Rankin: ‘I can’t imagine Rebus in a care home’

● Author admits his greatest creation may be nearing the end

Acclaimed crime fiction author Ian Rankin has hinted that an end could soon be approaching for his worldfamous detective John Rebus.

With the popular series written approximately in real time and the much-loved character now in his sixties, Rankin admitted that he could not picture himself writing about Rebus “whizzing around” a care home.

But fans need not fear for the ageing inspector just yet, as the novelist has promised another instalment next year.

Speaking ahead of his appearance at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, which this year marks Rebus’ 30th anniversary, he told the Press Association: “I have already slowed the clock a little, so he’s not quite as old as he should be.

“I never think more than one book ahead, but I can’t

0 Author Ian Rankin has yet to work out the plot for his next book featuring popular detective Rebus imagine writing books about [Rebus] when he’s in a care home, whizzing around on his electric wheelchair.

“Maybe an author can make it work, but I don’t think I’m the author to make it work, so he has got a limited life-span. I don’t know what the end point is for him and me.”

While the Edinburgh-based author, 57, said he did not yet have a plot for the next book, he is looking forward to tackling the literary challenges of Rebus’ increasing age, health problems, and how to get him on a crime case even though he has officially retired.

His most successful character to date, Rankin explained that he had a special bond with the gruff investigator – famously portrayed by Ken Stott in the hit TV series – and described him as a personal “punching bag”.

“There is an element of selftherapy in everything I write because it’s a way of trying to bring order to the chaos,” he said. “My youngest son was born disabled, so for a while I put Rebus’ daughter in a wheelchair, as a way of dealing with what was I was having to deal with in my real life.

“I just gave my problems to Rebus, he’s like a punching bag for me, I can dump all my rubbish on him.”

Rankin also shared his admiration for Harry Potter creator JK Rowling, whose Strike detective series was recently made into a BBC television show.

“I always thought that the Harry Potter novels were structured as whodunits anyway,” he said. “There were people pretending to be who they weren’t, villains waiting to be revealed at the end, clues and red herrings along the way.

“I always felt that she was already a crime writer.”

The Cheltenham Literature Festival takes place next month, where Rankin will reflect on 30 years of Rebus, which started with Knots And Crosses.