Ian Rankin - Author

Rebus Anniversary Box Set

1: KNOTS AND CROSSES - the novel which first introduced John Rebus. Year 10: BLACK AND BLUE - the breakthrough novel, winner of the CWA Gold Dagger. Year 20: EXIT MUSIC - where Rebus retires...but will he ever be able to leave it all behind?

Rather be the Devil

Some cases never leave you. For John Rebus, forty years may have passed, but the death of beautiful, promiscuous Maria Turquand still preys on his mind. Murdered in her hotel room on the night a famous rock star and his entourage were staying there, Maria's killer has never been found. Meanwhile, the dark heart of Edinburgh remains up for grabs. A young pretender, Darryl Christie, may have staked his claim, but a vicious attack leaves him weakened and vulnerable, and an inquiry into a major money laundering scheme threatens his position.

Even Dogs in the Wild The New John Rebus

Hands in his pockets, Rebus turned to face Cafferty. They were old men now, similar builds, similar backgrounds. Sat together in a pub, the casual onlooker might mistake them for pals who'd known one another since school. But their history told a different story. Retirement doesn't suit John Rebus. He wasn't made for hobbies, holidays or home improvements. Being a cop is in his blood. So when DI Siobhan Clarke asks for his help on a case, Rebus doesn't need long to consider his options. Clarke's been investigating the death of a senior lawyer whose body was found along with a threatening note. On the other side of Edinburgh, Big Ger Cafferty - Rebus's long-time nemesis - has received an identical note and a bullet through his window. Now it's up to Clarke and Rebus to connect the dots and stop a killer. Meanwhile, DI Malcolm Fox joins forces with a covert team from Glasgow who are tailing a notorious crime family. There's something they want, and they'll stop at nothing to get it.

The Beat Goes on: the Complete Rebus Stories

Over the years, Ian Rankin has amassed an incredible portfolio of short stories. Published in crime magazines, composed for events, broadcast on radio, they all share the best qualities of his phenomenally popular Rebus novels. Brought together for the first time, and including brand new material, this is the ultimate Rebus short-story collection and a must-have book for crime lovers and for Ian's millions of fans alike. No Rankin aficionado can go without it.

Postmortem UEA Creative Writing Anthology Crime Fiction

In a House of Lies The Brand New Rebus Thriller

The iconic Ian Rankin returns with a new Detective John Rebus novel - this year's essential must-read bestseller. * * * * * IN A HOUSE OF LIES...Everyone has something to hide A missing private investigator is found, locked in a car hidden deep in the woods. Worse still - both for his family and the police - is that his body was in an area that had already been searched. Everyone has secrets Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is part of a new inquiry, combing through the mistakes of the original case. There were always suspicions over how the investigation was handled and now - after a decade without answers - it's time for the truth. Nobody is innocent Every officer involved must be questioned, and it seems everyone on the case has something to hide, and everything to lose. But there is one man who knows where the trail may lead - and that it could be the end of him: John Rebus.

In a House of Lies The Brand New Rebus Thriller

The iconic Ian Rankin returns with a new Detective John Rebus novel - this year's essential must-read bestseller. * * * * * IN A HOUSE OF LIES...Everyone has something to hide A missing private investigator is found, locked in a car hidden deep in the woods. Worse still - both for his family and the police - is that his body was in an area that had already been searched. Everyone has secrets Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is part of a new inquiry, combing through the mistakes of the original case. There were always suspicions over how the investigation was handled and now - after a decade without answers - it's time for the truth. Nobody is innocent Every officer involved must be questioned, and it seems everyone on the case has something to hide, and everything to lose. But there is one man who knows where the trail may lead - and that it could be the end of him: John Rebus.

Rebus: Long Shadows

John Rebus is not as young as he was, but his detective instincts have never left him. And after the daughter of a murder victim turns up outside his flat, he's going to need them at their sharpest. Enlisting the help of his old friend DI Siobhan Clarke, Rebus is determined to solve this cold case once and for all. But Clarke has problems of her own, problems that will put her at odds with her long-time mentor and push him into seeking help from his age-old adversary: 'Big Ger' Cafferty. This haunting story takes Rebus to places he has never been before, sets him and his long-time foe on a collision course and takes us deeper into one of the most satisfying conflicts in modern fiction. Featuring an introduction from Rankin himself, a Q&A between writers Ian and Rona, an interview with the director, and behind-the-scenes production materials, this book is one Rebus fans will not want to miss out on.

Exit Music

A mugging gone wrong ... or murder? A dissident Russian poet is found dead - at the same time a delegation of Russian businessmen arrives in town. For some, it is crucial that the case is closed quickly, clinically and with the minimum of attention. But DI Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke believe this is something more than a random attack - especially after a particularly nasty second killing. Then, a brutal and premeditated assault on a local gangster puts Rebus in the frame - and he may not survive long enough to solve anything...

The Deathwatch Journal An original story for BBC Radio 4

A gripping original story for BBC Radio 4 by award-winning crime writer Ian Rankin, written for the landmark Radio 4 Book at Bedtime slot Saughton Prison, Edinburgh. 1962. Prison guard Thomas Scott watches over a condemned man sentenced to hang for the murder of his wife. His prisoner is a guilty man, that's for sure. William Telfer has done enough bad things in his life. And Scott has been in his job long enough to know that guilty men often proclaimed their innocence right up until the moment the noose was placed around their necks. But as they wait out the days until his execution, Scott begins to suspect that Telfer is innocent of this murder. An innocent man could be hanged by the neck until dead. And his jailer doesn't know what to do about it... To find out the truth, Scott must explore Edinburgh's darkest corners. And he is running out of time. From the best-selling author of the Rebus novels, this original story asks what you would do in the face of doubt, and in the search for justice. (This release contains additional material not included in the radio broadcast, plus an extended postscript.) Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes approx.

Deathwatch Journal

A gripping original story for BBC Radio 4 by award-winning crime writer Ian Rankin, written for the landmark Radio 4 Book at Bedtime slotSaughton Prison, Edinburgh. 1962. Prison guard Thomas Scott watches over a condemned man sentenced to hang for the murder of his wife. His prisoner is a guilty man, that's for sure. William Telfer has done enough bad things in his life. And Scott has been in his job long enough to know that guilty men often proclaimed their innocence right up until the moment the noose was placed around their necks. But as they wait out the days until his execution, Scott begins to suspect that Telfer is innocent of this murder.An innocent man could be hanged by the neck until dead. And his jailer doesn't know what to do about it...To find out the truth, Scott must explore Edinburgh's darkest corners. And he is running out of time.From the best-selling author of the Rebus novels, this original story asks what you would do in the face of doubt, and in the search for justice.(This release contains additional material not included in the radio broadcast, plus an extended postscript.)

A Question of Blood

At a private school, two teenagers are killed by an ex-Army loner who then turned the gun on himself. Finding the truth will take Detective Inspector John Rebus into the heart of a shattered community. Ex-Army himself, Rebus becomes fascinated by the killer, and finds he is not alone. It seems the man had friends in high places and enemies to spare. And Rebus has secrets of his own. He's fresh out of hospital, with newly bandaged hands, and won't say what happened. But after the death of a criminal he visited, who had been stalking DS Siobhan Clarke, Rebus is the prime suspect...

Rebus Anniversary Box Set

1: KNOTS AND CROSSES - the novel which first introduced John Rebus. Year 10: BLACK AND BLUE - the breakthrough novel, winner of the CWA Gold Dagger. Year 20: EXIT MUSIC - where Rebus retires...but will he ever be able to leave it all behind?

Rather Be the Devil The superb Rebus No.1 bestseller (Inspector Rebus 21)

Some cases never leave you. For John Rebus, forty years may have passed, but the death of beautiful, promiscuous Maria Turquand still preys on his mind. Murdered in her hotel room on the night a famous rock star and his entourage were staying there, Maria's killer has never been found. Meanwhile, the dark heart of Edinburgh remains up for grabs. A young pretender, Darryl Christie, may have staked his claim, but a vicious attack leaves him weakened and vulnerable, and an inquiry into a major money laundering scheme threatens his position. Has old-time crime boss Big Ger Cafferty really given up the ghost, or is he biding his time until Edinburgh is once more ripe for the picking? In a tale of twisted power, deep-rooted corruption and bitter rivalries, Rather Be the Devil showcases Rankin and Rebus at their unstoppable best.

Rather Be the Devil The superb Rebus No.1 bestseller (Inspector Rebus 21)

Some cases never leave you. For John Rebus, forty years may have passed, but the death of beautiful, promiscuous Maria Turquand still preys on his mind. Murdered in her hotel room on the night a famous rock star and his entourage were staying there, Maria's killer has never been found. Meanwhile, the dark heart of Edinburgh remains up for grabs. A young pretender, Darryl Christie, may have staked his claim, but a vicious attack leaves him weakened and vulnerable, and an inquiry into a major money laundering scheme threatens his position. Has old-time crime boss Big Ger Cafferty really given up the ghost, or is he biding his time until Edinburgh is once more ripe for the picking? In a tale of twisted power, deep-rooted corruption and bitter rivalries, Rather be the Devil showcases Rankin and Rebus at their unstoppable best.

Black And Blue

In the 1960s, the infamous Bible John terrorised Scotland when he murdered three women, taking three souvenirs. Thirty years later, a copycat is at work, dubbed Johnny Bible. DI John Rebus's unconventional methods have got him in trouble before - now he's taken away from the inquiry and sent to investigate the killing of an off-duty oilman. But when his case clashes head-on with the Johnny Bible killings, he finds himself in the glare of a fearful media, whilst under the scrutiny of an internal enquiry. Just one mistake is likely to mean losing his job - and quite possibly his life.

The Travelling Companion For as Long as it Takes to Get There

For recent college graduate Ronald Hastie, a job at the legendary Shakespeare and Company bookshop offers the perfect occupation during a summer abroad in Paris. Working part-time in exchange for room and board leaves plenty of freedom to explore the city once visited by his literary hero, Robert Louis Stevenson, and things only get better when he meets a collector who claims to have the original manuscripts of both the first draft of Jekyll and Hyde and the never-published The Travelling Companion (both thought to have been destroyed). Then Ron meets the man's mysterious assistant, and a reckless obsession stirs inside him. As the life he knew back home in Scotland fades from memory, he desperately seeks the secret lying within Stevenson's long-lost pages...

Travelling Companion

For recent college graduate Ronald Hastie, a job at the legendary Shakespeare and Company bookshop offers the perfect occupation during a summer abroad in Paris. Working part-time in exchange for room and board leaves plenty of freedom to explore the city once visited by his literary hero, Robert Louis Stevenson, and things only get better when he meets a collector who claims to have the original manuscripts of both the first draft of Jekyll and Hyde and the never-published The Travelling Companion (both thought to have been destroyed). Then Ron meets the man's mysterious assistant, and a reckless obsession stirs inside him. As the life he knew back home in Scotland fades from memory, he desperately seeks the secret lying within Stevenson's long-lost pages...

Even Dogs in the Wild

Hands in his pockets, Rebus turned to face Cafferty. They were old men now, similar builds, similar backgrounds. Sat together in a pub, the casual onlooker might mistake them for pals who'd known one another since school. But their history told a different story. Retirement doesn't suit John Rebus. He wasn't made for hobbies, holidays or home improvements. Being a cop is in his blood. So when DI Siobhan Clarke asks for his help on a case, Rebus doesn't need long to consider his options. Clarke's been investigating the death of a senior lawyer whose body was found along with a threatening note. On the other side of Edinburgh, Big Ger Cafferty - Rebus's long-time nemesis - has received an identical note and a bullet through his window. Now it's up to Clarke and Rebus to connect the dots and stop a killer. Meanwhile, DI Malcolm Fox joins forces with a covert team from Glasgow who are tailing a notorious crime family. There's something they want, and they'll stop at nothing to get it. It's a game of dog eat dog - in the city, as in the wild. EVEN DOGS IN THE WILD brings back Ian Rankin's greatest characters in a story exploring the darkest corners of our instincts and desires.

Even Dogs in the Wild

A Boston Globe Best Mystery of the YearRebus comes out of retirement...to save his nemesis.Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is feeling the heat. She's investigating the death of a senior government prosecutor, David Minton, who has friends in high places. When one of their own is killed, the powers that be want answers fast. But Clarke is puzzled: if Minton died in a robbery as everyone thinks, why is nothing missing from his home? The answer may lie not in what was taken, but in what was left behind at the scene--an ominous note. Malcolm Fox is feeling useless. Shunned by his colleagues because of his past in the Complaints bureau, he's been reassigned to a grunt detail, helping a surveillance team--one that trusts him even less than his own boss does--track a notorious Glasgow crime family. Helping Clarke with the Minton case is the only thing that makes Fox feel like a real cop. Newly minted civilian John Rebus is feeling restless. Being a cop is in his blood and he's failing miserably at retirement. So when Clarke and Fox ask for his help, Rebus doesn't need long to consider his options. But before he can get his bearings, a call comes from Rebus's old nemesis--"e;Big Ger"e; Cafferty. Someone just fired a bullet through his front window--and sent him a note identical to Minton's. The normally unflappable old gangster is on edge, but for the life of him Cafferty can't figure out who he's wronged. And the only man he trusts with his life is Rebus. As the cases collide, it's up to Clarke, Fox, and Rebus to connect the dots and save their unlikely ally Cafferty, whose past harbors a shocking secret that implicates Minton's friends in an unspeakable crime. Even Dogs in the Wild reunites crime fiction legend Ian Rankin's greatest characters in an explosive story exploring the darkest corners of our desires.

Even Dogs in the Wild The No.1 bestseller (Inspector Rebus Book 20)

Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is investigating the death of a senior lawyer during a robbery. But the case becomes more complex when a note is discovered, indicating that this may have been no random attack, and when local gangster Big Ger Cafferty receives an identical message, Clarke decides that the recently retired John Rebus may be able to help. He's the only man Cafferty will open up to, and together the two old adversaries might just stand a chance of saving Cafferty's skin. But a notorious family has arrived in Edinburgh, too, tailed by a team of undercover detectives. There's something they want, and they'll stop at nothing to get it. DI Malcolm Fox's job is to provide the undercover squad with local expertise, but he's soon drawn in too deep as the two cases look like colliding. And meantime, an anonymous killer stalks the night-time streets, focussed on revenge. It's a game of dog eat dog - in the city as in the wild. Even Dogs in the Wild brings back Ian Rankin's greatest characters in a story exploring the darkest corners of our instincts and desires. Read by James Macpherson

Even Dogs in the Wild The New John Rebus

Hands in his pockets, Rebus turned to face Cafferty. They were old men now, similar builds, similar backgrounds. Sat together in a pub, the casual onlooker might mistake them for pals who'd known one another since school. But their history told a different story. Retirement doesn't suit John Rebus. He wasn't made for hobbies, holidays or home improvements. Being a cop is in his blood. So when DI Siobhan Clarke asks for his help on a case, Rebus doesn't need long to consider his options. Clarke's been investigating the death of a senior lawyer whose body was found along with a threatening note. On the other side of Edinburgh, Big Ger Cafferty - Rebus's long-time nemesis - has received an identical note and a bullet through his window. Now it's up to Clarke and Rebus to connect the dots and stop a killer. Meanwhile, DI Malcolm Fox joins forces with a covert team from Glasgow who are tailing a notorious crime family. There's something they want, and they'll stop at nothing to get it.

Dark Road A play

First performed at Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum Theatre, the first stage play from the SUNDAY TIMES No.1 bestselling author of SAINTS OF THE SHADOW BIBLE. It's been 25 years since Alfred Chalmers was convicted of the gruesome murder of four young women in Edinburgh. Isobel McArthur, Scotland's first Chief Constable, was the woman responsible for putting him behind bars, but the case has haunted her ever since. Now, with her retirement approaching, McArthur decides the time has come for answers. To uncover the truth, she revisits the case and interviews Chalmers for the first time in decades. But her decision rips opens old wounds and McArthur is soon caught up in a web of corruption, psychological mind-games and deceit that threatens not only her own life, but those of her fellow officers and even her own daughter. Tense, gritty and hard-hitting, DARK ROAD is the first ever stage play from bestselling crime writer Ian Rankin, co-written by the Royal Lyceum's Artistic Director Mark Thomson.

Beat Goes On

There is no detective like Ian Rankin's Detective Inspector John Rebus, a man The New Yorker calls "e;the ideal sleuth."e; Brilliant, irascible and frequently frustrating to both his friends and his long-suffering bosses, John Rebus has made the dark places of Edinburgh his home for over two decades. THE BEAT GOES ON collects all of Ian Rankin's Rebus short stories for the first time, including two never-before published tales written specifically for this collection. From his beginnings as a young Detective Constable in "e;Dead and Buried,"e; right up to his dramatic, but not quite final, retirement in "e;The Very Last Drop,"e; Rebus shines in these stories, confirming his status as one of crime fiction's most compelling, brilliant, and unforgettable characters. In these gripping, fast-paced tales, the legendary Scottish detective investigates the sinister cases that are his specialty, including a gruesome student death, the brutal murder of a woman at the crux of a love triangle, an audacious jewel heist, suspicious happenings at a nursing home, and an ominous email that brings a family's darkest secrets to light. THE BEAT GOES ON is the ultimate Ian Rankin treasure trove--a must-have book for crime fiction aficionados and a superb introduction for anyone looking to experience DI John Rebus, and the dark, twist-filled crimes he investigates.

In the Nick of Time

In this original short story from the New York Times bestselling thriller anthology FaceOff, internationally bestselling authors Ian Rankin and Peter James - along with their most famous characters, John Rebus and Roy Grace - team up for the first time ever. Detectives John Rebus and Roy Grace could not be more different. Different generations, different backgrounds, and not to mention the fact that they work 500 miles apart. The case that eventually brings them together centres on a crime that happened when Rebus was just a teenager in the 1960s - but it took place in Roy Grace's stomping grounds in Brighton, England, at a time when violence erupted between rival gangs known as Mods and Rockers. Now, a deathbed confession in in Edinburgh brings Rebus and Grace together to investigate a cold case with a shocking twist. For more exciting short story pairings, don't miss all eleven short stories in Face Off!

The Beat Goes On: The Complete Rebus Stories

There is no detective like DI Rebus - brilliant, irascible and endlessly frustrating both to his friends and his long-suffering bosses. For over two decades he has walked through the dark places of Edinburgh . . . Now Rebus's life is revealed through this complete collection of stories, from his early days as a young DC in 'Dead and Buried' right up to the dramatic, but not quite final, retirement in 'The Very Last Drop'. This is the ultimate Ian Rankin treasure trove - a must for aficionados as well as a superb introduction to anyone looking to experience DI John Rebus, and the dark and twist-filled crimes he has to investigate, for the very first time.

SAINTS OF THE SHADOW BIBLE

V poslednem romane Rehnkina iz znamenitoj serii detektivov pro inspektora Rebusa veteran shotlandskogo syska, uzhe otpravlennyj avtorom v otstavku, vnov' vozvrashchaetsya v stroj i daet master-klass molodomu pokoleniyu sledovatelej. U Rebusa, chetvert' veka otdavshego ugolovnomu rozysku, poyavlyaetsya shans dokazat', chto ego eshche rano spisyvat' so schetov. Na ego bedu, sluzhba general'nogo prokurora vozobnovlyaet rassledovanie dela ob ubijstve tridcatiletnej davnosti, kotoroe brosaet ten' na gruppu byvshih sotrudnikov ugrozyska. Legendarnaya v proshlom brigada syskarej predstavlyala soboj nechto vrode tajnogo bratstva so svoim ustavom i ritualami. Oni nazyvali sebya svyatymi i poslednim v ih ryady byl prinyat molodoj konstebl' Dzhon Rebus... Tak kto zhe oni, ehti svyatye v policejskoj forme: strazhi zakona ili prestupniki, greshniki ili pravedniki? I kto sam Rebus - togda i teper'?Vpervye na russkom yazyke.

In the Nick of Time

In this short story from the thrilling anthology FaceOff, bestselling authors Ian Rankin and Peter Jamesalong with their most famous characters, John Rebus and Roy Graceteam up for the first time ever.Detectives John Rebus and Roy Grace could not be more different. Different generations, different backgrounds, and not to mention, they work 500 miles apart.The case that eventually brings them together centers on a crime that happened when Rebus was just a teenager in the 1960sbut it took place in Roy Graces stomping grounds in Brighton, England, at a time when violence erupted between rival gangs known as Mods and Rockers.Now, a deathbed confession in in Edinburgh brings Rebus and Grace together to investigate a cold case with a shocking twist.For more exciting pairs, check out all eleven stories in FaceOff!

MORTAL CAUSES

V EHdinburge leto, gorod prinimaet ezhegodnyj festival', na kotoryj s"e;ezzhayutsya sotni tysyach gostej so vsego mira... Kak zhe inspektor Rebus nenavidit ehto vremya! Telefony v policii nadryvayutsya: ulichnye krazhi, moshennichestvo, zvonki s ugrozami vzorvat' bombu. A vot i nechto ehkstraordinarnoe: v odnom iz zakoulkov srednevekovogo "e;zapretnogo goroda"e;, zamurovannogo pod istoricheskim centrom EHdinburga, obnaruzhen trup molodogo muzhchiny. Sudya po vsemu, zdes', v mrachnom podzemel'e, byl sovershen ritual muchitel'noj kazni. CHto ehto - kara za predatel'stvo v nazidanie drugim? No kto togda ehti "e;drugie"e;? CHleny religioznoj sekty fanatikov, bojcy tajnoj terroristicheskoj organizacii, uchastniki prestupnyh gruppirovok? Dzhon Rebus dokopaetsya do istiny, hotya i okazhetsya na volosok ot smerti, a uznav, kto ego spasitel', eshche raz udivitsya prevratnostyam sud'by.

THE BLACK BOOK

Na blizhajshego pomoshchnika inspektora Rebusa soversheno napadenie. Postradavshij v kome, Rebus lomaet golovu nad shifrovannymi zapisyami v ego zapisnoj knizhke, pytayas' vyjti na sled prestupnikov. Sledov slishkom mnogo, vse tyanutsya iz proshlogo, potom vsplyvaet neraskrytoe delo o pozhare v gostinice, iz tumana zagadok vystupaet mrachnyj prizrak mestnogo "e;avtoriteta"e;, rehketiry, likvidatory, kartezhniki, pedofil, ne sovsem umershij restorator - fanat EHlvisa Presli i otsidevshij srok gipnotizer - brat Rebusa. Kak svyazat' koncy s koncami, kak razgadat' hitroumnyj rebus, kotoryj mnogie predpochli by ne razgadyvat' - v ih chisle, vozmozhno, i sam Rebus?..

Hanging Garden

Drugs. Extortion. Slavery. Organized crime is fighting for a hold on John Rebuss peaceful Scotland. And when Rebus rescues a young Bosnian girl forced into prostitution, he breaks a policemans golden rule to never get personally involved in a case. Add to that the hunt for an elderly Nazi accused of slaughtering an entire French village, and Rebus wonders just how evil humans can beuntil his own daughter is mortally injured as a gangland warning for him to back off. Then even a dedicated cop like Rebus might make a deal with the devil to find the culprit. Not for justice. For revenge.

Saints of the Shadow Bible

Rebus and Malcolm Fox go head-to-head when a 30-year-old murder investigation resurfaces, forcing Rebus to confront crimes of the pastRebus is back on the force, albeit with a demotion and a chip on his shoulder. He is investigating a car accident when news arrives that a case from 30 years ago is being reopened. Rebus's team from those days is suspected of helping a murderer escape justice to further their own ends.Malcolm Fox, in what will be his last case as an internal affairs cop, is tasked with finding out the truth. Past and present are about to collide in shocking and murderous fashion. What does Rebus have to hide? And whose side is he really on? His colleagues back then called themselves "e;The Saints,"e; and swore a bond on something called the Shadow Bible. But times have changed and the crimes of the past may not stay hidden much longer -- and may also play a role in the present, as Scotland gears up for a referendum on independence. Allegiances are being formed, enemies made, and huge questions asked. Who are the saints and who the sinners? And can the one ever become the other?

Black and Blue

A murdered oil rig worker. A copycat serial killer dubbed Johnny Bible. And a reopened investigation that doesnt bode well for Detective John Rebus or his mentor, Inspector Lawson Geddes. Rebuss Scotland, along with his malt-soaked psyche, is riddled with trouble. Now hes got to tie up the loose ends if he wants to save his jobor live to see another dark Edinburgh day.Ian Rankins Scottish police procedurals are so gritty you have to pick the shards out of your teeth when you finish one, and Black and Blue is as flinty as they come. The New York Times Book ReviewReading [Ian Rankin] is like watching somebody juggle a dozen bottles of single malt without spilling a drop. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Mortal Causes

In Edinburgh you're never far from a peaceful spot, or from a hellish one either. Now, in the heart of summer, in the midst of a nationalist festival, Inspector John Rebus is on the murder case of a young man left hanging in a spot where his screams would never be heard. To find the victim's identityand his killerRebus searches from Edinburgh's most violent neighborhood to Belfast, Northern Irelandamongst petty thugs, gunrunners, and heavyweight criminals. But before Rebus can get to the truth, he's bloodied by the dream of society's madmenand staring into the glint of a killer's eyes.Once again, Ian Rankin has demonstrated his incredible crime writing skills in Mortal Causes.

Black Book

In Rankin, you cannot go wrong. The Boston GlobeA superior series. The New York Times Book ReviewReading [Ian Rankin] is like watching somebody juggle a dozen bottles of single malt without spilling a drop. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Five years ago, a mysterious fire burned Edinburghs seedy Central Hotel to ashes. Long-forgotten and unsolved, the case reappears when a charred bodywith a bullet in its headis found among the ruins. Inspector John Rebus knows that his superiors would prefer he leave things alone. He knows that part of the answer lies somewhere in a cryptic black notebook. And he knows that to solve the case, hell have to peel back layer after layer of unspeakable secrets to arrive at the truth.

10 Great Rebus Novels

A brilliant box set of the first ten Rebus novels.Collection comprises of: Knots Hide Tooth Strip Jack; The Black Book; Mortal Causes; Let it Bleed; Black The Hanging Garden; Dead Souls.

Hide and Seek

In a shadowy, crumbling Edinburgh housing development, a junkie lies dead of an overdose, his body surrounded by signs of Satanic worship. Inspector John Rebus could call it an accident. But wont. Now hes got to search the city, from the tunnels of its dark underbelly to the private sanctum of the upper crust, to find the perfect hiding place for a killer.Ian Rankin is up there among the best crime novelists at work today. Michael Connelly A superior series. The New York Times Book ReviewIan Rankin, you cannot go wrong. The Boston GlobeA novelist of great scope, depth, and power. Jonathan Kellerman

Knots and Crosses

Detective John Rebuss city is being terrorized by a baffling series of murdersand hes tied to a maniac by an invisible knot of blood. As the ghoulish killings mount and the tabloid headlines scream, Rebus cannot stop the feverish shrieks from within his own mind. Because he isnt just one cop trying to catch a killerhes the man whos got all the pieces to the puzzle.Ian Rankin is up there among the best crime novelists at work today. Michael Connelly A superior series. The New York Times Book ReviewIan Rankin, you cannot go wrong. The Boston GlobeA novelist of great scope, depth, and power. Jonathan Kellerman

Standing in Another Man's Grave

John Rebus returns to investigate the disappearances of three women from the same road over ten years. For the last decade, Nina Hazlitt has been ready to hear the worst about her daughter's disappearance. But with no sightings, no body, and no suspect, the police investigation ground to a halt long ago, and Nina's pleas to the cold case department have led her nowhere.Until she meets the newest member of the team: former Detective John Rebus.Rebus has never shied away from lost causes - one of the many ways he managed to antagonize his bosses when he was on the force. Now he's back as a retired civilian, reviewing abandoned files. Necessary work, but it's not exactly scratching the itch he feels to be in the heart of the action.Two more women have gone missing from the same road where Sally Hazlitt was last seen. Unlike his skeptical colleagues, Rebus can sense a connection - but pursuing it leads him into the crosshairs of adversaries both old and new.Rebus may have missed the thrill of the hunt, but he's up against a powerful enemy who's got even less to lose.On the twentieth anniversary of Ian Rankin's first American publication comes a novel bursting with the vitality and suspense that made its author one of crime fiction's most dazzling stars. STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN'S GRAVE is the triumphant return of John Rebus, and a riveting story of sin, redemption, and revenge.

Standing in Another Man's Grave

A series of seemingly random disappearances - stretching back to the millennium. A mother determined to find the truth. A retired cop desperate to get his old life back... It's been some time since Rebus was forced to retire, and he now works as a civilian in a cold-case unit. So when a long-dead case bursts back to life, he can't resist the opportunity to get his feet under the CID desk once more. But Rebus is as stubborn and anarchic as ever, and he quickly finds himself in deep with pretty much everyone, including DI Siobhan Clarke. All Rebus wants to do is uncover the truth. The big question is: can he be the man he once was and still stay on the right side of the law? Read by James Macpherson

Impossible Dead

The Complaints: that's the name given to the Internal Affairs department who seek out dirty and compromised cops, the ones who've made deals with the devil. And sometimes The Complaints must travel.A major inquiry into a neighboring police force sees Malcolm Fox and his colleagues cast adrift, unsure of territory, protocol, or who they can trust. An entire station-house looks to have been compromised, but as Fox digs deeper he finds the trail leads him back in time to the suicide of a prominent politician and activist. There are secrets buried in the past, and reputations on the line.In his newest pulse-pounding thriller, Ian Rankin holds up a mirror to an age of fear and paranoia, and shows us something of our own lives reflected there.

The Impossible Dead

Malcolm Fox and his team are back, investigating whether fellow cops covered up for Detective Paul Carter. Carter has been found guilty of misconduct, but what should be a simple job is soon complicated by a brutal murder and a weapon that should not even exist. A trail of revelations leads Fox back to 1985, a year of desperate unrest when letter-bombs and poisonous spores were sent to government offices, and kidnappings and murders were plotted. But while the body count rises the clock starts ticking, and a dramatic turn of events sees Fox in mortal danger. Read by Peter Forbes

Mortal Causes

The sixth novel featuring Inspector John Rebus, available for the first time as an e-book and with an exclusive introduction by author Ian Rankin.Inspector John Rebus hates the Edinburgh Festival. He especially hates that last Saturday night. He has spent years on the police force confronting it, avoiding it, and cursing it, but most of the time he still gets caught up in it. Nevertheless, this is an honored tradition of Scotland, and a happy one at that. But amid the blaring noise created by the music, laughter, and toasts of "e;Slainte"e; as glasses of whiskey are swilled, another traditionone older than music, happiness, and drink itselfhas traveled to Edinburgh and nested itself in the medieval quarter of Mary King's Close. There, beneath the streets of Edinburgh, Inspector Rebus finds the lifeless body of Billy Cunningham swinging from a butcher's hook and knows that his problems have only begun.When Big Ger Cafferty, the ruthless gangster whose sphere of influence extends well beyond the bars that the Inspector himself put him behind, discovers that Bill, his only son, has been brutally murdered, Rebus finds himself with more motivation than his duty can provide to find Billy's killer. But when the police pathologist reports that the young man was killed by professional hands, Rebus finds himself up against a force that could frighten Big Ger himself.

Hide and Seek

The second novel featuring Inspector John Rebus, available for the first time as an e-book and with an exclusive introduction by author Ian Rankin.A junkie, dead in an Edinburgh squat, the body laid out with ritual precision. A girl with a past, running wild and running scared.But who cares? These are the dregs, a squalid society of addicts and derelicts, people long since disconnected from a society that is preoccupied with the new businesses and the new homes bringing prosperity to a city concentrating on advertising its quality of life.Only Detective Inspector John Rebus senses something evil, something too dangerous to ignore that has to be investigated and brought up into the light. Something that may prove to be very closely connected indeed to the bright new world above. It is an investigation that will find him not just trying to solve a crime but fighting for his life.

Black Book

The fifth novel featuring Inspector John Rebus, available for the first time as an e-book and with an exclusive introduction by author Ian Rankin.When the Central Hotel, a place of decidedly unsavory reputation, burned to the ground in a mysterious fire, the Edinburgh police were unable to disguise their delight. That is, until a body was found in the still-smoldering ashes, charred beyond all identification but with a bullet lodged in its skull. Now it's five years later and Inspector John Rebus is following any leads in a vicious off-duty ambush that has put one of his favorite junior officers into a coma.A cheap black notebook belonging to the wounded policeman contains a cryptic allusion to the almost-forgotten blaze, but crucial pieces of the puzzle obstinately refuse to fall into place. What could young Detective Sergeant Brian Holmes have learned to render him such a threat that he must be silenced at all costs? "e;The past is important,"e; Rebus hardly needs to remind himself, yet the secrets he persists in uncovering are buried in layer upon layer of sordid and evil lies.

Complaints

Nobody likes The Complaints--they're the cops who investigate other cops. It's a department known within the force as "e;The Dark Side,"e; and it's where Malcolm Fox works. He's a serious man with a father in a nursing home and a sister who persists in an abusive relationship, frustrating problems about which he cannot seem to do anything. Then the reluctant Fox is given a new case. There's a cop named Jamie Breck, and he's dirty. The problem is, no one can prove it. As Fox takes on the job, he learns that there's more to Breck than anyone thinks--dangerous knowledge, especially when a vicious murder takes place far too close to home.In THE COMPLAINTS, Rankin proves again why he is one of the world's most beloved and bestselling crime writers, mixing unstoppable pacing with the deeper question of who decides right from wrong.

Bleeding Hearts

What happens when a killer becomes the target...? A gripping tale from the No.1 bestselling author of THE COMPLAINTS. The death of a journalist from a single bullet to the heart makes for a dramatic story - but the twist in the tale is that this time, it's the man who fired the gun who's asking all the questions... The assassin, Michael Weston, knows he has carried out his assignment successfully. One mistake was enough, a long time ago, when a young girl had accidentally received the fatal bullet. Her father hired a PI named Hoffer to track him down. Every time Weston completed a job, Hoffer was not far behind. But why had the police been on the scene so quickly? Weston has to find out - even if it means coming face to face with Hoffer...

Blood Hunt

The horror has just begun... A brilliant thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of THE COMPLAINTS. It begins with a phone call. Gordon Reeve's brother has been found dead in his car in San Diego. The car was locked from the inside, a gun was in his hand. In the US to identify the body Gordon realises that his brother has been murdered. What's more, it's soon obvious that his own life is in danger. Once back in Scotland he finds out his home has been bugged by professionals. But Reeve is a professional too. Ex-SAS, he was half of a two-man unit with someone he came to fear, then to hate. It looks like his nemesis is back...

Watchman

A classic Ian Rankin from the No.1 bestselling author of THE COMPLAINTS. Bombs are exploding in the streets of London, but life seems to have planted more subtle booby-traps for Miles Flint. Miles is a spy. His job is to watch and to listen, then to report back to his superiors, nothing more. The job, affording glimpses into the most private lives of his victims, appeals to Miles. He doesn't lust after promotion, and he doesn't want action. He wants, just for once, not to botch a case. Having lost one suspect - with horrific consequences - Miles becomes too involved with another, a young Irish woman. His marriage seems ready to crumble to dust. So does his home. But Miles is given one last chance for redemption - a trip to Belfast, which quickly becomes a flight of terror, murder and shocking discoveries. But can the voyeur survive in a world of violent action?

Witch Hunt

A brilliant thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of THE COMPLAINTS. Interpol have tried and failed to find the terrorist, Witch. Now the combined forces of Scotland Yard and MI5 must try the impossible to prevent a major international incident. Dominic Elder carries her autograph wherever he goes. Witch is his passion, his obsession. And being retired is no bar to his willingness to restart the hunt. MI5 know that the man who wrote the Witch file is the key to catching their quarry. But the truth isn't easy to spot. And it is only when an MI5 novice and his French counterpart piece together the smallest of clues, that Witch suddenly looks vulnerable...

Doors Open

Three friends descend upon an art auction in search of some excitement. Mike Mackenzie-retired software mogul, bachelor and fine art enthusiast-wants something that money can't buy. Fellow art-lover Allan Cruickshank is bored with his banking career and burdened by a painful divorce. And Robert Gissing, an art professor, is frustrated that so many paintings stay hidden in corporate boardrooms, safes and private apartments. After the auction-and a chance encounter with crime boss Chib Calloway-Robert and Allan suggest the "e;liberation"e; of several paintings from the National Gallery, hoping Mike will dissuade them. Instead, he hopes they are serious.As enterprising girlfriends, clever detectives, seductive auctioneers and a Hell's Angel named Hate enter the picture, Ian Rankin creates a highly-charged thriller, a faced-past story of second guesses and double crosses that keep changing the picture, right until the harrowing finish.

Dead Souls

A colleague's suicide. Pedophiles. A missing child. A serial killer. Driven by instinct and experience, John Rebus searches for connections, against official skepticism. Soldiering through dank, desperate slums and the tony flats of the Scottish elite, Inspector Rebus uncovers a chain of crime, deceit, and hidden sins--knowing it's really himself he's trying to save.

Watchman

Miles Flint is a government spy who has been making some serious mistakes. His last assignment led to the death of a foreign official in London, and after getting too close to his current subject, he wound up in police custody. But something is wrong at the agency that has nothing to do with Miless errors. Why did his last suspect know more about Miless assignment than Miles did? Why have so many operatives recently resigned? Has the agency hired someone to watch him?Despite the Directors assurances, Miles begins his own internal investigation, to the dismay of his colleagues and even his wife. Then Miles is sent to Belfast to oversee the arrest of two suspected terrorists, a supposedly routine mission that only strengthens his darkest suspicions. Has the Director issued Miles his final assignment?Determined to discover the truth, Miles enters a dangerous world he normally only observeseven as it threatens his life at every turn. With the riveting suspense and razor-sharp dialogue that have made him an internationally renowned bestseller, Ian Rankin examines an ordinary man forced into extraordinary circumstances, and proves why he just keeps getting better and better (Michele Ross, Cleveland Plain Dealer ).From the Compact Disc edition.

Watchman

From #1 international bestseller Ian Rankin, an unlucky spy gets one last chance at redemption.Miles Flint is a spy who has been making some serious mistakes. His last assignment led to the death of a foreign official in London, and after getting too close to his current subject he wound up in police custody. But something is wrong at the agency that has nothing to do with Miles' errors. Why did his last suspect know more about Miles' assignment than Miles did? Why have so many operatives recently resigned? Despite the Director's assurances, Miles begins his own investigation, to the dismay of his colleagues and even his own wife. Then Miles is sent to Belfast on a routine mission, a mission that confirms his darkest suspicions--and threatens his life.

Bleeding Hearts

A master of modern mystery and the award-winning author of "e;Resurrection Man"e;pens a page-turning novel of assassins and double-crossing.

Blood Hunt

As a former soldier, Gordon Reeve knows something about killing. So despite the fact that the death of his brother Jim has been ruled a suicide, Gordon can't shake the feeling that someone is responsible. Traveling alone across an ocean, he arrives in California determined to get answers: Why was the car Jim's body was found in locked from the outside? Who would want Jim dead? And now why do the local cops seem bent on thwarting Gordon's efforts to uncover the truth? With all the verve and taut pacing that have made Ian Rankin an internationally renowned suspense writer, Blood Hunt is a gripping story of one man's dogged pursuit of justice.

A Cool Head

Written specially for the World Book Day Quick Reads promotion. My dad used to say to me, 'Try to keep a cool head and a warm heart'. At least I think it was my dad. I don't really remember him. Gravy worked in the graveyard - hence the name. He was having a normal day until his friend Benjy turned up in a car Gravy didn't recognise. Benjy had a bullet hole in his chest, but lived just long enough to ask Gravy to hide him and look after his gun. Gravy had looked after things for Benjy before, but never a gun. When Gravy looked in the car he found blood, a balaclava and a bag stuffed with money. Gravy's not too bright but he wants to help his friend. So Gravy finds himself caught up in the middle of a robbery gone wrong, a woman who witnessed a murder, and some very unpleasant men who will do anything to get back the money Benjy stole...

The Jack Harvey Novels Witch Hunt, Bleeding Hearts, Blood Hunt

From bestselling Ian Rankin, winner of the 1997 CWA GOLD DAGGER for fiction for BLACK & BLUE the three Jack Harvey novels, gathered together in one omnibus volume. WITCH HUNT, BLEEDING HEARTS, BLOOD HUNT: Three thrillers by mega-seller Ian Rankin, writing as Jack Harvey. 'Rankin's ability to create a credible character, delivering convincing dialogue to complement sinister and hard-hitting plots against vividly detailed atmosphere, is simply awesome' Time Out 'His fiction buzzes with energy. Essentially he is a romantic storyteller in the tradition of Robert Louis Stevenson. His prose is as vivid and terse as the next man's yet its flexibility and rhythm give it a potential for lyrical expression which is distinctively Rankin's own. Rankin controls the material with extraordinary authority and even delicacy. Rankin ranks alongside P.D. James and Michael Dibdin as Britain's finest detective novelist' -Scotland on Sunday 'Rankin's prose is understated, yet his canvas of Scotland's criminal underclass has a panoramic breadth. His ear for dialogue is as sharp as a switchblade. This is, quite simply, crime writing of the highest order' Daily Express