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 would rather he retire than stick around. But as Rebus investigates, he must deal with the sleazy Edinburgh underworld, and maybe even fall in love.
Download and start listening now!
"Another in the Inspector Rebus series.[return][return] Due to reorganization of his old precinct, Rebus and other St. Leonard's CID personnel have been reassigned; he and Siobhan Clarke are now operating out of Gayfield Square and find themselves in new territory. The central plot concerns the murder of an asylum seeker in an Edinburg housing project that has become housing predominantly for immigrants, many of them probably illegal; the murder is being treated as a race crime and Rebus is the only one who is serious about the investigation. Meantime, Siobhan has been drrawn into searching for a missing teenager, the younger sister of a young woman who was brutally raped and murdered a few years back; the case winds up involving the murder of the rapist and a community that is perfectly happy to cover up for whoever did it.[return][return]While both threads are separate, they do intertwine since the course of both investigations lead to Edinburg's sex industry, the world of strip clubs and pornography. The social issue of Scotland's asylum seekers is central to the plot and very well handled. [return][return]The plot is complex enough to satisfy the most demanding readers. Rankin really writes novels that happen to be police procedurals. But in this one, the reader gets more than a hint that both Rebus AND Rankin are getting tired of the chase."
— Joyce (4 out of 5 stars)
" Another in the Inspector Rebus series.[return][return] Due to reorganization of his old precinct, Rebus and other St. Leonard's CID personnel have been reassigned; he and Siobhan Clarke are now operating out of Gayfield Square and find themselves in new territory. The central plot concerns the murder of an asylum seeker in an Edinburg housing project that has become housing predominantly for immigrants, many of them probably illegal; the murder is being treated as a race crime and Rebus is the only one who is serious about the investigation. Meantime, Siobhan has been drrawn into searching for a missing teenager, the younger sister of a young woman who was brutally raped and murdered a few years back; the case winds up involving the murder of the rapist and a community that is perfectly happy to cover up for whoever did it.[return][return]While both threads are separate, they do intertwine since the course of both investigations lead to Edinburg's sex industry, the world of strip clubs and pornography. The social issue of Scotland's asylum seekers is central to the plot and very well handled. [return][return]The plot is complex enough to satisfy the most demanding readers. Rankin really writes novels that happen to be police procedurals. But in this one, the reader gets more than a hint that both Rebus AND Rankin are getting tired of the chase. "
— Joyce, 2/5/2014" Boy, that Glasgow sure is gritty. "
— Monsters, 1/29/2014" Boy, that Glasgow sure is gritty. "
— Monsters, 1/29/2014" Well plotted and interesting story. Includes actual issues of relevance! Well delineated characters and a very funny ending. "
— Robert, 1/24/2014" Well plotted and interesting story. Includes actual issues of relevance! Well delineated characters and a very funny ending. "
— Robert, 1/24/2014" An immigrant is murdered in Edinberg, Scotland, skeletons are found buried in concrete in a bar cellar, and a girl is missing. While Inspector John Rebus and his partner Detective Siobhan Clarke investigate they also uncover a human smuggling ring. The big question is "Who is pulling the strings?" An intersesting read that looks at numerous social problems. "
— Fredrick, 1/18/2014" An immigrant is murdered in Edinberg, Scotland, skeletons are found buried in concrete in a bar cellar, and a girl is missing. While Inspector John Rebus and his partner Detective Siobhan Clarke investigate they also uncover a human smuggling ring. The big question is "Who is pulling the strings?" An intersesting read that looks at numerous social problems. "
— Fredrick, 1/18/2014" I liked listening to this story with a Scottish accent. It was a decent mystery. The main characters were likable, and I'll probably read more by this author. "
— Cindy, 1/13/2014" I liked listening to this story with a Scottish accent. It was a decent mystery. The main characters were likable, and I'll probably read more by this author. "
— Cindy, 1/13/2014" Good--I like those UK mysteries. "
— Sue, 1/10/2014" Good--I like those UK mysteries. "
— Sue, 1/10/2014" Whitemire - a detention center for asylum seekers, mostly from the Middle East. Knoxland - a low income housing estate, run by the Council. Fleshmarket Alley - a sleazy area in Edinburgh. The Nook - a bar in the Fleshmarket area where the skeletons of a mother and child have been recently unearthed from beneath a concrete floor. The Bane - a bar in Baneville that is frequented by a recently released rapist.[return][return]The mix of these places is integrated into the story, but I found it all a bit forced. Rankin's detective John Rebus and his current police partner Siobhan carry out their separate investigations - the one of Rebus starts with the skeletons, the one of Siobhan starts with the rapist - and the writing is always interesting. But it felt to me that Rankin had an agenda, and that took away from the story itself.[return][return]This is my least favorite of the Rankin books I've read so far. "
— Mary, 1/5/2014" Whitemire - a detention center for asylum seekers, mostly from the Middle East. Knoxland - a low income housing estate, run by the Council. Fleshmarket Alley - a sleazy area in Edinburgh. The Nook - a bar in the Fleshmarket area where the skeletons of a mother and child have been recently unearthed from beneath a concrete floor. The Bane - a bar in Baneville that is frequented by a recently released rapist.[return][return]The mix of these places is integrated into the story, but I found it all a bit forced. Rankin's detective John Rebus and his current police partner Siobhan carry out their separate investigations - the one of Rebus starts with the skeletons, the one of Siobhan starts with the rapist - and the writing is always interesting. But it felt to me that Rankin had an agenda, and that took away from the story itself.[return][return]This is my least favorite of the Rankin books I've read so far. "
— Mary, 1/5/2014" I always end up reading a couple of these every summer...I actually haven't got around to it yet this year, but the point is, the fact that John Rebus spends half the books is dingy scottish pubs makes it worth it. "
— Esme, 1/2/2014" Still reading through the complete works of Rankin. This one didn't grab me as much, not due to lack of writing skill, but rather subject matter. I just wasn't as drawn into the stories of illegal immigrants in Scotland. "
— False, 1/2/2014" Still reading through the complete works of Rankin. This one didn't grab me as much, not due to lack of writing skill, but rather subject matter. I just wasn't as drawn into the stories of illegal immigrants in Scotland. "
— False, 1/2/2014" I always end up reading a couple of these every summer...I actually haven't got around to it yet this year, but the point is, the fact that John Rebus spends half the books is dingy scottish pubs makes it worth it. "
— Esme, 1/2/2014" I love DI Rebus. He is pretty kickass. "
— April, 12/28/2013" I love DI Rebus. He is pretty kickass. "
— April, 12/28/2013" There's a reason Ian Rankin has won so many awards - he write very good books! The mystery and suspense move along at a nice clip, and all of the loose ends are gathered up very plausibly in the final chapters. "
— Sharon, 12/13/2013" There's a reason Ian Rankin has won so many awards - he write very good books! The mystery and suspense move along at a nice clip, and all of the loose ends are gathered up very plausibly in the final chapters. "
— Sharon, 12/13/2013" I have read them all.There is no doubt the later novels, like this one, are best. They are all worth reading. The characters develop over the course of the series and become more real with every novel. Fine writing and great stories. "
— Pete, 11/20/2013" I have read them all.There is no doubt the later novels, like this one, are best. They are all worth reading. The characters develop over the course of the series and become more real with every novel. Fine writing and great stories. "
— Pete, 11/20/2013" I adore Rebus and I have a firm picture of Brian Cox in my mind whilst reading. I do have a small criticism in that the end always seems a little hurried as if the writer can't wait to finish the book - is he being hassled by the publisher? "
— Daffy, 8/29/2013" I adore Rebus and I have a firm picture of Brian Cox in my mind whilst reading. I do have a small criticism in that the end always seems a little hurried as if the writer can't wait to finish the book - is he being hassled by the publisher? "
— Daffy, 8/29/2013" Good read with quite a tiff between Rebus and Siobhan. "
— David, 7/30/2013" Good read with quite a tiff between Rebus and Siobhan. "
— David, 7/30/2013" It was a tricky one. It looks like a tangled up web. I should confess it was great fun. "
— Artemis, 5/12/2013" It was a tricky one. It looks like a tangled up web. I should confess it was great fun. "
— Artemis, 5/12/2013" This book was so highly boring I couldn't even get to the end of it. I kept trying and trying and I just wanted to fall asleep, so I ended up giving up on it. "
— Jenn, 3/2/2013" This book was so highly boring I couldn't even get to the end of it. I kept trying and trying and I just wanted to fall asleep, so I ended up giving up on it. "
— Jenn, 3/2/2013" Excellent. Rebus rocks on. "
— Bettynz, 10/14/2012" Excellent. Rebus rocks on. "
— Bettynz, 10/14/2012" Better than many contemporary crime novelists. I like it when some politics are thrown in and it makes sense. This may be the best of the Rankin books I've read so far. "
— Eddie, 8/28/2012" Better than many contemporary crime novelists. I like it when some politics are thrown in and it makes sense. This may be the best of the Rankin books I've read so far. "
— Eddie, 8/28/2012" Book on CD. Great reader. "
— Marianne, 8/22/2012" Book on CD. Great reader. "
— Marianne, 8/22/2012" Always lots of atmosphere in the rain, cold and fog. "
— Barbara, 7/26/2012" Always lots of atmosphere in the rain, cold and fog. "
— Barbara, 7/26/2012" Read this book as part of book club and didn't overly enjoy it just not my preferred style.. "
— Amy, 4/3/2012" Read this book as part of book club and didn't overly enjoy it just not my preferred style.. "
— Amy, 4/3/2012" Another good one. Interesting that it's called Fleshmarket Alley in the States. "
— Rick, 3/2/2012" Another good one. Interesting that it's called Fleshmarket Alley in the States. "
— Rick, 3/2/2012" Read this a while ago, but one of my favorite Rebus "
— Andreasoldier, 2/2/2012" Read this a while ago, but one of my favorite Rebus "
— Andreasoldier, 2/2/2012" this was a hard book for me to get into...found the writing didnt leave me fired up to continue but the story line and characters were interesting "
— Sarah, 12/21/2011" this was a hard book for me to get into...found the writing didnt leave me fired up to continue but the story line and characters were interesting "
— Sarah, 12/21/2011" A very tangled story. I can usually guess whodunnit but I was mystified this time. Really good read. "
— Rita, 10/12/2011" A very tangled story. I can usually guess whodunnit but I was mystified this time. Really good read. "
— Rita, 10/12/2011" I liked Ian Rankin's writing, though I have read that this isn't his best book. I will have to find more by him. It was interesting rambling through the streets of Edinburgh as John Rebus used the old-fashioned way of detecting: talking to folks. "
— Stephanie, 9/8/2011" I liked Ian Rankin's writing, though I have read that this isn't his best book. I will have to find more by him. It was interesting rambling through the streets of Edinburgh as John Rebus used the old-fashioned way of detecting: talking to folks. "
— Stephanie, 9/8/2011" Runs out of steam fifty pages short of the end. "
— Chrysostom, 4/9/2011" Runs out of steam fifty pages short of the end. "
— Chrysostom, 4/9/2011" My first Ian Rankin & Inspector Rebus--should have started at the beginning instead of #15--but I did enjoy it. "
— Lladroluv, 1/12/2011" My first Ian Rankin & Inspector Rebus--should have started at the beginning instead of #15--but I did enjoy it. "
— Lladroluv, 1/12/2011" I'm a fan of Ian Rankin and I love how he manages to mingle murder with humour, however it took me a while to get into this one. The pacing was brilliant, but the actual crime, the murder seemed to take a back seat in favour of other crimes. A good book, but not his best. "
— Sian, 10/25/2010" I'm a fan of Ian Rankin and I love how he manages to mingle murder with humour, however it took me a while to get into this one. The pacing was brilliant, but the actual crime, the murder seemed to take a back seat in favour of other crimes. A good book, but not his best. "
— Sian, 10/25/2010" Another great Rebus novel, having Ken Stott and Claire Price in my mind as the main characters is always an advantage. Thanks to Ian Rankin for superb writing and detail. "
— Karen, 10/24/2010" Another great Rebus novel, having Ken Stott and Claire Price in my mind as the main characters is always an advantage. Thanks to Ian Rankin for superb writing and detail. "
— Karen, 10/24/2010" Second time read - still loved it! "
— Colleen, 9/24/2010" Second time read - still loved it! "
— Colleen, 9/24/2010" First sentence, "I'm not supposed to be here," Detective Inspector John Rebus said." "
— Douglas, 8/23/2010" First sentence, "I'm not supposed to be here," Detective Inspector John Rebus said." "
— Douglas, 8/23/2010" Book on CD. Great reader. "
— Marianne, 6/21/2010" Book on CD. Great reader. "
— Marianne, 6/21/2010" Yeah, well. When in doubt, read a British mystery. "
— Deidre, 6/6/2010" Yeah, well. When in doubt, read a British mystery. "
— Deidre, 6/6/2010" Going to Scotland with me! "
— Autumn, 5/3/2010" Going to Scotland with me! "
— Autumn, 5/3/2010" Boy, that Glasgow sure is gritty. "
— Monsters, 3/24/2010" Boy, that Glasgow sure is gritty. "
— Monsters, 3/24/2010" Having read quite a few Ian Rankin's Rebus, this is one is not as dark or brooding as the others. As always..loved it. "
— Ai-lin, 3/21/2010" Having read quite a few Ian Rankin's Rebus, this is one is not as dark or brooding as the others. As always..loved it. "
— Ai-lin, 3/21/2010" I love Ian Rankin and John Rebus. This was a personal favorite of mine. "
— Peter, 2/24/2010" I love Ian Rankin and John Rebus. This was a personal favorite of mine. "
— Peter, 2/24/2010Ian Rankin, a New York Times bestselling author, is the recipient of an Edgar Award, a Gold Dagger for fiction, and a Chandler-Fulbright Fellowship.
Ian Rankin, a New York Times bestselling author, is the recipient of an Edgar Award, a Gold Dagger for fiction, and a Chandler-Fulbright Fellowship.