by Ian Rankin
Part of Inspector Rebus, book 17
First published 2008
Detective Inspector John Rebus has only days left before retirement when Edinburgh's autumn brings him one last case. A Russian dissident poet lies dead in what appears to be a robbery turned violent. Rebus should be clearing paperwork and saying goodbyes, but the murder pulls him deeper into Edinburgh's shadows. A powerful group of Russian businessmen has arrived in the city to expand their operations. As Rebus digs into connections between the dead poet and these visitors, violence strikes closer to home. Someone attacks a local gangster Rebus has tangled with for years. The detective finds himself walking a dangerous line between justice and vengeance. With retirement so close he can taste it, Rebus must decide how far he will go to solve this final puzzle. His long career has been marked by controversy and boundary crossing. Now he faces the question of whether he will survive to see his last day on the force.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, justice-vs-vengeance
Setting: Edinburgh, Russia
Period: Retirement
432 pages · Hardcover · Little Brown and Company