by Ian Rankin
Part of Inspector Rebus, book 11
First published 2001
Detective John Rebus expects routine security duty as Edinburgh prepares to host its first Scottish parliament in three centuries. Queensbury House sits squarely in his jurisdiction, and the ceremonial responsibilities seem manageable. Then workers discover human remains in a fireplace at the future seat of government. A homeless man leaps from a bridge, leaving behind a suitcase stuffed with money. An ambitious politician turns up dead. Rebus sees connections between the deaths that others miss. His investigation leads him back to one of Edinburgh's most dangerous criminals, a man Rebus believed he had locked away permanently. Money flows toward Scotland's political transformation, and Rebus knows that vast sums attract violence. He must navigate the intersection of old crimes and new ambitions while Edinburgh buzzes with historic change.
Genres: mystery, crime, detective, political-thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigative-journalism
Setting: Edinburgh, Queensbury House, Scotland
Period: 21st-century
448 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Minotaur Books