There is no detective like Ian Rankin's Detective Inspector John Rebus, a man The New Yorker calls "the ideal sleuth."
Brilliant, irascible and frequently frustrating to both his friends and his long-suffering bosses, John Rebus has made the dark places of Edinburgh his home for over two decades. The Beat Goes On collects all of Ian Rankin's Rebus short stories for the first time, including two never-before published tales written specifically for this collection.
From his beginnings as a young Detective Constable in Dead and Buried right up to his dramatic, but not quite final, retirement in The Very Last Drop , Rebus shines in these stories, confirming his status as one of crime fiction's most compelling, brilliant, and unforgettable characters. In these gripping, fast-paced tales, the legendary Scottish detective investigates the sinister cases that are his specialty, including a gruesome student death, the brutal murder of a woman at the crux of a love triangle, an audacious jewel heist, suspicious happenings at a nursing home, and an ominous email that brings a family's darkest secrets to light.
The Beat Goes On is the ultimate Ian Rankin treasure trove -- a must-have book for crime fiction aficionados and a superb introduction for anyone looking to experience DI John Rebus, and the dark, twist-filled crimes he investigates.
Review
PRAISE FOR THE BEAT GOES ON:
"Rankin's canny cop is as gray and dour as his Edinburgh beat, but he's in fine form in these clever, occasionally touching, and often wryly funny vignettes."βKirkus Reviews
"All of the stories are tightly wrought and entertaining. He moves ahead at great speed to deliver work that is potently inspiring, bringing readers a gem in each one...Rankin fans should add this tome to their other books in the series immediately." βBarbara Lipkien Gershenbaum , BookReporter
"It's a very welcome return for Rebus that should tide fans over--until his next full novel comes out." βLaura DeMarco , The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"...one of the great literary crime solvers of our time...Rebus is a Van Morrison kind of detective...Put THE BEAT GOES ON in your guest room for the pleasure of a traveler, weary or insomniac, who needs a stout companion for an evening's adventure." βJim Higgins , The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"...sharply crafted...the book has a pleasing, offbeat rhythm of its own." βLloyd Sachs , The Chicago Tribune
"sharply observed, economically written stories...for Rankin fans used to a regular diet of Rebus, this collection makes up for the year off the author took after the 2013 novel Saints of the Shadow Bible. For the uninitiated with short attention spans interested in sampling one of the finest crime fiction practitioners going, it's an excellent place to start."βDan DeLuca , The Philadelphia Inquirer
PRAISE FOR STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN'S GRAVE:
"Rankin bangs out a rich, rowdy prose...Rebus has become one of the great modern cops, a kind of Scottish cousin to Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch."βPatrick Anderson, Washington Post
"John Rebus remains one of crime fiction's crankiest, most interestingly complex figures....We can rejoice in Rebus's return--the mean streets of Edinburgh are better for it."βAdam Woog, Seattle Times
"Absorbing....Rankin is a master of the mystery universe."βCarole E. Barrowman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Rebus remains as fascinatingly complex and gruffly engaging as ever. Retirement will not suit him, or Rankin's readers."βDan DeLuca, Philadelphia Inquirer
PRAISE FOR SAINTS OF THE SHADOW BIBLE
"Longtime fans of the series will savor every nuance in the subtle interplay between characters here, but Rankin doesn't forget the thriller plot, either, corkscrewing the narrative into a surprising and satisfying conclusion. Hats off to a writer who can keep a long-running series fresh by upsetting our expectations and rummaging ever deeper into the rag-and-bone shop of his characters' hearts."βBooklist
"[There is] real joy in watching Fox and Rebus dance around each other, acknowledging a burgeoning respectful rapport in spite of themselves, while the ace Siobhan Clarke - more please, Mr. Rankin! - shoulders new responsibilities."βBoston Globe
"Ian Rankin issuch a practiced and successful writer...If anything, he is at the top of his game, and Saints of the Shadow Bible is one of the best novels he has produced."βBookReporter
"Rankin shows no signs of losing steam with John Rebus...his interaction with Malcolm Fox works to build empathy for both characters, as fans discover a side of Fox not seen before...Rankin's gift with dialogue, his wit and raw examination of human nature continue to intensify, resulting in a resonant reading experience for both seasoned series devotees and new Rebus recruits."βShelf Awareness
"This might be the best detective novel of the year."βDayton Daily News
About the Author
Ian Rankin is a #1 international bestselling author. Winner of an Edgar Award and the recipient of a Gold Dagger for fiction and the Chandler-Fulbright Award, he lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, with his wife and their two sons.