This novel was the first of the rebus series, for which he has become extremely famous. A 30yearold case is being reopened, and rebus s team from back then is suspected of foul play. However, it took rankin some time to follow up with the next book in the inspector rebus series, as he instead went back to writing standalone novels watchman, which was published in 1988, and westwind, which was. The best books in ian rankins inspector rebus series novel. He initially considered his first novel a standalone, however, eventually he continued the series fleshing out inspector rebus to the fullest.
Jun 29, 2017 after a wee drink, we decide to brave the rain and rankin hails a cab. Learn more about rankins life and career, including his other works. The novels, centred on detective inspector john rebus, are. Ian rankin inspector rebus series free pdf ebooks downloads. Many of the books have been adapted to a television series on. The black book features rebus centre stage and without the complications of a girlfriend, meaning that it offers one of the sharpest. Rankin also reveals the story of rebus and how he came into being, who he is. Ian rankin became a published author in 1986 when the flood was released. Since then, most of his work has been in the rebus series, although he has also written some standalone books and a new series featuring malcolm fox. Gold daggerwinner and bestselling author in the united kingdom, ian rankin crafts absorbing crime novels with solidly drawn characters and first rate plotting. Knots and crosses is the first book in ian rankins inspector rebus series, and it most certainly introduces john rebus with a bang. He has won an edgar award, a gold dagger for fiction, a diamond dagger for career excellence, and the. But the documentary, especially rankins discussion of the ideas from rl stevenson in his first book knots and crosses, really had an impact on me.
Rankin has already established rebus as a loner that works best on the edges and this book builds on that. It is also the first book where rebus is based at st leonards police station. A collection of inspector rebus novels ian rankin macmillan. The top five best john rebus novels the dorset book detective. His following novel, knots and crosses, was published in 1987. The black book is a 1993 crime novel by ian rankin, the fifth of the inspector rebus novels.
Rebus is, in fact, presented as such a flawed character here that it is difficult to imagine a more unlikely main character for a series that is now some twentytwo books long and counting. Ian rankins first novel was the flood in the year 1986. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 228 pages and is available in paperback format. Blood hunt the last novel written by ian rankin under the pen name jack harvey. Unabridged edition featuring a bonus interview with ian rankin and james macpherson. The black book is the fifth ian rankin book to feature rebus his edinburgh based detective and was a very enjoyable read. The second inspector rebus novel from britains shelve hide and seek. Pdf knots and crosses book by ian rankin free download 228. He has been married to anna miranda harvey since july 5, 1986. Rebus is back on the force, albeit with a demotion and a chip on his. It is an unusual promotional gambit before a book launch.
The novels, centred on detective inspector john rebus, are mostly based in and around edinburgh. Significantly, it is at this juncture in the series that ian rankin first began to visualise his rebus novels as a series, transition locationwise from a fictional edinburgh to the city authentic and introduced the perfect foil for rebus in dc siobhan clarke. He is best known for his inspector rebus novels, which are set in edinburgh. I am 34 way through his first rebus novel and plan to read everyone.
The stage debut for the legendary detective john rebus in this brand new, original story by ian rankin, written alongside the awardwinning playwright rona munro. Early on his partner brian holmes is assaulted outside his new favourite restaurant the heartbreak cafe. Drafted down to the big smoke thanks to a shelve tooth and nail. His first rebus novel was published in 1987, and the rebus books are now translated into twentytwo languages and are bestsellers on several continents. However, rankin did not intend on becoming a crime writer. In his first adventure, john rebus is a frazzled edinburgh cop hiding from his demons.
Ian rankins the black book is the 5th of his inspector john rebus series set in edinburgh. His first rebus novel was published in 1987, and the rebus books are now translated into thirtysix languages and are bestsellers worldwide. Inspector john rebus was almost killed off in first book. With malcolm fox as the investigating officer, are the past and present about to collide. Aug 07, 2008 saw a uk documentary on edinburgh and ian rankin. First stop on our whistle stop tour of rebuss edinburgh is the landmark caledonian hotel at the end of princes street. Free download or read online knots and crosses pdf epub book. Although in his early thirties when he wrote this tale, rankin shapes rebus with a worldweary cast, delivering a startlingly interior view of his middleaged detective. Rankins goal in life was not always to write crime fiction.
The crime novelists first john rebus book launched 30 years ago im sitting in the library of the scotch malt whisky societys smws queen street venue on a quiet, sunny sunday afternoon, ready to talk murder and discover how a boy from workingclass cardenden in fife became one of britains top crime novelists. He is a writer and actor, known for rebus 2000, reichenbach falls 2007 and doors open 2012. Crime writer ian rankin has revealed he almost killed off inspector john rebus at the end of his first book in the series. John rebus is not as young as he was, but his detective instincts have never left him. His next novel, knots and crosses was the beginning of the inspector rebus character. Ian rankin relaunches the novel he once hoped to bury books. Ian rankin s guide to the places in scotland that have provided inspiration for his bestselling inspector rebus novels.
The first edition of the novel was published in 1987, and was written by ian rankin. Young girls are being murdered in edinburgh, and a certain sergeant rebus is drafted from his usual work onto the murder enquiry team. Rebus is back on the force, albeit with a demotion and a chip on his shoulder. The main characters of this mystery, mystery story are detective john rebus. Dec 20, 2018 the crime writer, whose new rebus novel is in a house of lies, is giving his archives to the national library of scotland. Rankin also reveals the story of rebus and how he came into being, who he is, first published. The series is incredibly popular in the united kingdom, making up 10% of crime fiction sales there. Ian rankin was born on april 28, 1960 in cardenden, fife, scotland as ian james rankin. Below is a list of all of ian rankins inspector rankin books in order of when they were originally published. Ian rankins inspector john rebus novels in chronological order.
Mankell, i moved on to ian rankin and his brilliant rebus novels. Ian rankin has been elected a hawthornden fellow, and is also a past winner of the chandlerfulbright award. Ian rankin, scottish bestselling crime novelist, creator of the inspector rebus series. Ian rankins guide to the places in scotland that have provided inspiration for his bestselling inspector rebus novels.
Ian james rankin obe dl frse frsl born 28 april 1960 is a scottish crime writer, best known for his inspector rebus novels. One year later, in 1987, the first book in ian rankins inspector rebus series of books was published, knots and crosses. Ian rankin s first novel was the flood in the year 1986. He was perturbed by the classification of his first two novels, knots and crosses and hide and seek, as fiction. Crime writer ian rankin has recorded a lockdown video to reveal the first plot details of his new rebus novel a song for the dark times and insist it has nothing to do with the coronavirus pandemic. It is the first book to feature siobhan clarke and morris gerald cafferty appears as a main character. Originally published in 1987, knots and crosses was ian rankins second novel and the first to feature his enduringly popular creation john rebus sergeant rebus here, later inspector rebus. Rankin, 61, said he only changed his mind about killing rebus when he. Detective inspector john rebus and frank lauderdale start the book with a car chase across edinburgh to apprehend kidnappers, culminating with the two youths they are chasing throwing themselves off the forth road bridge and in rebus being injured in a car crash. He is also the author of the complaints and doors open. Ian uncovers the scotland that the tourist never sees, highlighting the places that inspired the settings for the inspector rebus novels.
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