This week the letter in the Crime Fiction Alphabet Community Meme is R, so of course it just had to be Ian Rankin, who is fast becoming my favourite crime writer.
I’ve previously written a bit about Ian Rankin after I went to a talk he gave in January – see here.
R is also for Rebus. There are 17 Inspector Rebus books (a a book of short stories) and I’m reading them in sequence starting with the first one Knots and Crosses. Currently I’m reading the tenth book, Dead Souls. As well as the Rebus books Rankin has written a few others, the latest being The Complaints, featuring a new cop Inspector Malcom Fox. The complete list of Rebus books is on Ian Rankin’s website and on Wikipedia. Both places give more information about the man and his books. Just as a taster the author details on the latest book I read The Hanging Garden reveal that after graduating from the University of Edinburgh he had been employed as
a grape picker, swine-herd, taxman, alcohol researcher, hi-fi journalist and punk musician.
The Hanging Garden is full of characters, sub-plots and plenty of crime from the local gang leader Tommy Telford, vying for supremacy over crime boss, Big Ger Cafferty, currently imprisoned in Barlinnie but still in control of his empire through his second in command, the Weasel, to Chechian and Yakuza villains. Then there is Mr Pink-Eyes, a Newcastle gangleader to contend with. It’s a mix of prostitutes, drug running, money laundering and attacks on Cafferty’s territory and associates, with retaliations on Telford’s strongholds.
Rebus is struggling to keep off the alcohol, aided by his friend Jack Morton, when his daughter, Sammy is the victim of a hit and run. Who is trying to warn off Rebus and is he in the pay of Big Ger? At the same time he is investigating a suspected Nazi War Criminal and helping a Bosnian prostitute, Candice who looks so like his own daughter and who pleads with him for safety. Added to all this his ex-wife Rhona and his lover Patience meet over Sammy’s hospital bed.
It’s grim and tough and as Rebus involves Jack in an undercover operation it all goes wrong – dramatic and tense right to the end.
BooksPlease 
Margaret – I like Ian Rankin very much, so I’m glad that you focused on him and his John Rebus. Rebus is a very compelling character, and the novels are engrossing, aren’t they?
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The Hanging Garden is a very fine Rebus story! I really should get around to reading the four Rankin novels I have on my shelf, but even though I love the characters and am impressed by Rankin´s plots, they are rather dark so I cannot read them too often.
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Rebus #2 arrived in the mail last week, and I’m clearing the decks to read it. Really enjoyed Knots and Crosses, thanks to your recommendation. Does Edinburgh really have those tunnels? I assume so!
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Jane, I’m so glad you’re enjoying Ian Rankin’s books. Yes, the tunnels are there and there are tours, although I haven’t been.
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Well, I’ve got 3 of his books, but they’re somewhere at the end of the queue, so I’m waiting for the library to call me for Knots and Crosses so I can begin at the beginning! I’m really anxious to get going on him though, and I love the fact that after I finish the first, if I really like it, I’ll have another 16 to go! :–)
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You are doing well Margaret. I really like Ian Rankin books too but I’ve lost track of whether I’ve read them all. Perhaps you need to look for an Ian Rankin challenge to join. I do want to read more of his short stories. Thanks for taking part in the meme.
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Now this is a series I guess I am saving. I only hear wonderful things about Ian Rankin, and I am looking forward to reading Rebus. thanks for reminding me about him.
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