someone wanting to complete their collection of
Ian Rankin's work may be interested to see the formative stage evident here. It is a different genre than the one in which Rankin made his name and is an illustration of how such stories can become outdated and trite.

Early work by big name author shows its age

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The author starts with an explanation about the evolution of the story/book. It turns out it was written many moons ago but recently updated.
It is a good story and well presented but it feels dated.
This updating of old work is becoming more popular and I’m not sure if is a good idea.
Come on Ian let us have a new story in context.

An updated story

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A rerelease of an old book a bit dated, but can be viewed as nostalgic

Ok

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In the prologue Ian explains the history of this book and how it was either rejected or ignored in the shops in the late 20th century. I began to think I’d maybe got a dud. But within a few minutes I was hooked. Yes it was set over 20 years ago with references to old technology but it was a fast paced thriller which kept me on the edge of my seat. Buy it, listen to it and you won’t be disappointed.

Enthralled

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

Scary

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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.

Eerily close to our current reality

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After an initially slow start, it picked up pace to become increasingly enthralling and the characters became robust enough for one to invest in.

Increasingly good!

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Some of the vocabulary is a bit dated but if you can see past that it's a good paced read. If the ending a little abrupt

A good listen

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