Rather Be the Devil
‘Britain’s No.1 crime writer’ Mirror
* * * * *
A CASE THAT WON’T DIE
John Rebus can’t close the door on the death of glamorous socialite Maria Turquand. Brutally murdered in her hotel room forty years ago, her killer has never been found.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s dark heart is up for grabs. Young pretender Darryl Christie may have staked his claim on the city’s underworld – but has criminal mastermind and Rebus’ long-time adversary, Big Ger Cafferty, really settled down to a quiet retirement? Or is he hiding in the shadows until Edinburgh is once more ripe for the picking?
Old Enemies. New Crimes. Rebus may be off the force, but he certainly isn’t off the case.
* * * * *
‘Superbly told, impossible to put down … underlines the treasure that Rebus has become’ Daily Mail
‘This elegantly crafted and witty thriller proves this old devil still has all the best tunes’ Sunday Mirror
‘Effortless plotting and a cracking narrative that keeps the reader gripped throughout’ Daily Express
* * * * *
A CASE THAT WON’T DIE
John Rebus can’t close the door on the death of glamorous socialite Maria Turquand. Brutally murdered in her hotel room forty years ago, her killer has never been found.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s dark heart is up for grabs. Young pretender Darryl Christie may have staked his claim on the city’s underworld – but has criminal mastermind and Rebus’ long-time adversary, Big Ger Cafferty, really settled down to a quiet retirement? Or is he hiding in the shadows until Edinburgh is once more ripe for the picking?
Old Enemies. New Crimes. Rebus may be off the force, but he certainly isn’t off the case.
* * * * *
‘Superbly told, impossible to put down … underlines the treasure that Rebus has become’ Daily Mail
‘This elegantly crafted and witty thriller proves this old devil still has all the best tunes’ Sunday Mirror
‘Effortless plotting and a cracking narrative that keeps the reader gripped throughout’ Daily Express
Newsletter Signup
By clicking ‘Sign Up,’ I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Reviews
Rather Be The Devil is an intricate, evocative Edinburgh mystery that builds to a bloody finale. Retirement may not suit Rebus but it's resulted in yet another brilliant book in Rankin's revived crime series.
Though it moves at pace, what makes this tale so satisfying is that its protagonists have had time to develop. Rebus's input serves to highlight the benefits of age, experience and keeping a sense of community.
Essential crime-reading.
Rankin is expert at what theorists of realism call the authenticating detail.
This may be Rebus's 21st outing, but this is a cleverly crafted tale and Ian Rankin's storytelling is as fresh as ever.
Rather Be the Devil showcases Rankin and Rebus at their unstoppable best.
Superbly told, impossible to put down, and laced with Rankin's unmistakeable laconic wit it precisely underlines the treasure that Rebus has become.
Clever and compelling.
The 21st Rebus novel boasts effortless plotting and a cracking narrative that keeps the reader gripped throughout.
This elegantly crafted and witty thriller proves this old devil still has all the best tunes.
This is an interesting and enjoyable novel.