The Rise cover art

The Rise

A Short Story

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The Rise

By: Ian Rankin
Narrated by: Indira Varma
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About this listen

In this short thriller from bestselling author Ian Rankin, murder comes to London’s most exclusive high-rise—and every resident is a suspect.

The Rise is a gleaming residential tower, newly constructed from steel and blackened glass, that stands on some of London’s most prestigious real estate. Looming imposingly over Hyde Park, only multi-millionaires need apply for one of its sumptuous apartments. But when the young night concierge is found murdered in the building’s lobby, the elite residents quickly find their gilded lifestyles under unwelcome police scrutiny.

Investigating officer DS Gish has her work cut out. The only suspects, those who live in the building, aren’t accustomed to police interrogation. But it seems horribly certain that one of them must be the killer. Could it be the Russian oligarch? Or the lonely actress? Maybe it’s the family of the career criminal? Or perhaps it’s the building’s reclusive developer who lives alone in the penthouse?

Obstructed continually by locked doors, governments both foreign and domestic, and an apparent absence of motive, can DS Gish solve this impenetrable mystery and apprehend the murderer—before they slip away forever?

©2023 John Rebus Limited. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Thriller Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Suspense England
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Critic reviews

“Indira Varma is the perfect match for this short mystery set in a prestigious apartment building in the center of London.… Varma creates believable and likable characters in the two detectives. She injects just the right amount of world-weariness into DI Milton's character. Her strong characterizations brings to life the key suspects, who range from a Russian oligarch and the wife of a wanted criminal to a has-been actress. Varma's spot-on pacing keeps the listener engaged as the clues and red herrings keep coming.”AudioFile Magazine

What listeners say about The Rise

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

Up a meandering garden path

The story stretches credibility but a good enough short story with an almost believable twist. The performance was generally very good but one significant repeated section that should have been edited out and a few occasions where accents slipped but not quite enough to spoil the story.

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

Compact , held my attention.

Short, concise and not too obvious as to who was the villain, very enjoyable on a wet afternoon !

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

Pedestrian

Procedural and safe territory for Rankin. Nothing to dislike but not the compelling storytelling I usually enjoy.

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

"More good than bad people in the world. ...

... They just made less fuss."

In the Rise, a London 12 story luxury block.of flats also esteemed for it's art works, the janitor is found dead from a head injury and DS Gish with DI Jack Milton are called in to investigate. Not easy when all of the tenants are rich, famous or both. Although only two and one half hours in length, and well performed by Indira Varma, the story is fast paced and full of he character details, quirky crime twists and the careful description for which Rankin is famous in his long running Edinburgh based Rebus series.

Almost five stars but the unexpected ending came just a little too quickly. Nevertheless, an enjoyable English police procedural, and recommended to crime and whodunit fans

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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

Enjoyed

An enjoyable fairly old fashioned crime tale. Just my sort of story, but may not be cutting edge enough for others. Good characterisation by the voice actor: a pleasant way to catch up on the career of Ian Rankin

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

Disappointed

Not my most enjoyable read, didn't take to the characters. Narrator I thought was pretty good.

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

Well narrated, nice twist at the end.

Plot overall was a bit of a stretch. Rankin always reliable though and delivers the unexpected at the end of the piece.

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

Fantastic narration, good short story

Indira Varma is an excellent narrator and I had no hesitation in buying this short story at a reduced price. I would definitely buy short stories in future if this offer continues.

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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

The reader, Indira Varma is superb.

Loved all of it, a cracking story for an afternoon. Felt like I wanted more, but it was tightly written.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

short story that pootled along then whizzed

OK for a short story. seemed to rush ending with too many strands just suddenly concluded independently of the actual discovery

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