Ian Rankin Books In Order

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Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Books

Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Short Stories/Novellas

with Peter James

Publication Order of Jack Harvey Books

Publication Order of Malcolm Fox Books

Publication Order of Jack Laidlaw Books

with William McIlvanney

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Plays

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Bibliomysteries Books

Chronological Order of Bibliomysteries Books

Publication Order of Murderous Christmas Stories Books

Publication Order of Mysterious Profiles Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

In the early 1980’s, Ian Rankin was a jack of all trades. He was a grape picker, a taxman, and a swineherd. Now he is one of the most widely known crime novelist in the United Kingdom. Creator of multiple novels and winner of countless literary awards, Rankin’s most lauded work is the inspector Rebus series.

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 » Ian Rankin