Autographs in the Rain

Bob Skinner #11

by Quintin Jardine

As Skinner takes an evening stroll with a gorgeous film star on his arm, surely the worst of his worries is back at Headquarters, where a new colleague is scheming to enlarge his territory at Skinner's expense. But when a gunshot has Skinner and his old flame diving for cover, it seems danger has zeroed in on him again.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Audiobook, Detective, Fiction, Scotland

436 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

Quintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.

His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not dispirited by my first Bob Skinner, I picked up another one, although the library having his books on their shelves was probably the real driver. This is the 11th(!) book in the Bob Skinner series - in which Skinner faces trouble at work, at a demented poslikley stalker targeting his movie star girlfriend... this case proves very much personal for the Detective Chief Constable. But is that the real story? An OK easy read, that wilted in parts for me. 5 out of 12.

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[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never get tired of this series. Another good read. Not as much about Skinner in this one but the characters are so developed it does no harm to the book and it's nice to read about the ones who have been slightly in the foreground of other storylines

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An actress who is an old girlfriend of DCC Bob Skinner is in Edinburg to make a movie. Someone is stalking her. Skinner's secretary is accused of killing her own uncle and trout farms are being robbed. Add to the mic a by-the-book Deputy Chief Constable who wants Skinner's job as an in to becoming the next Chief Constable.

[Malvernrob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only just discovered Quintin Jardine, but oh how I wish I had done so before, I have some catching up to do. I have now read just three of his books, but each time I found it difficult to put them down. He has clearly done his research as procedures are very true to life and I now can't wait to get my hands on more of his books.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started well but dialogue was woeful in parts and I just didn't believe the ending. Won't be adding more of his books to my list.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to say there was something fishy about this book but that would be a terrible pun and possibly even a red herring. it may tickle a few trout though.

Bob Skinner is one of my favourite policemen. His home base is Edinburgh but that police area covers everything from lovely fishing villages, seaside holiday towns, the Scottish borders where rugby is king to the beautiful city itself.

I love that I know this region so well that I don't have to imagine the places in the book, I have been to most of them.

Along with the diversity of the area comes a weird mix of crimes to be solved. Trout stealing, burglaries, and terrorism. Edinburgh is, after all, the capital city of Scotland. Brotherly - or sisterly - love adds to the mix.

Quintin Jardine juggles plotlines better than the street performers at the Festival. Unlike them he doesn't drop the ball; keeping everything in the air until he is ready to share.

This is book eleven in the Bob Skinner series and it is as individual as each of the previous ten. It is a series worth getting stuck into, and they don't need to be read in order although it helps with the continuity if they are.

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star read. This is the 11th book in Jardine's excellent DCC Bob Skinner series and was an interesting and very good read. There were several different threads in this book and they were all interesting. It starts with Skinner being shot at while walking in London with a famous movie star, Louise Bankier, who is also a women from his past. Bob naturally assumes that he was the target. And super secretary Ruth McConnell takes new boyfriend Sammy Pye to visit her old uncle but things are amiss at his house and soon Ruth is under suspicion. Also, Dan Pringle is sent to the Scottish borders on a new job and stumbles upon fish rustlers-someone is taking big tanker trucks to trout farms and stealing all the fish. This book kept me entertained and intrigued from the first to the last page. Another very good read by Jardine.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fish are stolen from fish farms on the borders. Ruth’s uncle is found dead in his home in Cumbernauld by Sammy Pye and herself. Suspicious death. Actress Louise Bankier - old flame of Skinner’s from their youth - is in town to film a movie and someone is stalking her with intent to kill. Neil McIlhenney to the rescue and the start of their romance. Sort of tame stories after some of the others in the series.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob Skinner is more than a bit of a superman but in this one he plays an important but lesser role - appreciated since I have at times overdosed on him. An old flame, a movie star, a stalker, a widowed copper (sorry, polisman), and trout all combine in this tale

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book became more & more engaging as it went along! Would be happy to read others by Jardine!

[Susan Hutchinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t enjoy it that much, found it long winded

[ElaineY · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who was the bullet meant for? Louise or Skinner? An adequate enough installment as Skinner and his men investigate the attack while wading through the internal good cop-bad cop antics.

[Christopher Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like a book of two halves. The plot of one story was enjoyable and well written. The other was all a bit fanciful; well written with great characters but the plot got a bit silly.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so good

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob Skinner continues to be Super Man, but there are new heroes in this story too. Very entertaining.

[Ian Petrie]

This series just gets better and better! Even after reaching a total of 11 there is a freshness to the Bob Skinner saga perhaps with the hero taking something of a back seat in Autographs in the Rain. Great there is still plenty of reading to come. I'm hooked.