by Ian Rankin
Part of Inspector Rebus, book 22
First published 2018
John Rebus faces forced retirement when a decades-old murder case resurfaces in Edinburgh. The body of private investigator Stuart Bloom turns up, linking back to a controversial inquiry that nearly destroyed Rebus years earlier. Malcolm Fox from Professional Standards circles like a predator, determined to find evidence of police corruption. Rebus must navigate department politics while pursuing leads that powerful people want buried. His protégé Siobhan Clarke stands caught between loyalty to her mentor and her own career survival. The investigation pulls Rebus deeper into a web of lies that stretches from Edinburgh's criminal underworld to its political elite. Old enemies emerge from the shadows as Rebus realizes this case could be his last chance to set the record straight before retirement silences him forever.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, mentor-protege, old-secrets
Setting: Edinburgh, Scotland
Period: contemporary
370 pages · Orion