"An intricately built slow-burn police procedural set in a London high-rise for the extremely wealthy, expect twists and turns galore alongside a fascinating cast of characters. "
A new standalone novel from this author is newsworthy indeed, if you love to explore the knotty intricacies of a police procedural then step this way. It is worth noting if you have already read The Rise, that this is an extended version of that short story.
Ian Rankin is a literary great, award-winning and bestselling go hand in hand and the first in his famous Inspector Rebus series, Knots & Crosses was published in 1987.
The Heights spins in an entirely new direction, from Edinburgh to London, and from the gnarly old-school John Rebus, to Tottenham born and bred Detective Sergeant Gillian Gish. One thing that Rebus and Gish do have in common is that they both are willing to break a few rules here and there.
The Heights in Hyde Park is a newly built high-end eighteen story building for the seriously rich. A night concierge is murdered, and as the occupying ‘great and good’ includes gangsters, a Russian oligarch, a rich kid with diplomatic immunity, and reality and pop stars, a complex riddle of an investigation begins.
There are a large number of characters to get to know from both the police and suspect side of the inquiry and it took me a while to settle in. The policing team regularly uncover new information about their suspects which heightens the tension. I throughly enjoyed getting to know Gish, and wonder if this will develop into a series. Chosen as a Liz Pick of the Month, The Heights is a twisty turny slow to build police procedural with depth.
If you love The Heights and want to experience more wealthy skyscraping crime thrillers then do try the fabulous The Pinnacle by Abir Mukherjee.
MURDER COMES TO LONDON'S MOST LUXURIOUS HIGH-RISE: AND EVERY RESIDENT IS A SUSPECT.
| Primary Genre | Crime and Mystery |
| Other Genres: | |
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Win a Pair of Tickets to Agatha Christie’s The Hollow at a Venue of Your Choice.
Closing date: 15/10/2026
MURDER COMES TO LONDON'S MOST LUXURIOUS HIGH-RISE: AND EVERY RESIDENT IS A SUSPECT. The Heights: a gleaming, high-end high-rise looming over Hyde Park.
The Heights features in the following genres: Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Recommendations, Crime and Mystery, Thriller and Suspense, Crime and Mystery, Crime and mystery: police procedural, Crime and mystery: women sleuths, Thriller and Suspense
Hardback, Paperback. £22.50, down from the £25.00 cover price. Pre-order. 8th October 2026.
The Heights was written by Ian Rankin and published by Orion Books an imprint of Orion
The Heights has 352 pages
£22.50, reduced from £25.00. Pre-order. 8th October 2026.
