Barry Forshaw on Ian Rankin and Bill James...
Ian Rankin is one of the UK’s bestselling British crime writers. Aficionados admire the gritty, socially committed toughness of his books, along with their vividly realised sense of place. And these are exactly the qualities that may be found in the work of the veteran Bill James, whose astonishing consistency over many years is a continuing cause for admiration.
And, like Rankin, James has few equals when it comes to memorable, highly individual dialogue. Fans of Rankin’s Rebus novels – including Resurrection Men – will relish Bill James’ Harpur and Iles novels: start with You'd Better Believe It.
Harpur's domain is a small seaport city south of London. It's not unusual for the big-town criminals to consider such a spot as easy prey. At such times a policeman must rely keenly upon his colleagues, to be sure, and also upon his retinue of narks.
| Primary Genre | Crime and Mystery |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
Win Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series So Far!
Closing date: 30/09/2026
Win a Pair of Tickets to Agatha Christie’s The Hollow at a Venue of Your Choice.
Closing date: 15/10/2026
Harpur's domain is a small seaport city south of London. It's not unusual for the big-town criminals to consider such a spot as easy prey.
You'd Better Believe It features in the following genres: Crime and Mystery, Thriller and Suspense, eBooks of the Month, Fiction, Recommendations
Ebook (Epub), Paperback. £4.99. Digital. Available Immediately.
You'd Better Believe It was written by Bill James and published by The Murder Room an imprint of Orion Publishing Co (Digital)
£4.99. Digital. Available Immediately.