by Ian Rankin
Part of Inspector Rebus, book 12
First published 2005
A wealthy father's daughter vanishes near Edinburgh, and Detective John Rebus gets pulled into a massive investigation he cannot control. The girl's powerful family commands resources that dwarf Rebus's influence, leaving him to fight both the case and his personal demons while navigating layers of bureaucracy. Two clues emerge from the search: a wooden doll sealed inside a small casket and evidence linking the missing woman to a sinister online role-playing game. Rebus partners with Detective Constable Siobhan Clarke, whose computer skills can penetrate the digital world where the victim may have disappeared. But Clarke's youth makes her vulnerable to the dangers lurking in cyberspace. Meanwhile, Rebus discovers that similar dolls and caskets have appeared throughout Edinburgh's history, some connected to grave robbers who became murderers. As the investigation deepens, past and present crimes begin to merge. Rebus faces a web of deception that threatens to overwhelm him, but only his experience can untangle the lies and reveal the truth about what happened to the missing woman.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: deception, investigation, personal-demons
Setting: Edinburgh, Scotland
479 pages · Paperback · Orion