Watchman (novel)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Watchman
1st edition
Author	Ian Rankin
Country	Scotland
Language	English
Genre	Thriller
Publisher	Bodley Head
Publication date	1988
Media type	Print (Hardcover)
Pages	224 pp
ISBN	0-370-31208-2
OCLC	17439591

Watchman (ISBN 0-75285-915-3) is a 1988 novel written by Ian Rankin, and is one of the author's earliest works. Originally published in 1988, it was reissued with a new introduction by Rankin in 2004.

Plot summary

The book tells the story of Miles Flint, a surveillance officer who works for MI5.

After two high profile operations involving Flint are compromised with deadly consequences, he is sent to Belfast to witness what he believes is going to be the arrest of some Provisional Irish Republican Army men. However, after accompanying the security forces on their mission, he discovers that what has actually been planned is the assassination of the Irishmen - and with Flint having come along for the ride, he suddenly realises that his own life is at risk.

As the killings are about to be carried out, Flint stages a daring escape with the aid of one of the Irishmen, Will Collins. Then, on the run, and playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with his own side, Flint and Collins begin to piece together a lethal conspiracy which they ultimately discover goes right to the very core of the British Government.

Connections to other Rankin books

Journalist Jim Stevens, who appears in this book, first appeared in Knots and Crosses, the first Inspector Rebus book, which ended with him leaving Edinburgh for London; he returns to Scotland in future Rebus books.

Release details

1988, UK, Bodley Head (ISBN 0370312082), Pub date ? June 1988, hardback (First edition)
2003, UK, Orion (ISBN 0-75285-003-X), hardcover, (Revised edition, with an introduction by the author)
2004, UK, Orion (ISBN 0-75285-915-3), Pub date 2 September 2004, paperback (Revised edition)

Footnotes

References

Rankin, Ian (1988). Watchman. Orion. ISBN 0-7528-5915-3.

v t e Works by Ian Rankin

Novels	The Flood (1986) Knots and Crosses (1987) Watchman (1988) Westwind (1990) Hide and Seek (1991) Tooth and Nail (1992) Strip Jack (1992) The Black Book (1993) Witch Hunt (1993) Mortal Causes (1994) Bleeding Hearts (1994) Let It Bleed (1995) Blood Hunt (1995) Black & Blue (1997) The Hanging Garden (1998) Dead Souls (1999) Set in Darkness (2000) The Falls (2001) Resurrection Men (2002) A Question of Blood (2003) Fleshmarket Close (2004) The Naming of the Dead (2006) Exit Music (2007) Doors Open (2008) A Cool Head (2009, Quick Reads) The Complaints (2009) The Impossible Dead (2011) Standing in Another Man's Grave (2012)

Short story collections	A Good Hanging and Other Stories (1992) Beggars Banquet (2002)

Non-fiction	Rebus's Scotland: A Personal Journey (2005) Jackie Leven Said (2005, With Jackie Leven)

Graphic novels	Dark Entries (2009)

Plays	Dark Road

Short stories	An Afternoon (1984) Voyeurism (1985) Colony (1986) Trip Trap (1992) Marked For Death (1992) Well Shot (1993) Someone Got to Eddie (1994) A Deep Hole (1994) Adventures in Babysitting (1995) Natural Selection (1996) Auld Lang Syne (1997) Principles of Accounts (1997) Death is Not the End (1998) The Hanged Man (2000) Saint Nicked (2003) Soft Spot (2005) Not Just Another Saturday (2005) Sinner: Justified (2006)

Related articles	Inspector Rebus Quick Reads Jackie Leven University of Edinburgh Gold Dagger

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.