An incredible book from beginning to end.
Considering this is in fact the 23rd book in this series, I find it remarkable that the author is always able to provide us with such unique, engaging storylines.
The pace throughout was wonderful, with the suspense building up as the story progresses.
As always, the characters are detailed and have their own flaws, adding those extra depths to the plot.
Another truly brilliant read.

Thanks to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful book

Ian Rankin is a genius! This is the 23rd book in the Rebus series and the author is still producing fresh new plots, exciting, intriguing and captivating. This as good as any of the previous books in the series and I would thoroughly recommend it.

I discovered Rebus and Rankin late abd am working g through the back catalogue. The best praise I can give is that in Rebus we have a character as fascinating, grizzled and original as the incredible Harry Bosch.

Ageing in real time and as cantankerous as ever this is a brilliantly devised story that I digested in a couple of sittings.

Wonderful stuff.

I enjoyed the plot and the twists along the way. The characters were well written and I was hooked quite quickly. Very entertaining.

John Rebus is just coming to terms with the changes in his life when he receives a phone call that has the potential to change everything. Contacted by his daughter, Sammy, who informs him that her husband has been missing for two days, his professional experience leads him to believe the worst. Knowing that his daughter will be the prime suspect, he heads off to the town where she lives, a town with secrets that even Rebus might think twice about uncovering. Meanwhile, back in Edinburgh, DIs Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox are embroiled in a murder investigation, one that appears to have links to Rebus's case...

Rebus is back and although retired from the police force, he is showing no desire to leave it behind. He may be suffering from COPD and having to adjust his lifestyle to deal with it, but Rebus is still keen to get involved in cases, often to the despair of his former colleagues. With his stack of unsolved case files, I think that Ian Rankin has the material to keep the former detective going for many years to come!

It's been a while since we encountered Rebus's daughter, Sammy, and although he doesn't see her as often as he thinks he should, we get to see how much he cares about her when he drops everything to be at her side when her husband disappears. Although this part of the plot brought Rebus great heartache at times, I really enjoyed the humour he brought, especially when dealing with the local police. I liked the character of DS Creasey, and hope that he can, somehow, find himself involved in a later story line. I also found the historical aspect fascinating, discovering things about wartime Scotland that I was not aware of.

The second plot, the murder of a Saudi student, was equally as interesting with, seemingly, some connections to the investigation Rebus is undertaking. Since his retirement, we have seen more time being given to DIs Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox, but Rebus still lurks in the background, providing help (or a hindrance) along the way. Perhaps the biggest shock for me, though was the discovery that Big Ger Cafferty (still my favourite character) is now the owner of a gin bar, having decided that it was more profitable than whisky! What would the Cafferty of old think about that?!

Twenty-three Rebus books in and Ian Rankin is showing no sign of losing his touch - it is clear to see why this has been top of the bestseller charts. Long may Rebus reign!

What better way to spend a few rainy days reading the new Rebus novel? I've been reading these for years now and they never disappoint. They feel really comforting, in the best possible way. The plotline for this one perhaps wasn't the strongest, but I enjoyed it a lot anyway. I also really enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Rebus and his daughter. Definitely a treat to read.

A Song For The Dark Times had an elegiac feel about it: Rebus is slowing down in more ways than one, and the time for reckoning has come, not least with his daughter Samantha. When her partner, Keith, goes missing, Rebus can't resist investigating - and trying to clear Sam's name - while butting heads with the local police. Meanwhile, Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox investigate the murder of a Saudi student in Edinburgh. Could Rebus's long-time adversary, Big Ger Cafferty, be involved, or is it linked to Keith's disappearance?

When his daughter Samantha calls in the dead of night, John Rebus knows it's not good news. Her husband has been missing for two days. Rebus fears the worst - and knows from his lifetime in the police that his daughter will be the prime suspect. He wasn't the best father - the job always came first - but now his daughter needs him more than ever. But is he going as a father or a detective?
As he leaves at dawn to drive to the windswept coast - and a small town with big secrets - he wonders whether this might be the first time in his life where the truth is the one thing he doesn't want to find..
My thanks to Orion & NetGalley for a copy of this book, I’m always excited to read a new Rebus book & I believe this is the twenty third in the series, is it getting stale – no way. Rebus is now retired & suffers from COPD so this means he & Brillo are moving to a ground floor flat helped by Siobhan. The events of the book happen over a week whilst Rebus investigates the disappearance of Keith back in Edinburgh Siobhan is investigating the murder of a university student. As always it was a very well written book that flows effortlessly. The characters are extremely well portrayed, with plenty of depth. There are plenty of red herrings plus twists & turns to keep the pages flying, a thoroughly enjoyable read that I devoured in a couple of sittings

Absolutely brilliant as usual. I raced through every chapter.

John Rebus is one of the best characters ever written and I love following his adventures.

The plot was intriguing and I thought I knew how it was going to turn out but no, I didn't.

After that ending I can't wait for the next book!

I’d like to thank Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘A Song For The Dark Times’ by Ian Rankin in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

It’s 5am and Rebus gets a phone call from his daughter Samantha telling him her partner Keith has disappeared. Despite them not always seeing eye to eye, Rebus immediately drives to Samantha’s home in Naver to give whatever help he can, leaving his dog Brillo in the care of friend and ex-colleague DI Siobhan Clarke. Meanwhile, Siobhan and DI Malcolm Fox have a dead body to investigate, that of Salman bin Mahmood, and the attack on his friend Giovanni Morelli. When Big Ger Cafferty gets involved, Siobhan and Malcolm have to work hard to get the case solved.

As Rebus and Siobhan are working on separate cases ‘A Song For Dark Times’ consists of two unconnected crimes put into the one book which is probably best as I don’t think either story is strong enough on its own. It’s good to have Rebus back albeit retired and I always enjoy reading how Siobhan’s brain works to solve the most complicated of cases. I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed every single book in the Rebus series and although I don’t think this is the best, with the old familiar characters we look forward to and the twists and turns we’ve come to expect it’s enthralling and definitely worth spending time reading.

Another great addition to the John Rebus series. Now retired, Rebus is wakened by a call from his daughter, Samantha. Her partner is missing and he rushes off to the north of Scotland to be with her. The book is cleverly written with good character development, a clever plot and Siobhan working on a murder case in Edinburgh. I can't wait to see where Rebus goes from here, especially when he is suffering from COPD. A fantastic read from Ian Rankin. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

What can I say? It's Rebus (and Brillo) and Siobhan (and Fox) and their cohorts pursuing separate cases .only with Rebus it's personal (is it ever not...?) as his daughter's partner has gone missing...although might there be links between cases? Every time a new Rebus book come along I wonder if the standard will slip this time but Rankin is still hitting the mark. I sometimes think Rankin could write a Rebus book in his sleep and still tell a good story! It's like welcoming back old friends and familiar (and not so familiar) faces. Actually very easy reading even with the twists and turns. Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Orion for ARC.

It's the first book I read featuring Rebus and it won't surely be the last because I loved this one.
I knew about this series and knew it is excellent but somehow i never read one.
This one is a gripping, highly entertaining story that I thoroughly enjoyed and kept me hooked turning pages as fast as I could.
Ian Ranking is a master storyteller and he delivers a tightly knitted and complex story, full of twists and turns, that keeps you guessing till the end.
The character development is excellent: I loved Rebus and Siobhan as they both strong and interesting characters. The other characters are fleshed out and well thought.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
This book is highly recommended as it's excellent.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is tartan noir at it's best. The 23rd novel to feature now retired DI Rebus but with no signs of decline in this quality police crime series. No longer able to manage climbing the stairs in his tenement block due to COPD, Rebus moves to a ground floor flat with his beloved dog Brillo.
On his first night, he gets a call for help from his estranged daughter Sammy when her partner Keith goes missing.
In the meantime, on dog-sitting duty his former colleagues DI's Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox are investigating the murder of a student and wealthy wannabe playboy. Is there a link between the two cases?
This is an entertaining and gritty tale with the usual sprinkle of insightful Scot wit.

When his daughter Samantha calls to tell him that her partner has gone missing, Rebus drops everything and drives the 250 miles north to provide support for her and his granddaughter. Although retired now, Rebus still manages to get involved in this missing persons case and Siobhan Clarke’s investigation into the murder of a wealthy man in Edinburgh over the course of the next 7 days.

A Song for the Dark Times is yet another superb episode in Ian Rankin’s unparalleled Rebus detective series. By now, everyone knows Rebus, Siobhan Clarke, Big Ger Cafferty, Malcolm Fox (and Brillo) and in this one we see some vintage detective efforts by Siobhan, Fox and Rebus, while not surprisingly Cafferty and Fox find themselves scheming and plotting in a bid to get the better of each other.

This new Rebus installment is set partially in Edinburgh which is beautifully shown off, but also in the north of Scotland, but like all Rebus stories it is original, superbly written and makes the reader feel they are reuniting with a bunch of loyal and trusted friends in a city that is as much a character in the book as the others.

Ian Rankin is a master of his craft. A Song for the Dark Times is engaging, riveting and as well-written as we've come to expect. As always, Rankin's dialogue flows smoothly and his descriptions are expertly written, drawing the reader into the story.

I particularly enjoyed witnessing Rebus out of his comfort zone as he attempts to discover who murdered his daughters partner, which in turn forces him to confront his failings as a father. I also really enjoyed Malcolm Fox's part in the story. Whereas in previous novels I haven't fully warmed to his character, here I feel he comes into his own and look forward to him making an appearance in future novels.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

I have read many of Ian Rankin’s novels before and most of the Rebus series finding the central character witty and clever.

We begin with Rebus and his dog, Brillo, moving downstairs to a smaller, garden flat in the same building. DI Siobhan Clarke is helping with the move and has taken a few days holiday to assist although she cannot stay away from Major Crimes where an investigation is taking place into the murder of a rich playboy, Salman bin Mahmoud.

The first night in his new flat Rebus receives a call from his daughter, Samantha, who is worried that her partner, Keith, is missing. Rebus goes to the assistance of his daughter and soon become embroiled in the investigation even though he and his daughter do not see eye to eye about many things.

Both investigations develop and somehow overlap. This is an engaging, compelling read, put together with the usual Ian Rankin skill.

Thanks to NetGalley, Orion Publishing and Ian Rankin for the ARC of ‘A Song for Dark Times’ in return for my honest review.

Excellent read and highly recommended.

Following a diagnosis of COPD Rebus and Brillo the dog are moving ..... into a smaller garden flat downstairs from where he’s lived for years! DI Siobhan Clarke has a new lover, DCI Graham Sutherland. Clarke, Sutherland and DI Malcolm Fox from Major Crimes investigate the apparently motiveless murder of Saudi Salman bin Mahmoud, 23 years old, rich and killed in the unlikely venue of a carpark of a carpet warehouse. As Rebus is settling in on his first night, he gets a call from his daughter Samantha’s who lives near Tongue on the far north west coast of Scotland. Her partner and father of daughter Carrie, is missing and she is deeply worried especially since they are going through a rough patch and she asks for his help. So, two cases for the price of one - Edinburgh and Tongue .. what a bargain.

First of all I love the title as reading this was indeed like a song for dark times. Ian Rankin is such a brilliant writer that the two investigations (there are links but my lips are sealed) unfold as smoothly as a knife through soft butter! Rebus et al are my absolute favourite police team characters, they feel like old friends with whom you fit as comfortably as a pair of slippers! I love this novel just as much as the previous ones, maybe even more as the Tongue area setting takes me back to several marvellous holidays in this wild and stunning part of Scotland. The Tongue investigation takes Rebus into some fascinating areas involving World War Two internees and prison camps and he meets some interesting characters too who are so easy to imagine. I admit to a liking for DS Robin Creasey from Inverness who certainly gives Rebus some latitude as fans of JR know he always strays from his supposed limits. I wouldn’t have him any other way because as usual he is using all his wits and tenacity and putting himself in some danger too in this excellently plotted storyline. The Edinburgh case is very twisty, involving politics, reputations, business ventures and yes, Big Ger Cafferty. Would any book be complete without him stirring the pot or attempting to pull strings? Of course not, though he may just have met his match.

Overall, this is an engrossing and compelling read which is impossible to put down. Ian Rankin, in my opinion, is the master of this genre, the quality remains high throughout this long series and I can’t wait to read what happens next! Long live Rebus!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion and Ian Rankin for this much appreciated ARC and a terrific read.

I have to admit that I have never read a Rebus book until now, only watched him on TV...... As a consequence I could hear Ken Stott's voice while reading this book which I found amazing.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book, a must read if you are a fan of Rebus, and even if you are not a fan you should read it. Great plot, great characters. All I need to do now is read all the previous books in the series!!!

My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for allowing me to read and review honestly.

A Song For The Dark Times proves that Ian Rankin is still the king of crime (as if there was ever any doubt!).
Although Rebus is now retired and has COPD, he is not ready to be thrown on the scrap heap any time soon... When he receives a call from his daughter to tell him that her partner has gone missing, he immediately goes to her aid. Whilst he is away in the Highlands, Siobhan has an important case to deal with in Edinburgh regarding the murder of a young, rich man. The two cases are seemingly totally unconnected, and yet, when Rebus asks Siobhan to help him certain individuals seem to crop up in both cases. Could there actually be a connection? Can Rebus help his daughter Samantha? Will he be able to assist her when she needs him although he has let her down as a father so many times in the past?
Another amazing book in the Rebus series. I do hope that Ian continues to entertain us with many more to come.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.