Set in Darkness

Inspector Rebus returns in this police procedural set against the backdrop of Edinburgh's political transformation as Scotland prepares to reopen its Parliament after three centuries. The discovery of a mummified body in Queensberry House, a historic building being renovated for the new Parliament, pulls Rebus into an investigation spanning two decades. Multiple cases demand attention: the murder of a prominent political candidate, the death of a wealthy homeless man, and the decades-old corpse found behind a fireplace. As Rebus navigates Edinburgh's complex political landscape, he confronts powerful families, real estate schemes, and echoes from Scotland's 1979 devolution referendum. The investigation moves between present-day Edinburgh and the city of 1979, revealing connections between past crimes and current events. Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke takes on her own investigation while Rebus pursues leads that his colleagues dismiss. The novel explores themes of power, political ambition, and the ways Edinburgh's past continues to influence its present. Through parallel storylines set in two pivotal moments of Scottish history, it examines how institutional change affects both the powerful and the marginalized.

Readers found this Rebus novel darker and more complex than earlier entries in the series, with multiple interwoven plotlines. The book holds a 4.14/5 rating on Goodreads from 8,900+ readers and 4.6/5 on Amazon from 450+ reviews. Readers praised: - The detailed portrayal of Edinburgh's political scene - Complex character development of Rebus - Integration of Scottish Parliament history - Tight pacing despite multiple storylines Common criticisms: - Too many characters to track - Political elements overshadow the mystery - Slower middle section - Confusing timeline jumps "The political backdrop adds depth but sometimes crowds out the core investigation," noted one Amazon reviewer. Several Goodreads readers mentioned struggling to follow all the plot threads, with one stating "I had to make notes to keep track of everyone." LibraryThing readers rated it 4.1/5 from 300+ reviews, with most highlighting the strong sense of place and atmospheric writing.

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🔍 Queensberry House, where the fictional body is discovered, is a real historic building that now forms part of the Scottish Parliament complex. 📚 The book's timing coincided with the actual re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, making it a uniquely relevant piece of crime fiction. 🏆 Ian Rankin wrote this 11th Rebus novel while living just off Edinburgh's Royal Mile, allowing him to observe the city's transformation firsthand. 🏛️ The 1979 devolution referendum mentioned in the book really happened, failing because although 51.6% voted in favor, turnout didn't reach the required 40% threshold. 🎭 The character of Inspector Rebus was originally conceived as a one-off protagonist but became so popular that Rankin went on to write more than 20 books featuring him.