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 his superiors, going off at a tangent and facing his old nemesis, Big Ger, again. As always there is a twist in the end and, after the final results, finishes with a cliff hanger! Rebus will be sadly missed. The lonely, difficult, drinking, smoking character will leave a large hole, but this is a great farewell.

Abridged audiobook edition.

Read James Macpherson.

6 CDs
Running Time: 7 hours

Synopsis

It's late autumn in Edinburgh and late autumn in the career of Detective Inspector John Rebus. As he tries to tie up some loose ends before retirement, a murder case intrudes. A dissident Russian poet has been found dead in what looks like a mugging gone wrong. By apparent coincidence a high-level delegation of Russian businessmen is in town, keen to bring business to Scotland. The politicians and bankers who run Edinburgh are determined that the case should be closed quickly and clinically.

But the further they dig, the more Rebus and his colleague DS Siobhan Clarke become convinced that they are dealing with something more than a random attack - especially after a particularly nasty second killing. Meantime, a brutal and premeditated assault on local gangster 'Big Ger' Cafferty sees Rebus in the frame. Has the Inspector taken a step too far in tying up those loose ends? Only a few days shy of the end to his long, inglorious career, will Rebus even make it that far?

Reviews

"Rankin once again proves himself to be the master of British crime writing, and James Macpherson's gritty reading brings the characters to life."  DAILY EXPRESS

"Rankin has given us Rebus' last case in "Exit Music", impeccably read by James MacPherson. As many twists as barley sugar and considerably less sweet."  INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

'With no let-up in the pressure inside Rebus's head, MacPherson gives us the best performance yet and proves that one reader does not mean one monologue - each character is given their own voice which makes this dramatic. It's a rollicking good listen.'  THE GUARDIAN 40 BEST AUDIOBOOKS

"Faultless writing, faultlessly read... Sheer aural pleasure. An audiobook masterpiece."
AUDIOBOOKSREVIEW.CO.UK

James Macpherson masterfully conjures up the various characters in this final outing for Rebus, and his accent creates just the right atmosphere."  THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE

About the Author

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. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation