A Song for the Dark Times

Retired Inspector John Rebus leaves Edinburgh for the remote northern Scottish coast when his daughter Samantha reports her partner Keith has gone missing. Despite his COPD and recent move to a ground-floor flat, Rebus makes the journey to help his estranged daughter, who becomes the prime suspect when Keith's body is discovered. In parallel with Rebus's investigation in the north, Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke works a murder case in Edinburgh involving a wealthy Saudi student. The two cases connect through threads of local history, family relationships, and mysterious activities at an old World War II prison camp. The novel explores themes of fathers and daughters, the weight of historical trauma, and how the past shapes present-day crimes. Set against the backdrop of contemporary political tensions and social changes in Scotland, the story examines how dark chapters of history continue to cast shadows over current events.

Readers found this a solid entry in the Rebus series, though not among the strongest. The parallel storylines involving Rebus's daughter and a murder investigation by Siobhan Clarke maintained interest and pacing. Readers appreciated: - The evolution of an aging Rebus dealing with mortality and family - Strong character development between Rebus and his daughter - The atmospheric Highland setting - Complex moral questions raised Common criticisms: - Plot resolution felt rushed and incomplete - Less action than previous books - Some found the dual narratives disconnected - Minor characters underdeveloped Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (5,800+ ratings) "The family dynamic adds depth to Rebus we haven't seen before" - Goodreads reviewer "Missing the usual Edinburgh grit and tension" - Amazon reviewer "Both storylines are compelling but never quite come together satisfyingly" - Reader on LibraryThing

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• The book's title "A Song for the Dark Times" references a quote from German playwright Bertolt Brecht about singing in dark times, reflecting the novel's themes of finding hope in difficult circumstances. • Rankin wrote much of this 23rd Rebus novel during lockdown in 2020, incorporating elements of isolation and restricted movement that mirror his protagonist's COPD limitations. • The World War II storyline was inspired by real internment camps that existed in Scotland during the 1940s, including Gruinard Bay's notorious Camp 1033. • Inspector Rebus's fictional flat on Arden Street in Edinburgh is based on Rankin's own first apartment in the city, where he lived while writing the early Rebus novels. • The character of Rebus was initially created in 1987 for Rankin's postgraduate thesis at the University of Edinburgh, and the series has now sold over 30 million copies worldwide.