Ian Rankin Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Books
Knots and Crosses | (1987) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Hide and Seek | (1991) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Tooth and Nail / Wolfman | (1992) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Strip Jack | (1992) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Black Book | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Mortal Causes | (1994) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Let It Bleed | (1995) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Black and Blue | (1997) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Hanging Garden | (1998) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Dead Souls | (1999) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Set in Darkness | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Falls | (2001) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Resurrection Men | (2002) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
A Question of Blood | (2003) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Fleshmarket Alley / Fleshmarket Close | (2004) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Naming of the Dead | (2006) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Exit Music | (2007) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Standing in Another Man's Grave | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Saints of the Shadow Bible | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Even Dogs in the Wild | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Rather Be the Devil | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
In a House of Lies | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
A Song for the Dark Times | (2020) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
A Heart Full of Headstones | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Short Stories/Novellas
A Good Hanging | (1992) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Death is Not the End | (1998) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
A Good Hanging and Other Stories | (2003) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
In the Nick of Time | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Beat Goes On | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Long Shadows (Play) | (2019) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Jack Harvey Books
Witch Hunt | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Blood Hunt | (1995) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Bleeding Hearts | (2001) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Malcolm Fox Books
Publication Order of Jack Laidlaw Books
Laidlaw | (1977) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Papers of Tony Veitch | (1983) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Strange Loyalties | (1991) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Dark Remains | (2021) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Dark Remains is a prequel. |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
The Flood | (1986) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Watchman | (1988) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Westwind | (1991) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Doors Open | (2008) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas
A Deep Hole | (1994) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
A Cool Head | (2009) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Meet and Greet | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Plays
Publication Order of Short Story Collections
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
Publication Order of Bibliomysteries Books
The Book of Virtue | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Pronghorns of the Third Reich | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Book Thing | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Book Case | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
An Acceptable Sacrifice | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Death Leaves a Bookmark | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Final Testament | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Rides a Stranger | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Long Sonata of the Dead | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Book of Ghosts | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Compendium of Srem | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
What's in a Name? | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Remaindered | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Sequel | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Gospel of Sheba | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Nature of My Inheritance | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
It's in the Book | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Scroll | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Book of the Lion | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Little Men | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Condor in the Stacks | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Mystery, Inc. | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Every Seven Years | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
From the Queen | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Travelling Companion | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Citadel | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Reconciliation Day | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Dead Dames Don't Sing | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Haze | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Hoodoo Harry | (2017) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Pretty Little Box | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Seven Years | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Hemingway Valise | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Last Honest Horse Thief | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Dark Door | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Chronological Order of Bibliomysteries Books
The Book of Virtue | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Scroll | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Pronghorns of the Third Reich | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
An Acceptable Sacrifice | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Death Leaves a Bookmark | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Seven Years | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Book Thing | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Book of Ghosts | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Long Sonata of the Dead | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Final Testament | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Rides a Stranger | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
What's in a Name? | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
It's in the Book | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Nature of My Inheritance | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Remaindered | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Compendium of Srem | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Gospel of Sheba | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Sequel | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Book of the Lion | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Little Men | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
From the Queen | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Every Seven Years | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Citadel | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Condor in the Stacks | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Mystery, Inc. | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Travelling Companion | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Haze | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Dead Dames Don't Sing | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Reconciliation Day | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Hoodoo Harry | (2017) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Pretty Little Box | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Hemingway Valise | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Last Honest Horse Thief | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Book Case | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Dark Door | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Murderous Christmas Stories Books
Murder under the Christmas Tree: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season | (2016) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Murder on Christmas Eve | (2017) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
A Very Murderous Christmas: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Anthology series. |
Publication Order of Mysterious Profiles Books
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Jack Taylor | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Jack Reacher | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Charlie Parker | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Hieronymus Bosch | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Lincoln Rhyme | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Alex Delaware | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Tess Monaghan | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Charlie Resnick | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Inspector Morse | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Dismas Hardy | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Bob Lee Swagger | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Aloysius X. L. Pendergast | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Lou Boldt | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Spenser | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Charlotte and Thomas Pitt | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
John Rebus | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Mallory | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Jane Whitefield | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Ian Rutledge: A Mysterious Profile | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Amos Walker | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Precious Ramotswe | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Maisie Dobbs | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Lincoln Lawyer | (2022) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Anthologies
The Oxford Book of Detective Stories | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Master's Choice: Mystery Stories by Today's Top Writers and the Masters Who Inspired Them | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories 1 | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories 2 | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Longman Anthology of Detective Fiction | (2004) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
One City | (2005) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Dangerous Women | (2005) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Penguin Book of Crime Stories | (2007) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Ox-Tales: Earth | (2009) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Crimespotting | (2009) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 8 | (2011) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Best of Barcelona INK | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Killer Cookbook | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
OxCrimes: 27 Killer Stories from the Cream of Crimewriters | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
FaceOff | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Jawbreakers | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Ten Year Stretch | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Daggers Drawn | (2021) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
This series centered on the adventures of a cynical detective, has led to a 19 book series; several of which were adapted into a television series. Rankin’s prolific works have left a permanent imprint on the UK crime drama genre, and a mark on the imagination of the world.
Ian Rankin was born in 1960 in Cardenden, Fife. In primary school, Rankin enjoyed reading literature and writing. His English teacher recognized his unique writing abilities and encouraged him to pursue his talents at an institution of higher learning. He took his advice, and attended Edinburgh University, where he majored in English Literature and Language. In 1982 he graduated from Edinburgh University, and then returned to work on his PhD between 1983 and 1986. His thesis was on Scottish fiction, but he began working on his own writing career.
After he received his PhD, Rankin worked a number of different jobs. He was a taxman, grap-picker, swineherd, musician, college secretary, and a journalist for a magazine. He married his wife in 1986 and went to work at the National Folktale Centre in London.
Ian Rankin’s first novel was The Flood in the year 1986. His following novel, Knots and Crosses, was published in 1987. This novel was the first of the Rebus series, for which he has become extremely famous. However, Rankin did not intend on becoming a crime writer. He was perturbed by the classification of his first two novels, Knots and Crosses and Hide and Seek, as fiction. Rankin believed the books were more in line with the Scottish traditions of other Scottish novelists.
The Inspector Rebus series is now considered major contributors of the Tartan Noir genre; crime fiction rooted in the Scottish tradition. In 2009, Ian Rankin donated his short story “Fieldwork” to the Ox-Tales project, which features four collections of UK stories. In 2009 Rankin wrote Dark Entries, a graphic novel, in which a man struggles to escape a reality television show for Hell.
The Inspector Rebus Series
Rankin has written many different works of fiction, but his most famous work is the Inspector Rebus series. Inspector Rebus is a cynical, middle-aged detective, who works in the underbelly of Edinburgh, Scotland. The detective is the traditional sloppy underdog, who drinks too much, can’t sustain a romantic relationship, and always has an issue with the chain of command. Part of the Rebus series appeal is the detective’s borderline sympathy for the criminals he associates with, against the backdrop of a shady Edinburgh; a direct dichotomy of the highly clean and commercial city projected to the world.
The Rebus series has 19 novels to date, the last of which, Saints of the Shadow Bible, was published in 2013. 10 of the Rebus series books have been adapted into television series on ITV. Rankin has also published a number of novels under the pseudonym, “Jack Harvey.” The Rebus Novels have been translated into 26 different languages. In 1992, Ian Rankin won the Chandler Fulbright Award. He has received several honorary degrees from the Universities of Abertay Dundee and St. Andrews.
The Inspector Rebus series made a permanent mark on the UK criminal series genre. The Rebus series accounted for 10 percent of all crime book sales in the UK. The series sells an average of half a million copies in a three month span. The books are published by the Orion Publishing Group.
Knots and Crosses
All of the books in the Rebus series are written from Rebus’ point of view. Sometimes this point of view shift to various characters in the book. Every novel involves some sort of murder, deaths, or disappearances, which Rebus decides to investigate. All of the investigations depict the scummy underbelly of Scotland, poverty, and corruption. Rebus has to deal with a number of internal and external conflicts with his personal life, police superiors, and colleagues.
Inspector Rebus investigates the abduction and strangling of two young girls in Edinburgh. As John Rebus investigates the murders, two more girls are taken. As he investigates the murders and kidnappings, Rebus is haunted by memories of his previous wife’s attack and his daughter’s abduction. He slowly begins to piece together a series of cryptic anonymous letters which he connects to his past in the military. Removed from the case because of his connection, John Rebus decides to go rogue and find the killer on his own.
Hide and Seek
Plot. John Rebus discovers the body of a drug addict amongst two burned candles, and a five-pointed star. While other detectives brush off the murder, Rebus pursues the murder. Rebus finds a young woman named Tracy who recalls the dead man’s last words as “hide!”
He discovers that the man was a photographer who hid some pictures taken at a private club called The Hyde. He discovers that the club is a front for an illegal boxing ring. Rebus arrests the Hyde’s owner and other conspirators of the fight club, but they all mysteriously die in police custody. Rebus now finds himself facing a massive cover up.
Television Adaptations
13 of the 19 Inspector Rebus novels have been adapted for television between 2000 and 2007 in four series. John Hannah played the inspector in the first series, but was replaced by Ken Stott in the remaining series. The fourth series featured an original episode not based on any of the Rebus novels.
The episode was called, “The First Stone.” BBC Radio 4 did dramatizations of Rankin’s The Falls (2008), Resurrection Men (2008), Strip Jack (2010), The Black Book (2012), and Black and Blue (2013)
Conclusion
Ian Rankin’s work is now appearing in university literature departments, as modern examples of complex crime fictional works. Rankin makes annual appearances on the BBC’s Newsnight Review. In 2013, Rankin made his play writing debut with, Dark Road, which debut in Lyceum Theatre in September, 2013. In his down time, Rankin has also been spotted in Edinburgh’s Oxford Bar, a bar visited by his fictional detective Inspector Rebus.
Book Series In Order » Authors »