Set in Darkness

Set in Darkness (2000) Ian Rankin

Detective Chief Superintendent Watson has just months left until retirement, and wants to keep Rebus out of trouble until that time passes, so Rebus is put on the committee looking at the new Parliament building/old hospital. But as nothing goes smoothly with Rebus around, a skeleton is discovered boarded up in a chimney, and the clothes show the skeleton hadn’t been only hidden for a couple decades, rather than centuries.

Soon, another murder occurs, and Rebus is once again in a delicate position where he stubbornness will do him no good at all–at least politically.

We also get to spent a bit more time with Siobhan in this story, while watching Rebus continue to drink–his fall off the wagon after the death of his friend and mentor seems to be permanent at this point. And that may be one of the harder parts of these stories–Rebus’s drinking does him no good at all, yet he can’t–or won’t–stop. And those who know him know better than to say anything to him.

I like Rebus. He’d be maddening to know in person, but he is a very good detective, even if he’s lousy at playing the games that go along with being in the police force.

As with all Inspector Rebus books, the story is self-contained, and you could start the series here. You probably won’t get the seriousness of his drinking, and his past with his family, but it’s still a good story. And the end–quite a surprise.
Rating: 8/10

Published by St. Martin’s Minotaur

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