Mike Mackenzie is a successful man, but having made his fortune a few years back in IT, he is now feeling a lack of excitement in his life. He visits galleries and auctions, and fills his plush flat with valuable artwork, yet still his life lacks a real purpose. Until, that is, he gets an offer he can't refuse.
Liberating Works of Art
Robert Gissing is a professor of art fast approaching retirement, and with a plan to "liberate" some valuable paintings currently tucked away in storage. Mike, Robert and fellow acquaintance Allan Cruickshank - a most respectable banker - agree that it is disgraceful that such beautiful works of art should be hidden away purely because Edinburgh's museums and galleries don't have enough space to display them all, and each chooses a couple of painting that they would like to own for themselves.
As luck would have it, just around the corner is "Doors Open" day, where various buildings that are normally closed to members of the public open their doors so that people can have a look around - including the warehouse where the paintings are housed.
Before they know it, their casual chat has become a reality, with a daring scheme to steal a number of paintings without anyone noticing that they are missing. Mike finds himself increasingly caught up in the thrill produced by such risky actions, mixing with the criminal underworld and loving every minute of it. But the perceptive Inspector Ransome is on their trail, piecing together the pieces of information taking him closer and closer to uncovering the truth.
Ian Rankin's Edinburgh
This is an entertaining novel, and rattles along at a good pace. As ever, Rankin is excellent in his portrayal of the beautiful yet complex city of Edinburgh, with its genteel facade and seedy underbelly lurking below the touristy gloss. However, it is inevitable that the novel will be compared to his previous work, and Mike Mackenzie and Inspector Ransome are simply not as fully realised or engaging as Rebus, Rankin's legendary character.
The most convincing character in Doors Open is local villain Chib Calloway, who may remind readers of "Big Ger" Cafferty from the Rebus novels, and suggests that Rankin's heart still lies with crime novels of a more serious persuasion. But until his new crime procedural series is established, there is much to enjoy in this light-hearted caper through the Edinburgh art world.
Doors Open by Ian Rankin is published in paperback in the UK by Orion (2009), ISBN 978-1-4091-0201-4.
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