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This page lists books that feature the policeman Inspector Rebus.

Rebus::
- novels / short story collections
- omnibus editions
- non-fiction

Knots and Crosses

Ian Rankin

1987

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"And in Edinburgh of all places. I mean, you never think of that sort of thing happening in Edinburgh, do you...? 'That sort of thing' is the brutal abduction and murder of two young girls. And now a third is missing, presumably gone to the same sad end. Detective Sergeant John Rebus, smoking and drinking too much, his own young daughter spirited away south by his disenchanted wife, is one of many policemen hunting the killer. And then the messages begin to arrive: knotted string and matchstick crosses - taunting Rebus with pieces of a puzzle only he can solve."

Hide and Seek

Ian Rankin

1991

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"A junkie lies dead in an Edinburgh squat, spreadeagled, cross-like on the floor, between two burned-down candles, a five-pointed star daubed on the wall above. Just another dead addict - until John Rebus begins to chip away at the indifference, treachery, deceit and sleaze that lurks behind the facade of the Edinburgh familiar to tourists. Only Rebus seems to care about a death which looks more like a murder every day, about a seductive danger he can almost taste, appealing to the darkest corners of his mind."

Tooth and Nail

Ian Rankin

1992

Originally published with the title Wolfman. An Inspector Rebus novel.

"They call him the Wolfman - because he takes a bite out of his victims and because they found the first victim in the East End's lonely Wolf Street. Scotland Yard are anxious to find the killer and Inspector Rebus is drafted in to help. But his Scotland Yard opposite number, George Flight, isn't happy at yet more interference, and Rebus finds himself dealing with racial prejudice as well as the predations of a violent maniac. When Rebus is offered a serial killer profile of the Wolfman by an attractive female psychologist, it's too good an opportunity to miss. But in finding an ally, he may have given his enemies an easy means of attack."

Strip Jack

Ian Rankin

1992

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"Gregor Jack, MP, well-liked, young, married to the fiery Elizabeth - to the outside world a very public success story. But Jack's carefully nurtured career plans take a tumble after a 'mistake' during a police raid on a notorious Edinburgh brothel. Then Elizabeth disappears, a couple of bodies float into view where they shouldn't, and a lunatic speaks from his asylum... Initially Rebus is sympathetic to the MP's dilemma - who hasn't occasionally succumbed to temptation? - but with the disappearance of Jack's wife the glamour surrounding the popular young man begins to tarnish. Someone wants to strip Jack naked and Rebus wants to know why."

A Good Hanging and Other Stories

Ian Rankin

1992

Inspector Rebus short stories.

A collection of 12 short stories. The titles are:

• Playback
• The Dean Curse
• Being Frank
• Concrete Evidence
• Seeing Things
• A Good Hanging
• Tit For Tat
• Not Provan
• Sunday
• Auld Lang Syne
• The Gentlemen's Club
• Monstrous Trumpet

The Black Book

Ian Rankin

1993

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"When a close colleague is brutally attacked, Inspector John Rebus is drawn into a case involving a hotel fire, an unidentified body, and a long forgotten night of terror and murder. Pursued by dangerous ghosts and tormented by the coded secrets of his colleague's notebook, Rebus must piece together the most complex and confusing of jigsaws. But not everyone wants the puzzle solved - perhaps not even Rebus himself."

Mortal Causes

Ian Rankin

1994

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"It is August in Edinburgh and the Festival is in full swing... A brutally tortured body is discovered in one of the city's ancient subterranean streets and marks on the corpse cause Rebus to suspect the involvement of sectarian activists. The prospect of a terrorist atrocity in a city heaving with tourists is almost unthinkable. When the victim turns out to be the son of a notorious gangster, Rebus realises he is sitting atop a volcano of mayhem - and it's just about to erupt."

Let it Bleed

Ian Rankin

1995

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"Struggling through another Edinburgh winter Rebus finds himself sucked into a web of intrigue that throws up more questions than answers. Was the Lord Provost's daughter kidnapped or just another runaway? Why is a city councillor shredding documents that should have been waste paper years ago? And why on earth is Rebus invited to a clay pigeon shoot at the home of the Scottish Office's Permanent Secretary? Sucked into the machine that is modern Scotland, Rebus confronts the fact that some of his enemies may be beyond justice."

Black and Blue

Ian Rankin

1997

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"Rebus is juggling four cases trying to nail one killer - who might just lead back to the infamous Bible John. And he's doing it under the scrutiny of an internal inquiry led by a man he has just accused of taking backhanders from Glasgow's Mr Big. As if this wasn't enough, there are TV cameras at his back investigating a miscarriage of justice, making Rebus a criminal in the eyes of a million or more viewers. Just one mistake is likely to mean an unpleasant and not particularly speedy death or, worse still, losing his job."

The Hanging Garden

Ian Rankin

1998

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"DI Rebus is buried under a pile of paperwork but an escalating dispute between the upstart Tommy Telford and Big Ger Cafferty's gang gives Rebus an escape clause. Telford is known to have close links with a Chechen gangster bringing refugees into Britain as prostitutes. When Rebus takes under his wing a distraught Bosnian call girl, it gives him a personal reason to make sure Telford goes back to Paisley and pronto. Then Rebus's daughter is the victim of an all too professional hit-and-run and Rebus knows that there is now nothing he won't do to bring down prime suspect Tommy Telford - even if it means cutting a deal with the devil."

Dead Souls

Ian Rankin

1999

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"Stalking a poisoner at the local zoo, Inspector John Rebus comes across a paedophile taking pictures of children. When the social workers claim he is there for legitimate educational reasons, Rebus is faced with a dilemma - should he be outed to protect local kids or given a chance to start anew? As the locals begin a hate campaign Rebus gets a call from the past: the son of a friend has gone missing and no one else will make time to ask the right questions. And then a fragment of Scotland's criminal history is repatriated at the end of a life sentence for murder. Once more Rebus's cup of trouble runneth over and the ghosts of past misdeeds return to haunt Edinburgh's streets."

Set in Darkness

Ian Rankin

2000

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"Edinburgh is about to become the home of the first Scottish parliament in 300 years. As political passions run high, DI John Rebus is charged with liaison, thanks to the new parliament being resident in Queensbury House, bang in the middle of his patch. But Queensbury House has its own, dark past. Legend has it that a young man was roasted there on a spit by a madman. When the fireplace where the youth died is uncovered another more recent murder victim is found. Days later, in the gardens outside, there is another body and Rebus is under pressure to find instant answers. As the case proceeds, the Inspector finds himself face to face with one of Edinburgh's most notorious criminals."

The Falls

Ian Rankin

2001

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"A student has gone missing in Edinburgh. She's not just any student, though, but the daughter of well-to-do and influential bankers. There's almost nothing to go on until DI John Rebus gets an unmistakable gut feeling that there's more to this than just another runaway spaced out on unaccustomed freedom. Two leads emerge: a carved wooden doll in a toy coffin, found in the student's home village, and an internet role-playing game. The ancient and the modern, brought together by uncomfortable circumstance."

Resurrection Men

Ian Rankin

2002

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"Rebus is off the case - literally. A few days into the murder inquiry of an Edinburgh art dealer, Rebus blows up at a colleague. He is sent to the Scottish Police College for 'retraining' - in other words, he's in the Last Chance Saloon. Rebus is assigned to an old, unsolved case, but there are those in his team who have their own secrets - and they'll stop at nothing to protect them. Rebus is also asked to act as a go-between for gangster 'Big Ger' Cafferty. And as newly promoted DS Siobhan Clarke works the case of the murdered art dealer, she is brought closer to Cafferty than she could ever have anticipated."

Beggars Banquet

Ian Rankin

2002

A collection of 21 short stories, seven of which feature Rebus. The titles are:

• Trip trap *
• Someone Got to Eddie
• A Deep Hole
• Natural Selection
• Facing The Music *
• Principles of Accounts
• The Only True Comedian
• Herbert in Motion
• Glimmer
• Unlucky in Love, Unlucky at Cards
• Video, Nasty
• Talk Show *
• Castle Dangerous *
• The Wider Scheme
• Unknown Pleasures
• In The Frame *
• The Confession
• The Hanged Man
• Window of Opportunity *
• The Serpent's Back
• No Sanity Clause *
• Death Is Not The End

A Question of Blood

Ian Rankin

2003

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"Two seventeen-year-olds are killed by an ex-Army loner who has gone off the rails. The mystery takes Rebus into the heart of a shattered community. Ex-Army himself, Rebus becomes fascinated by the killer, and finds he is not alone. Army investigators are on the scene, and won't be shaken off. The killer had friends and enemies to spare and left behind a legacy of secrets and lies. Rebus has more than his share of personal problems, too. He's fresh out of hospital, but won't say how it happened. Could there be a connection with a house-fire and the unfortunate death of a petty criminal who had been harassing Rebus's colleague Siobhan Clarke?"

Fleshmarket Close

Ian Rankin

2004

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"An illegal immigrant is found murdered in an Edinburgh housing scheme. Rebus is drawn into the case, but has other problems: his old police station has closed for business, and his masters want him to retire. But Rebus is stubborn. As he investigates, he must visit an asylum seekers' detention centre, deal with the sleazy Edinburgh underworld, and maybe even fall in love... Siobhan meanwhile has problems of her own. A teenager has disappeared and Siobhan must help the family, which means getting close to a convicted rapist. Then there's the small matter of the two skeletons found buried beneath a cellar floor in Fleshmarket Close. An elaborate stunt - but whose, and for what purpose? And how can it tie to the murder on the housing-scheme known as Knoxland?"

The Naming of the Dead

Ian Rankin

2006

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"A murder has been committed - but as the victim was a rapist, recently released from prison, no one is too concerned about the crime. That is, until Detective Inspector John Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke uncover evidence that a serial killer is on the loose... When Rebus also starts looking into the apparent suicide of an MP, he is abruptly warned off the case, not least because the G8 leaders have gathered in Scotland, and Rebus's bosses want him well out of the way. But Rebus has never been one to stick to the rules, and when Siobhan has a very personal reason for hunting down a riot cop, it looks as though both Rebus and Clarke may be up against their own side."

Exit Music

Ian Rankin

2007

An Inspector Rebus novel.

"It's late autumn in Edinburgh and late autumn in the career of Detective Inspector 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 delegation of Russian businessmen is in town - and everyone is determined that the case should be closed quickly and clinically. But the further they dig, the more Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke become convinced that they are dealing with something more than a random attack - especially after a particularly nasty second killing. Meanwhile, a brutal and premeditated assault on a local gangster 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?"

Standing in Another Man's Grave

Ian Rankin

2012

A Rebus / Malcolm Fox novel.

"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?"

Saints of the Shadow Bible

Ian Rankin

2013

A Rebus / Malcolm Fox novel.

"Rebus is back on the force, albeit with a demotion and a chip on his shoulder. A 30-year-old case is being reopened, and Rebus's team from back then is suspected of foul play. With Malcolm Fox as the investigating officer, are the past and present about to collide in a shocking and murderous fashion? And does Rebus have anything to hide? His old colleagues called themselves 'the Saints', 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, especially with a referendum on Scottish independence just around the corner. Who are the saints and who are the sinners? And can the one ever become the other?"

The Beat Goes On: The Complete Rebus Stories

Ian Rankin

2014

A collection of 29 Rebus short stories comprising previously published and unpublished work.

"From his beginnings as a young Detective Constable in 'Dead and Buried', right up to his dramatic - but as it turns out, not quite final - retirement in 'The Very Last Drop', we see one of the most compelling, brilliant and mesmeric characters of modern times in his every guise and very much in his element."

Even Dogs in the Wild

Ian Rankin

2015

A Rebus / Malcolm Fox novel.

"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."

Rather Be the Devil

Ian Rankin

2016

A Rebus / Malcolm Fox novel.

"John Rebus can't close the door on the death of glamorous socialite Maria Turquand. Brutally murdered in her hotel room forty years ago, her killer has never been found. Meanwhile, Edinburgh's dark heart is up for grabs. Young pretender Darryl Christie may have staked his claim on the city's underworld - but has criminal mastermind and Rebus' long-time adversary, Big Ger Cafferty, really settled down to a quiet retirement? Or is he hiding in the shadows until Edinburgh is once more ripe for the picking?"

Rebus: The Early Years

Ian Rankin

1999

Collects together three Rebus novels: Knots & Crosses; Hide & Seek; and Tooth & Nail.

Rebus: The St Leonard's Years

Ian Rankin

2001

Collects together three Rebus novels: Strip Jack; The Black Book; and Mortal Causes.

Rebus: The Lost Years

Ian Rankin

2003

Collects together three Rebus novels: Let It Bleed; Black and Blue; and The Hanging Garden.

Rebus: Capital Crimes

Ian Rankin

2004

Collects together three Rebus novels: Dead Souls; Set In Darkness; and The Falls.

The Complete Short Stories

Ian Rankin

2005

Collects together the stories originally published in A Good Hanging and Beggars Banquet. Plus one new Rebus story Atonement.

Two Great Novels: The Black Book and Mortal Causes

Ian Rankin

2005

An omnibus edition that brings together two Rebus novels: The Black Book and Mortal Causes.

Ian Rankin's Black and Blue

Gill Plain

Continuum

2002

"This is an excellent guide to Ian Rankin's breakthrough novel. It features a biography of the author and interview with him, a full-length analysis of the novel, and a great deal more. If you're studying this novel, reading it for your book club, or if you simply want to know more about it, you'll find this guide informative and helpful. This is part of a new series of guides to contemporary novels. The aim of the series is to give readers accessible and informative introductions to some of the most popular, most acclaimed and most influential novels of recent years."

Rebus's Scotland: A Personal Journey

Ian Rankin

Orion

2005

"In REBUS'S SCOTLAND Ian Rankin uncovers the Scotland that the tourist never sees, highlighting the places that inspired the settings for the Inspector Rebus novels. Rankin also reveals the story of Rebus and how he came into being, who he is, and what his - and Rankin's - Scotland is like. With over 100 evocative photographs, specially commissioned to reflect the text, REBUS'S SCOTLAND is the perfect gift for anyone interested in Scotland or in the novels of Ian Rankin."

Ian Rankin's Black and Blue

Christopher Nicol

Association for Scottish Literary Studies

2008

"Ian Rankin is perhaps the UK's foremost crime writer, best-known for his extensive series of novels set in Edinburgh and featuring Detective Inspector John Rebus. Christopher Nicol's SCOTNOTE study guide examines one of Rankin's most popular works, the award-winning Black & Blue. The complex, multilayered narrative is untangled, the characters studied and the novel's social and psychological undercurrents explored."

Ian Rankin and Inspector Rebus: The Story of the best-selling author and his complex detective

Craig Cabell

2010

"In this fascinating biography, author Craig Cabell presents a thought-provoking insight into the minds of the writer and his creation, and how their relationship has developed over the years. Includes material from interviews with Rankin himself. Learn about the unusual connection between Rankin and Rebus; how the author was a punk musician and swineherd before he became a writer; and why he was so inspired by fellow-Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and his gothic masterpiece, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde."