Rather Be the Devil
 | |
| Author | Ian Rankin |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Inspector Rebus |
| Genre | Detective fiction |
| Publisher | Orion Books |
Publication date | 3 November 2016 |
| Publication place | Scotland |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 310 |
| ISBN | 978-1-4091-5940-7 |
| Preceded by | Even Dogs in the Wild |
| Followed by | In a House of Lies |
| Website | Author's webpage |
Rather Be the Devilis the 21st instalment in theInspector Rebusseries ofcrime novels,published in November 2016.[1]Rather Be the Deviltopped the bestseller charts for hardback fiction.[2]The title was inspired by aJohn Martynsong from his 1973 albumSolid Air.[3]
Plot summary
[edit]The novel opens and closes with Rebus and his girlfriend,Deborah Quant(a forensic pathologist) dining in a restaurant which is part of the WaldorfCaledonian Hotel.Rebus is reminded of the 1978 murder at this hotel of Maria Turquand, an unsolved case in which Edinburgh bankers and pop stars were suspects. Rebus revisits the case, which becomes intertwined with others more actively pursued by the police in the coming week.
DIMalcolm Foxhas been promoted toGartcoshwherePolice Scotlandhave the Scottish Crime Campus.[4]Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, DISiobhan Clarkeis investigating the mugging of Darryl Christie, a young gangster who, inStanding in Another Man's Grave(2012), stepped into the void created by'Big Ger' Cafferty's withdrawal from power in Edinburgh. BecauseHM Revenue and Customsare interested in a shell companies scheme involving Christie and banking scion Anthony Brough, Fox is sent back to Edinburgh to join Clarke's investigation.[5]Then a retired policeman dies, drowned with his hands bound, shortly after talking to Rebus about the Turquand case. This brings a Gartcosh Murder Inquiry Team to Edinburgh, and Fox is asked to join this team as well. Rebus manages to follow both enquiries, and Fox sees to it that Siobhan Clarke comes to the attention of the Gartcosh MIT group, and so the three are again working together.
Meanwhile, 'Big Ger' Cafferty is ready to make a comeback.[6]
Against this backdrop is Rebus's diagnosis ofCOPD,and his wait for word about from the doctors about a shadow on his lung (which he has namedHank Marvin). This leads to him quitting cigarettes and moderating his alcohol intake.
References
[edit]- ^"Rather Be the Devil - Ian Rankin".orionbooks.Retrieved13 November2016.
- ^"Bestsellers".The Times.No. 72072. Saturday Review. 19 November 2016. p. 27.ISSN0140-0460.
- ^Miller, Phil (17 March 2016)."Ian Rankin reveals new Rebus novel, to be published in November".Herald Scotland.Retrieved13 November2016.
- ^Unsworth, Cathi (2 November 2015)."Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin review – Rebus is on the case and off the cigarettes".The Guardian.Retrieved13 November2016.
- ^"Rather be the Devil".ianrankin.net.Retrieved13 November2016.
- ^Christie, Janet (22 October 2016)."Ian Rankin Interview: 'I don't know if I'll write about Rebus again'".The Scotsman.Retrieved13 November2016.
