IAN RANKIN
The bestselling Scottish writer publishes his 24th Inspector Rebus novel
Why is Rebus such a well-loved character? He is complex, charismatic, driven and has an edge of danger about him. He’s also a lot wittier than his creator and probably much more fun to share a bar with. Do readers get upset when you write something else? They don’t get upset but they do miss Rebus when a book appears without him. When I retired him (after Exit Music) I spent five years writing stories that didn’t feature him – I was grateful that readers stuck with me.
What are you reading? I’m about to dive into Ian McEwan’s Lessons.
Is there a book that made you love writing? Early on I adored thrillers by the likes of Alistair MacLean and Frederick Forsyth. Later, William McIlvanney’s Laidlaw novels persuaded me that crime fiction was an avenue well worth exploring, both as reader and writer.
What’s the best book you’ve read? I’d rather talk about “favourite” books than “best” books. I’d have Charles Dickens’ Bleak House and Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie on my list. Don’t ask me to choose between them.
A book that had a pivotal impact on your life? A pivotal author for me was James Ellroy. I learned a lot from his L.A. Quartet in terms of language and structure. His use of real historical characters and events led me to write Black and Blue (which involved the real-life serial killer Bible John) and that became my breakthrough book.
The book you couldn’t finish?
The first book I remember not finishing was Ancient Evenings by Norman Mailer.
The book you are most proud to have written? I was very satisfied with Black and Blue – it was the first book I’d written where I felt I’d got just about everything as right as it could be. More recently I felt daunted by the challenge of taking on another writer’s voice and fictional universe. But when the widow of William McIlvanney asked me to complete an unfinished Inspector Laidlaw prequel I felt I couldn’t say no. She wrote me a lovely letter afterwards to say that I’d brought Willie back to her, which was very moving and a great relief.
Your favourite place to read? The sofa in my music room, with a glass of good malt whisky to hand and a jazz album on the turntable.
What book do you re-read? One stands out, it’s not actually a novel, rather a 12-novel sequence A Dance To The Music of Time by Anthony Powell and charts a writer’s life from childhood to old age. I love the characters, the style, and the cleverness of its construction. What’s next? The plan is for me to take next year off. My wife wants us to go travelling. This will only become problematic if I get a great new idea for a story …