Ian Rankin announces new Rebus novel for 2016

Great news from Orion Publishing

Ian Rankin today revealed the title and details of his new novel RATHER BE THE DEVIL which will feature his curmudgeonly old rogue John Rebus, one of crime fiction’s most beloved characters.

Rankin’s most recent Rebus novel EVEN DOGS IN THE WILD spent an amazing four weeks at #1 in the SUNDAY TIMES bestsellers’ charts and also hit the top spot on Amazon’s Kindle chart. But fans will have to wait another six months for their Rebus fix when the Orion Publishing Group publishes RATHER BE THE DEVIL on 3 November.

Ian Rankin announced the title on Twitter and Periscope at 3.00pm on Thursday 17 March just before going on stage at Orion’s annual sales conference where he shared more details with an appreciative audience.

John Rebus, now a couple of years into his retirement finds himself drawn into a cold case from the 1970s involving a female socialite, found dead in a bedroom in one of Edinburgh’s most luxurious hotels. It’s a crime over forty years old, but no one was ever found guilty. Now, Rebus has his own reasons to investigate . . . but it is going to set him against some very dangerous people.

Ian Rankin said:
“Rather Be The Devil is the title of a song by John Martyn, from one of my all-time favourite albums, 'Solid Air'. There are demons aplenty in this new book, not all of them faced by Rebus. I've not finished writing it yet, but I'm sure fans will enjoy being back in the old devil's company...'

Jon Wood, Group Publisher at Orion, commented:

 “Like the finest of whiskies, Ian Rankin – and John Rebus – just keep getting better every year. There is no more entertaining or interesting partnership in crime fiction today. It’s an absolute joy to reveal that they will be both back in our bookshops this year”

JOHN REBUS is one of crime fiction’s most popular and iconic characters. Public affection for the irascible ex-cop grows unabated and has sent the Rebus novels soaring to the top of the bestsellers’ charts again and again since his return in STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN’S GRAVE in 2012.

IAN RANKIN is the internationally bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus and Detective Malcolm Fox novels, as well as a string of standalone thrillers. His books have been translated into 36 languages and are bestsellers on several continents. Ian is the recipient of four CWA DAGGER AWARDS and in 2004, won America's celebrated EDGAR AWARD. He is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, Hull and Edinburgh and received the OBE for services to literature. He was recently made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 

Find out more at www.ianrankin.net. Follow Ian on @beathhigh

RATHER BE THE DEVIL is published on 3 November 2016, hardback (£19.99), eBook (£10.99) and unabridged audio CD and Download.