Westwind

By: Ian Rankin

Narrated by: Ian Rankin, Julian Rhind-Tutt

For the first time in the US, this timeless cat-and-mouse classic from the Edgar Award-winning "genius" examines political tensions in an era of espionage (Lee Child, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series).

In Europe, the Americans are pulling out their troops in a tide of isolationism. Britain, torn between loyalties to America and the continent, is caught in the middle. Across the pond, a space shuttle crashes on landing, killing all but one of the crew on board: A British citizen named Mike Dreyfuss, who will become vilified by the US press and protesters.

Halfway across the world, at English ground control headquarters, Martin Hepton watches with dismay as they lose contact with the most advanced satellite in Europe. When a colleague who suspects something strange disappears, Hepton realizes there is much more at stake than anyone knows -- and many more people on his trail than he can possibly evade . . .

Critic reviews

"[A] techno-action-thriller with its ripped-from-today's-headlines plot...uncanny."—Richard Lipez, The Washington Post

"Rankin fans . . . will welcome this reprinting of a state-of-the-art, high-tech international thriller from 1990. . . . A fast-paced blast from the past . . . and (who knows?) maybe the immediate future as well."—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for In a House of Lies

"There's no one like Ian Rankin for bringing us right into the world of detectives."—Tana French

"Ian Rankin is a genius."—Lee Child

Implausible plot, beautifully narrated

And that about sums it up. Not worth a credit. But again, an excellent narration.

historic entertainment

Edge of my seat! Great stuff. Enjoyed the intro explaining how hard it was to get it published

Ian Rankin does Moonraker

It was fun reading this example of early Rankin in an espionage-y, alternative-history genre. Although the book lacked much of the humor of the Rebus books, it was very enjoyable.

Eerily predicts much of what's going on now

Always iffy to hear a story read by its author, but Rankin does a wonderful job. I'm a fan of his Rebus books so this was a complete departure and I went into it hoping for the best. In the introduction, he says that he wrote the book several decades ago but was inspired to bring it out again since so much of what he talked about in it seemed eerily like much of what seems to be happening today. Well read, well written, very interesting.

Hey, it's a Rankin

Nothing Ian Rankin has written have I disliked. And Rhind-Tutt's narration is superb - more of him, please!