Ian Rankin

Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh and has since been employed as grape-picker, swineherd, taxman, alcohol researcher, hi-fi journalist and punk musician.

His first Rebus novel, Knots & Crosses, was published in 1987 and the Rebus books have now been translated into 22 languages and are increasingly popular in the USA.

Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow, and is a past winner of the prestigious Chandler-Fulbright Award, as well two CWA short-story 'Daggers' and the 1997 CWA Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction for Black & Blue, which was also shortlisted for the Mystery Writers of America 'Edgar' award for best novel. Dead Souls, the tenth novel in the series, was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger in 1999. Black & Blue, The Hanging Garden, Dead Souls and Mortal Causes have been televised on ITV, starring John Hannah as Inspector Rebus. His 3-part documentary series on the subject of evil was broadcast on Channel 4 in December 2002. An Alumnus of the Year at Edinburgh University, he has also been awarded two honorary doctorates, one from the University of Abertay Dundee and one, more recently, from the University of St Andrews.

He was awarded the OBE in the Queen's Golden Jubilee Birthday Honours List in June 2002 and is now the UK's number one best-selling crime writer. Ian Rankin lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two sons.  

A message from Ian Rankin...

"The 'Ian Rankin's Edinburgh' app has a winter update and its still free, free, free. Its available for iPhone and Android, I'm told. I'm sure that means something to most of you..." Click here to find out more.

If you like Ian Rankin you might also like to read books by Colin Dexter, Peter Robinson and Craig Russell

Black and Blue Ian Rankin A Special Edition of Black and Blue by Ian Rankin to celebrate Orion's 20th anniversary. Rebus has everything against him: an internal investigation, a possible miscarriage of justice and a pretty tough Glasgow gangster. Enough to try the patience of any... Format: Paperback - Released: 20/02/2012 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Impossible Dead Ian Rankin December 2011 MEGA Book of the Month. Shortlisted for the Galaxy Crime & Thriller of the Year Award 2011. Rankin is synonymous with crime and Edinburgh and having decided to end it with his... Format: Hardback - Released: 13/10/2011 Lovereading Price: £14.24 - Saving £4.75 (25%)

The Complaints Ian Rankin August 2010 Book of the Month. The complaints of the title is the ‘Complaints and Conduct Department’, a section of the police force which investigates the behaviour of other police officers. Rankin’s new... Format: Paperback - Released: 05/08/2010 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Complaints: Unabridged Audiobook Ian Rankin This is an unabridged audiobook title. Rankin has moved on to a new protagonist in the form of Malcolm Fox and has set him up in a department which bodes well for what we are sure will be terrific,... Format: CD-Audio - Released: 01/10/2009 Lovereading Price: £19.14 - Saving £6.38 (25%)

The Complaints Ian Rankin Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 5 November 2009. Rankin has moved on to a new protagonist in the form of Malcolm Fox and has set him up in a department which bodes well for what we are... Format: Hardback - Released: 03/09/2009 Lovereading Price: £14.24 - Saving £4.75 (25%)

Doors Open Ian Rankin Shortlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2010. CWA Hall of Fame Dagger 2009. This is the first book since we said a sad farewell to Rebus and is Ian Rankin’s first stand alone novel for a decade.... Format: Paperback - Released: 06/08/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Doors Open Ian Rankin This is the first book since we said a sad farewell to Rebus and is Ian Rankin’s first stand alone novel for a decade. Don’t worry you will not be disappointed as all of Rankin’s skill, imagination and clever plotting... Format: Hardback - Released: 16/09/2008 Lovereading Price: £14.24 - Saving £4.75 (25%)

Exit Music Ian Rankin Shortlisted for the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Galaxy British Book Awards 2008.All the way through this book the overwhelming feeling is the pathos of Rebus’ lonely life and with only ten days to retirement,... Format: Paperback - Released: 07/08/2008 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Exit Music Ian Rankin Shortlisted for the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Galaxy British Book Awards 2008. All the way through this book the overwhelming feeling is the pathos of Rebus’ lonely life and with only ten days to retirement, what... Format: Paperback - Released: 21/02/2008 Lovereading Price: £8.24 - Saving £2.75 (25%)

Exit Music Ian Rankin All the way through this book the overwhelming feeling is the pathos of Rebus’ lonely life and with only ten days to retirement, what will he do, for this is farewell to Rebus. It is also another brilliant, atmospheric tale... Format: Hardback - Released: 06/09/2007 Lovereading Price: £14.24 - Saving £4.75 (25%)

Exit Music Ian Rankin All the way through this book the overwhelming feeling is the pathos of Rebus’ lonely life and with only ten days to retirement, what will he do, for this is farewell to Rebus. It is also another brilliant, atmospheric tale with Rebus annoying... Format: Cd-audio - Released: 06/09/2007 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

Resurrection Men Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 13th Rebus novel. Read by James Macpherson. Featuring a brand new introduction, read by Ian Rankin. Winner of the Silver Award for Best Abridgement at the 2003 Spoken Word Awards. Audiobook details: Abridged,... Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 02/08/2007 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

The Naming of the Dead Ian Rankin Winner of Crime Thriller of the Year at the Galaxy British Book Awards 2007.A very different Rebus. The darkness and aggressive atmosphere of previous books is much lighter and Rebus himself is a softer, much more sympathetic person... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 25/07/2007 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Falls Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 12th Rebus novel. Read by James Macpherson. Featuringan exclusive introduction readby Ian Rankin. Audiobook details: Abridged, 5 CDs, 6 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 04/06/2007 Lovereading Price: £11.24 - Saving £3.75 (25%)

Set in Darkness Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 11th Rebus novel. Read by James Macpherson. Featuring an exclusive introduction read by Ian Rankin.Audiobook details: Abridged, 6 CDs, 7 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 05/04/2007 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

Knots & Crosses - Collectors' Edition Ian Rankin A simplistic plot, the conclusion easily guessed but you need to start here to better know Detective Sergeant John Rebus. A spate of murders, anonymous letters and a blanked-out past which his brother helps him ‘relive’, form the core to... Format: Hardback - Released: 21/03/2007 Lovereading Price: £8.21 - Saving £2.74 (25%)

Knots & Crosses Ian Rankin A 20th anniversary audiobook edition ofthe 1st Rebus novel. Read by Bill Paterson and featuring an exclusive introduction read by Ian Rankin. Find out how it all began. Audiobook details: Abridged, 3CDs, 3.5 hours long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 01/03/2007 Lovereading Price: £10.49 - Saving £3.50 (25%)

Mortal Causes Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 6th Rebus novel. Read by James MacPherson. Featuring an exclusive introduction read by Ian Rankin. Audiobook details: Abridged, 3 CDs, 3.3 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 01/02/2007 Lovereading Price: £10.49 - Saving £3.50 (25%)

The Naming of the Dead Ian Rankin Winner of Crime Thriller of the Year at the Galaxy British Book Awards 2007. A very different Rebus. The darkness and aggressive atmosphere of previous books is much lighter and Rebus himself is a softer, much more sympathetic person –... Format: Hardback - Released: 18/10/2006 Lovereading Price: £13.49 - Saving £4.50 (25%)

The Naming of the Dead Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 16th Rebus novel. Read by James Macpherson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 6 CDs, 7 hrs. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 18/10/2006 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

A Good Hanging Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of Eleven Inspector Rebus Mysteries. Read by James Macpherson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 5 CDs, 6 hrs. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 07/09/2006 Lovereading Price: £11.24 - Saving £3.75 (25%)

The Flood Ian Rankin This is not a Rebus detective story, in fact it is Rankin’s first novel so fascinating for his fans to see how he has developed. It’s a strange book of relationships, local feuds, suspicion and the search for happiness, many... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 09/08/2006 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £2.75 (34%)

Hide & Seek Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 2nd Rebus novel. Read by Bill Paterson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 3CDs, 3 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 06/07/2006 Lovereading Price: £10.49 - Saving £3.50 (25%)

Rebus's Scotland Ian Rankin A highly atmospheric guide to the locations used for his crime novels and as such also an intriguing glimpse into the author’s life and mind. I found it fascinating. This title is also available as an Audio book inCDformat. Format: Paperback - Released: 01/06/2006 Lovereading Price: £6.74 - Saving £2.25 (25%)

Black & Blue Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 8th Rebus novel. Read by James Macpherson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 3 CDs, 3.4 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 02/02/2006 Lovereading Price: £10.49 - Saving £3.50 (25%)

Rebus's Scotland Ian Rankin For the first time, Ian Rankin has written his personal guide through the places in Scotland that have provided him with the backdrops for the thrilling events in the Inspector Rebus novels. This CD is packaged in a special collectors' box... Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 06/10/2005 Lovereading Price: £11.99 - Saving £4.00 (25%)

Knots & Crosses Ian Rankin Rankin is one of the masters of crime fiction and Knots and Crosses is where it all began. Here, we are introduced to John Rebus, SAS paratrooper turned Detective Sergeant. When young girls start disappearing around Edinburghhe is called in... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 22/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Black & Blue Ian Rankin Rebus has everything against him, an internal investigation, a possible miscarriage of justice and a pretty tough Glasgow gangster. Enough to try the patience of any cop, but when it’s the curmudgeon Rebus he really has to tread a fine... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 22/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Falls Ian Rankin Internet role playing lies at the heart of this stunning novel, one of his best. The Rosslyn Chapel makes a brief appearance, the falls being close by, and Rankin’s consummate plotting is used to its full. This is wonderful stuff,... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 22/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Hanging Garden Ian Rankin Full of plot, incidents, twists and turns. At its core is gang warfare, a Nazi war criminal and Rebus struggling with his demon drink and the memory of his daughter. Edinburgh, of course, is at the centre of it all.... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 22/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Dead Souls Ian Rankin A paedophile taking pictures of children at Edinburgh’s Zoo speaks of trouble to Rebus, but it seems others think not. Dilemma. Rankin is so good at throwing up social issues, nutty problems and tricky situations. This is littered with them,... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 22/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Resurrection Men Ian Rankin Don’t start your Rebus experience here for this is too full of his despair and failings for you to fully appreciate the man. You need to know him better to get the most out of this. If you do know... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 22/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Set in Darkness Ian Rankin Revolving around the new Parliament building and early dark secrets, this has seemingly unconnected cases building to a wonderful, convoluted tale of corruption and greed. This title is also available as an Audiobook in CD format. Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 22/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

A Question of Blood Ian Rankin Our curmudgeon, with bandaged hands and his bad attitude against authority, particularly his superiors, makes him a prime suspect for a particular case of arson and surprisingly his past comes back to haunt him when there is a shooting in... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 22/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

A Good Hanging Ian Rankin Twelve Inspector Rebus mysteries. This title is also available as an Audiobook in CD format. Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 22/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Strip Jack Ian Rankin Gregor Jack MP is discovered in a brothel during a police raid and the tabloids have a field day. It seems he was framed … then his wife is murdered. This takes Rebus away from his gritty Edinburgh into Fife... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 01/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Hide & Seek Ian Rankin The hunt for the killer of a junkie whose body is found in a deserted building in a very rough housing estate is the backdrop to the second Rebus mystery. He is now an Inspector and courted by Edinburgh’s elite.... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 01/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Tooth & Nail Ian Rankin Rankin, himself now in London, brings Rebus down “to suffer” but basically because he is supposedly an ‘expert’ in catching serial killers. This particular one leaves teeth marks on his victims and hence is nicknamed ‘Wolfman’ which was the original... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 01/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Let it Bleed Ian Rankin Undeterred by pressure from above to drop a sensitive case, Rebus unearths dirty dealings and conspiracy within many official departments. Along the way we find a tender side to our spiky cop in a novel that eventually brings him a... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 01/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Black Book Ian Rankin The Black Book of the title belongs to a brutally attacked colleague and contains baffling coded secrets which Rebus must obviously solve. In a convoluted plot of Edinburgh’s low life we meet arch villain “Big Ger” for the first time... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 01/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £2.75 (34%)

Mortal Causes Ian Rankin Rebus continues to grow as a character as we spend more time with him. Here his ex-SAS experience is called on in a case that starts at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and swings from the country to Belfast and back.... Format: Paperback (a Format) - Released: 01/09/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Fleshmarket Close Ian Rankin Winner of Crime Thriller of the Year at theBritish Book Awards 2005. Very much the thinking man’s mystery, this novel is dominated by racial issues, the thugs and the refugees just outside Edinburgh. It is peppered with a variety of... Format: Paperback - Released: 10/08/2005 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Black Book Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 5th Rebus novel. Read by James MacPherson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 3CDs, 3 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 04/08/2005 Lovereading Price: £10.49 - Saving £3.50 (25%)

Dead Souls Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 10th Rebus novel. Read by Bill Paterson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 3 CDs, 3 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 07/07/2005 Lovereading Price: £10.49 - Saving £3.50 (25%)

The Hanging Garden Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 9th Rebus novel. Read by Bill Paterson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 3 CDs, 3.4 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 07/04/2005 Lovereading Price: £10.27 - Saving £3.43 (25%)

Rebus : Capital Crimes Ian Rankin Thisfourth Rebus omnibus comprises books ten, eleven and twelve in the Rebusseries:Dead Souls,Set in Darkness andThe Falls. Format: Paperback - Released: 20/12/2004 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

Let it Bleed Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 7th Rebus novel. Read by Bill Paterson.Audiobook details: Abridged, 3CDs, 3 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 02/12/2004 Lovereading Price: £9.75 - Saving £3.25 (25%)

Fleshmarket Close Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 15th Rebus novel. Read by James Macpherson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 5 CDs, 6 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 24/09/2004 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

Watchman Ian Rankin This may be a Rankin written 15 years ago and now being reissued but it is definitely worth the read. A stand alone spy thriller featuring Miles Flint a low level operative in the world of espionage, with a watching... Format: Paperback - Released: 02/09/2004 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)

Tooth & Nail Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 3rd Rebus novel. Read by James Macpherson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 3CDs, 3 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 03/05/2004 Lovereading Price: £9.75 - Saving £3.25 (25%)

Rebus : The Lost Years Ian Rankin This third Rebus omnibus comprises books seven, eight and nine in the Rebus series: Let it Bleed, Black & Blue and The Hanging Garden. Format: Paperback - Released: 20/11/2003 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

A Question of Blood Ian Rankin An audiobook edition of the 14th Rebus novel. Read by James Macpherson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 6CDs, 6.7 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 22/08/2003 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

Strip Jack Ian Rankin Winner of the Gold Award for best crime/thriller at the 2003 Spoken Word Awards. An audiobook edition of the 4th Rebus novel. Read by James MacPherson. Audiobook details: Abridged, 5 CDs, 6.5 hrs long. Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 03/07/2003 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

Rebus - The St Leonard's Years Omnibus Ian Rankin The second Rebus omnibus comprising books four, five and six in the Rebus series - Strip Jack, The Black Book and Mortal Clauses. Format: Paperback - Released: 21/12/2001 Lovereading Price: £12.74 - Saving £4.25 (25%)

Rebus : The Early Years Ian Rankin The first Rebus omnibus comprising books one, two and three in the Rebus series - Knots & Crosses, Hide & Seek and Tooth & Nail. Format: Paperback - Released: 18/05/2000 Lovereading Price: £11.24 - Saving £3.75 (25%)