Rankin brings Rebus back again
Well-loved character returns to the police force with lower rank
Rebus returns — again. This time he’s been hired back as a regular member of the force. Ian Rankin had retired Rebus in 2007 because the series was following real time and he would have faced mandatory retirement. The laws in Scotland have changed. But Rebus has been demoted — now just inspector — and reports to Det.-Sgt. Siobhan Clarke, Rebus’s former police partner. Rankin also includes Malcolm Fox in this turn — Fox starts out investigating Rebus and his former colleagues who worked on a case 30 years ago that is being reopened.
Rebus was a young officer during the case, which came during a time he was working with a group of police officers that called themselves the Saints and who swore a bond on something they called the Shadow Bible. The old group doesn’t keep in touch much, but just before Fox calls Rebus in to question him, the old members gather at a dying member’s home. Fox, of course, works for The Complaints, Edinburgh’s Police Complaints and Conduct Office. Fox is a recovering alcoholic, who, like Rebus, prefers to work alone.
Both Standing in Another Man’s Grave (the previous Rebus) and Saints of the Shadow Bible are titles taken from songs by folksinger Jackie Leven. Leven, who died in 2011, was Rankin’s good friend.
“Jackie was a great guitarist and a fine songwriter with a vein of robust romantic imagery and a voice that could melt granite,” Rankin says in tribute on his website. “He was also a terrific storyteller whose life provided no end of material. He’s still much missed by all of us who knew him.”
Rebus was also very much missed by fans when Rankin retired him. But now they’re thrilled to have him back, in all his grumpy, dark glory. This book begins with a mysterious car crash in which the police don’t believe the young injured girl found in the car was driving. The trunk of the car is open when the police arrive, which also makes them suspicious.
So the two investigations proceed: Fox looking into Rebus and his colleagues’ 30-year-old case and possible wrongdoing; and Rebus and Siobhan looking into the car crash, a case that soon spreads its tentacles into Scottish politics and money.
As always, Rebus likes his pubs and carefully manages his dodgy connections and detective techniques.
He says: “Hiya, Siobhan. We still on for tonight?” “Can we not find anywhere more salubrious than the backroom of the Ox?” “That’s a dealbreaker for me.” He drags Malcolm to many pubs; at all times Malcolm sticks to soft drinks.
Rebus is funny, but very smart at the same time. For instance, early on in the book, here’s Rebus to Siobhan, “… me and Foxy are best buds now.” “Somehow I doubt that.” She couldn’t help smiling. “Then let’s just say he’s thawing.” “Really?” Rebus gave it three beats. “No, not really.”
It’s those subtle little conversations, descriptions and humorous details that make Rankin the fine writer that he is. Although he seems like he’s just wasting everyone’s time and creating problems, it’s Rebus who solves all the crimes while the rest of the force (other than Fox, who plays a key role) seems to be asleep. Rebus is back, Fox is in fine form and now that they’re working together, we can all sit back, relax and enjoy the read.