The Hidden Gem of Ian Rankin's Bibliography - Westwind

What if you stumbled upon a gripping spy thriller that not only keeps you on the edge of your seat but also tackles themes that resonate with today's global landscape? Join us as we explore Ian Rankin's early masterpiece, "West Wind," a high-stakes international espionage adventure set during the Cold War. This episode dissects the riveting journey of Martin Hepton, a mission control everyman who finds himself entangled in a web of secrets and lies following a botched space mission and the mysterious disappearance of his friend.

Rankin's narrative leads us through a maze of shadowy figures and political intrigue, keeping us guessing with every turn of the page. We break down how this lesser-known work stands apart from his renowned Inspector Rebus series while still delivering a compelling, edge-of-your-seat experience. Whether you're a longtime Rankin aficionado or just in search of a classic spy tale with a modern twist, this episode promises a fresh look at a forgotten gem that's as relevant today as it was in 1990. Tune in and uncover a side of Rankin's storytelling that you won't want to miss.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:45

Hello, welcome back to another book review. We're in talk mode Today. We're diving into a little known gem by crime fiction legend Ian Rankin. The book's called Westman. Westman takes us on a different path A full blown international spy thriller clocking in at around 330 pages. This one's actually a bit of an earlier work, published way back in 1990. Before Rankin became the superstar that we know today. So the writing is not quite as sharp as some of his later Inspector Rebus novels, but the story itself totally holds up.

Speaker 1: 1:29

I'm going to jump in to the blurb and then I'll summar. Summarize it in my own words. Basically so, reading the blurb here, it always starts with a small y. That's how you stop noticing the bigger ones. After his friend suspects something strange going on at a satellite 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, but why? The one 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.

Speaker 1: 2:30

Discover the classic Lost Thriller from the iconic number one bestseller Says Lost Thriller, because this was a re-release, obviously originally released in 1990. Looking more into the story, it's set against the backdrop of a tense Cold War, with Europe in flux and the US withdrawing. West Wind throws us right into the thick of it. We open with a botched space mission, a sole British survivor, and things get weird fast. Enter Martin Hepton, our not so secret agent guy at mission control. Forget the suave and sophisticated Martin's more of an everyman. Thrust into this crazy world of international espionage, he's on the run, dodging shadowy figures from all sides and trying to piece together a puzzle with missing pieces.

Speaker 1: 3:24

This is a classic spy thriller, but with a modern twist. Rankin throws us a curveball by jumping between characters and we get glimpses into the minds of various players, which keeps you guessing. It's a constant whodunit, who's lying, good guy, bad guy guessing game That'll have you on the edge of your seat. Now, even though it's an older book, the themes of global politics and international intrigue feel surprisingly relevant. With everything going on in the world, it just kind of all fits. With everything going on in the world, it just kind of all fits.

Speaker 1: 4:03

So what does west wind score on my rating and would I recommend it? Well, I think this is another solid four. Would I recommend it absolutely if you're a ranking fan and looking for something completely different, or just dig a good old-fashioned spy story with a modern edge. This is the one for you. Just keep in mind it's different from it's a different beast from his usual inspector rebus fare. This is a whole new ranking adventure and, as mentioned previously, it's written a little bit differently, not as free-flowing as some of his later books, but still really, really good. Thank you guys. So much for listening and, as always, keep reading until next time. Take care, goodbye.