Inspector Rebus Books in Order

Series of detective novels by Ian Rankin

Publication order

In the order the books were originally released.

  1. Cover of Knots and Crosses

    Knots and Crosses

    1987 · Ian Rankin

    A 1987 crime novel by Ian Rankin. Edinburgh policeman John Rebus must solve murders involving seeming crank letters. He is not the only officer…

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  2. Cover of Hide and Seek

    Hide and Seek

    1991 · Ian Rankin

    Hide and Seek is a 1991 crime novel by Ian Rankin. It is the second of the Inspector Rebus novels and is not to be confused with James Patterson's…

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  3. Cover of Tooth and nail

    Tooth and nail

    1992 · Ian Rankin

    Tooth and Nail is a 1992 crime novel by Ian Rankin in which Rebus accepts help from Dr Liza Frazer to catch the 'Wolfman,' a serial killer who bites…

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  4. Cover of Strip Jack

    Strip Jack

    1992 · Ian Rankin

    Strip Jack is a 1992 crime novel by Ian Rankin, an earlier entry in the DI John Rebus series. The well-woven plot centers on a "pack" of old school…

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  5. Cover of The Black Book

    The Black Book

    1993 · Ian Rankin

    In this 1993 novel, when a close colleague is brutally attacked, Inspector John Rebus is drawn into a case involving a hotel fire, an unidentified…

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  6. Cover of Good Hanging, A

    Good Hanging, A

    Year unknown · Ian Rankin

    Twelve gritty stories starring Detective Inspector John Rebus in his home city of Edinburgh, depicting not the tearooms and cobbled streets of…

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  7. Cover of Mortal Causes

    Mortal Causes

    1994 · Ian Rankin

    During the Edinburgh Festival in August, a brutally tortured body is found in one of the city's ancient subterranean streets, with marks suggesting…

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  8. Cover of Let it bleed

    Let it bleed

    1995 · Ian Rankin

    Let It Bleed is a 1995 crime novel by Ian Rankin, the seventh of the Inspector Rebus novels. The US edition includes a final chapter not present in…

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  9. Cover of Black and Blue

    Black and Blue

    1997 · Ian Rankin

    John Biblia aterrorizó Glasgow en las décadas de 1960 y 1970 al asesinar a tres mujeres, hechos por los cuales nunca fue capturado. Ahora, un hombre…

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  10. Cover of The Hanging Garden

    The Hanging Garden

    1998 · Ian Rankin

    Inspector John Rebus investigates a World War II criminal, a Nazi officer responsible for a village massacre in France. At the same time, he works to…

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  11. Cover of Dead Souls

    Dead Souls

    1999 · Ian Rankin

    Dead Souls is a 1999 book by Ian Rankin. It is book 10 of the series Inspector Rebus. Catalog genres: Literary Fiction, Mystery & Detective.

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  12. Cover of Set in darkness

    Set in darkness

    2000 · Ian Rankin

    A novel by Ian Rankin in which, through his unconventional way of working, a Scottish police inspector discovers that several murders are connected…

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  13. Cover of The Falls

    The Falls

    2001 · Ian Rankin

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  14. Cover of Death Is Not the End

    Death Is Not the End

    Year unknown · Ian Rankin

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  15. Resurrection Men

    2002 · Ian Rankin

    Resurrection Men is a 2002 book by Ian Rankin. It is book 13 of the series Inspector Rebus. Catalog genres: Detective Fiction.

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  16. Cover of A question of blood

    A question of blood

    2003 · Ian Rankin

    Question of Blood is a 2003 crime novel by Ian Rankin. When a former soldier and recluse murders two 17-year-old students at a posh Edinburgh…

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  17. Cover of Fleshmarket Close

    Fleshmarket Close

    2004 · Ian Rankin

    Investigator John Rebus is assigned a case in Edinburgh's red-light district, where refugees seeking asylum are targeted by ruthless members of the…

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  18. Cover of Resurrection Men Double Sided A2 Poster

    Resurrection Men Double Sided A2 Poster

    Year unknown · Ian Rankin

    Sent to a rehabilitation school after a serious mistake, Inspector John Rebus discovers classmates plotting a drug heist and joins Detective Sergeant…

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  19. Cover of The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus)

    The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus)

    2006 · Ian Rankin

    The leaders of the free world gather in Scotland for an international conference, requiring every police officer for security duties—except John…

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  20. Cover of Exit music

    Exit music

    2007 · Ian Rankin

    It's late in the fall in Edinburgh, and late in the career of Detective Inspector John Rebus. As he prepares to retire, a new case arrives: a…

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  21. Standing in Another Man's Grave

    2012 · Ian Rankin

    Standing in Another Man's Grave is the eighteenth book in the Inspector Rebus series, published in 2012. The title comes from a mondegreen, a…

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  22. Cover of Saints Of The Shadow Bible

    Saints Of The Shadow Bible

    2013 · Ian Rankin

    Rebus and Malcolm Fox go head-to-head when a 30-year-old murder investigation resurfaces, forcing Rebus to confront crimes of the past. Allegiances…

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  23. Cover of Even dogs in the wild

    Even dogs in the wild

    2015 · Ian Rankin

    Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke investigates the death of a senior lawyer during a robbery. The case grows more complex when a note suggests the…

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  24. Cover of Rather be the devil

    Rather be the devil

    2016 · Ian Rankin

    John Rebus, a seasoned investigator, reopens a cold case from the 1970s involving the murder of a wealthy socialite. His decision to revisit the case…

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  25. Cover of In a House of Lies

    In a House of Lies

    2017 · Ian Rankin

    In A House of Lies, a missing private investigator is discovered locked in a car in the woods, a discovery that raises questions about the original…

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  26. Cover of A Song for the Dark Times

    A Song for the Dark Times

    2020 · Ian Rankin

    A Song for the Dark Times is the 23rd book in the Inspector Rebus series by Ian Rankin. The title references Bertolt Brecht’s phrase “singing…

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  27. Cover of A Heart Full of Headstones

    A Heart Full of Headstones

    2022 · Ian Rankin

    A Heart Full of Headstones is the 24th book in the Inspector Rebus series by Ian Rankin. The title is taken from a song by Jackie Leven, with four…

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Companion & related books

Short-story collections and companion titles in this series.

Frequently asked questions

What order should I read the Inspector Rebus books in?

Read them in publication order, starting with “Knots and Crosses”. Start with “Knots and Crosses.”

How many books are in the Inspector Rebus series?

We list 31 books by Ian Rankin , published between 1987–2022.

Where can I buy the Inspector Rebus books?

Each title above links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.