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Ian Rankin

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Leader: juliasven
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Created on: 17 Jul 2007
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This is Ian Rankin’s - Scotland’s most successful contemporary crime writer – sponsored group page.

Ian’s music taste is varied and eclectic and forms an integral part of his novels. This group...

Ian Rankin

Welcome to the group page of Britain’s most popular contemporary crime writer.

Ian Rankin was writing lyrics for his own imaginary band as a boy. He was buying T.Rex records at eleven, Alex Harvey and Zappa at fourteen and playing for a band called The Dancing Pigs at seventeen. His taste in music is varied and eclectic and has worked its way into the heart and soul of his novels and their titles – Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, The Falls, to name but a few. Music is a vital subtext to the books, setting tone and pace and providing multiple footnotes for the many devoted music fans amongst his readers. For example check this excerpt from his break-out book Black and Blue (recognise the album anyone?):

“Allan Mitchison was in a fridge at the Cowgate. He’d died strapped to a chair. Rebus didn’t know why. Pet Shop Boys: ‘It’s a Sin’. Segue to the Glimmer Twins: ‘Fool to Cry’. Mitchison’s flat hadn’t been so different to Rebus’s own in some respects: under-used, more a base than a home. He downed the rest of his drink, poured another, downed that too, and pulled the duvet off the floor and up to his chin. Another day down.”

The title of Rankin’s latest novel, Exit Music, is inspired by the album of the same name by fellow Scot, Stephen Lindsay. Whilst writing, Ian was also listening to (mainly instrumental) albums such as Zidane by Mogwai, Cinematique by Paul Haig and Hypogognia by Lucky Pierre. Will this music have crept into the writing, like secondary evidence in the most unsolvable of crimes, as the plot twists and turns through the bloody streets of Edinburgh? Or does this particular murder have its own melody.

Ian Rankin on Exit Music

Join the Ian Rankin group page for your chance to win one of twenty signed copies of Exit Music. Competition is now closed. [Terms & conditions]

Bookcover

Is this the end for Rebus?

The year 2007 marks Detective Inspector John Rebus’s last year in the Scottish police force. Forced to retire by both the law and his – relieved – superiors, Rebus knows that his time in the blue ranks must now come to an end. But how will the irascible detective deal with this grim terminus? Particularly with his nemesis, Ger Cafferty, still walking the streets of Edinburgh. And how will John’s protege and friend Siobhan Clarke move forward with the old relic finally gone? Pre-order on Amazon

To listen to an excerpt of the book, click here
Ian Ranking Playlist

Ian Rankin's Playlist

‘I started bringing music into books because I’m a frustrated rock star at heart’ writes Ian in Rebus’s Scotland. But his books have also led him closer to musicians. He’s had emails from REM, Hawkwind and Pete Townshend. Robin Guthrie (ex-Cocteau Twins) sends him recommendations and he’s co-written and performed live an album with Jackie Leven. Here is just a glimpse of his ever-evolving record collection.

Inspector Rebus' Playlist

Ian has endowed his brilliantly flawed, maverick hero, D.I. Rebus, with some if his own musical tastes, though you’ll more likely find Rebus listening to The Rolling Stones than the Union of Knives. Night after night the irrascible detective returns home to his solitary Edinburgh flat, record collection and bottle of malt... as he says in Let It Bleed ‘After a drink, he liked to listen to the Stones. Women, relationships and colleagues had come and gone, but the Stones had always been there.’

 Inspector Rebus' Playlist

UK Tour Dates

Sunday 9 September 2pm - 3pm

WHSMITHS GYLE - EDINBURGH

Signing session at WHSmith, South Gyle Shopping Centre, South Gyle Broadway, Edinburgh EH12
7pm

EASTWOOD PARK THEATRE - GLASGOW

Talk and signing at Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock G46 6UG

Books sold by Waterstones, 38 The Avenue, Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, G77 6EY
Monday 10 September 7pm for 7.30pm

JAFFE AND NEALE - CHIPPING NORTON

Event with Mark Billingham at Town Hall, Chipping Norton organized by Patrick Neale, Jaffé & Neale, Bookshop & Café, 1 Middle Row, Chipping Norton, OX7 5NH
Tuesday 11 September 12.30pm - 1.30pm

Hatchards - LONDON

Book signing at Hatchards, 187 Piccadilly, London, W1.
7pm for 7.30pm

TOPPING AND CO - BATH

Talk and signing at St Michael’s Church, Broad Street, The Paragon, Bath, BA1 5LS
Wednesday 12 September 12.30pm - 1.30pm

WATERSTONES - LEADENHALL MARKET

Signing session at Watestones, 1-3 Whittington Ave, Leadenhall Market, London, EC3V 1PJ
7.30pm

WATERSTONES - LEAMINGTON SPA

Talk and signing at Royal Spa Centre, Royal Spa Centre, Newbold Terrace, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 4HN
Thursday 13 September 12.30pm - 1.30pm

WHS - NOTTINGHAM

Signing session at 124-126 The Victoria Centre, Nottingham, Notts, NG1 3QD
8pm

BLACKHEATH HALLS - GREENWHICH

Talk and signing at Blackheath Halls in association with Waterstones, 51 Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, SE10 9BL.
Friday 14 September 12.30pm - 1.30pm

WHS - NEWCASTLE

Signing session at WHSmith, 36 Northumberland St, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7DE
5pm - 6pm

WAVERLEY STATION - EDINBURGH

Signing session at WHS Waverley Station, Edinburgh, EH1 1BB
Monday 17 September 7pm

WATERSTONES - DUNDEE

Talk and signing at Tower Extension Lecture Theatre, Dundee University, organized by Waterstones, Unit 5, 80 High Street, Dundee, DD1 1SD.

Weekly Top Artists

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  • worrier247

    Rebus is back!!!

    25 Nov 2012 Reply

  • Lilio4ek

    Hi ^_^

    17 Feb 2011 Reply

  • johny778

    Nice group.

    4 Apr 2010 Reply

  • Ajsi

    I also just say "hello" ;)

    9 Oct 2009 Reply

  • VickySaysHi

    Vicky Says, "Hi!"

    10 Mar 2009 Reply

  • derrenfan

    I met Ian on friday He's a very nice man and great to talk too! I met him in Glasgow

    30 Sep 2008 Reply

  • ultraviolet_rae

    Hiya... I've searched in vain so hopefuly u lot can help me out here. What's the theme song for the Rebus tv series? xx

    22 Aug 2008 Reply

  • nervousnorvous

    greetins one and all does anyone have any off the rebus dramas that were on bbc radio 4 toodle pip and sliante

    24 Jan 2008 Reply

  • lna_hesitation

    Hello everybody there! I love Rebus's novels and Edinburgh!! I hope i will be back soon!

    9 Dec 2007 Reply

  • lektoriranje

    interesting writings

    21 Nov 2007 Reply

  • musicsite1

    Fine Rocker, i like him more

    20 Nov 2007 Reply

  • SovietCanuck

    Amazing, I'm in a class about this guy and he has a last.fm group linked right on his site.

    9 Oct 2007 Reply

  • SelfFellatioMan

    I hope this isnt the Rebus swansong. Excellent book Ian.

    11 Sep 2007 Reply

  • mafia_man

    i like ur writing

    7 Sep 2007 Reply

  • clairewkyb

    im excited about this next book...it's not often that a writer incorporates such attention to music...and yet it's such an obvious component of how we sense things...

    21 Aug 2007 Reply

  • chezc

    Ian Rankin made me into a nerd - after reading two of his books - I bought all of the Rebus novels (15 at the time, I think - can't be bothered to go and check) )to read in chronological order which I did without a break and I still keep them to ensure I can dip back to check out a character in case I've forgotten about them. Sad but true and worth it. - Great music DI Rebus!!

    17 Aug 2007 Reply
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