I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of A Song for the Dark Times, the twenty third novel to feature retired DI John Rebus.

John is awakened by his daughter Sammy asking for help as her partner Keith has been missing for days. He leaves immediately for the north, knowing that it may be nothing but if it is something Sammy will be the prime suspect. In the meantime Rebus’s former work partner, DI Siobhan Clarke has teamed up with DI Malcolm Fox from Serious Crime to solve the stabbing death of a rich Saudi.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Song for Dark Times which has two concurrent investigations that overlap from time to time. I found them equally absorbing and had no clue about the perpetrators until the denouement. I found it to be an absorbing read with layer upon layer, even Malcolm Fox gets his own storyline, and so difficult to put down I read it in one sitting. Rebus’s investigation is the more exotic with a rural location and trips into the past while Siobhan’s is perhaps more dangerous with the political overtones of a murdered Saudi national.

Rebus is one of my all time favourite fictional detectives and this novel does nothing to dispel that love. He’s out of his comfort zone in the wilds of Scotland and fighting with his daughter. They’ve never had the closest relationship and he can’t be sure she wasn’t involved in Keith’s disappearance so he picks the most Rebus solution, investigate like mad and if she is responsible fit someone up. Needless to say he rubs most of the population up the wrong way in this quest. He has, however, trained Siobhan well so she’s out creating ructions of her own. They are both crafty operators so that leaves DI Malcolm Fox in the role of innocent abroad. His adventures made laugh and proved that he has perhaps learned a thing or two from Rebus and Siobhan.

A Song for the Dark Times is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Before I start I have a confession to make, this is my first foray in to the world of Rebus and as a Scottish book blog I am a little ashamed. I’ve always been aware of Rebus but for some reason I never got around to reading about his exploits in the Lothians, now that I’ve finished A Song for the Dark Times I know I need to get my hands on the books that came before this utter gem of a read.

Rebus has retired, hung up his badge and has settled in to cosy new flat with his dog Brillo. His visitors are few, he hasn’t even told his daughter Samantha he has moved. So when she calls him up in the middle of the night he knows something is very wrong.

DI Siobhan Clarke is supposed to be on holiday, she has taken time off to help her mentor, Rebus, move in to his new bachelor pad but a new case has her heading back to the station to see if she can lend a hand.

A wealthy student has been murdered, was he in the wrong place at the wrong time or did he make the wrong connection amongst his influential friends? Clarke is on the case along with DI Fox and their investigations take them on to the patch of local gangster Big Ger Cafferty, owner of very “respectable” establishment. Cafferty takes an interest in their case and gives them some tantalising titbits to thrown in to the ring, of course he wants something in return.

Rebus has headed north to see Samantha. Her partner Keith has gone missing, they didn’t have the best relationship and at one point she was seeing someone else but they have a child together and she is worried. Rebus worries too, he knows if anything has happened to him Samantha will be suspect #1. Despite his retirement he quickly starts gently questioning the locals, it is a close knit community and not everyone is happy to see him, notably Creasey, a detective from Inverness who wishes Rebus would just butt out and let him get on with - that of course is never going to happen.

Back south, Clarke has the joy of looking after Brillo, Rebus keeps her up to date with his findings up north and she begins to notice that some of the names he is mentioning have popped up during her own investigation, there is no way Keith’s disappearance could be related to her murder in Edinburgh, could it?

I devoured this and it is a word that I think is overused in book reviews but I did, started it last night and finished this afternoon. I enjoyed it that much, I think one of the main reasons for enjoying it was the locale, from the streets of the capital to the wild north of Scotland, I could see it because I have physically been there. I loved little nods to current things like when the A9 (our main road north) is mentioned and the fact is been getting dualled for what seems like centuries, it just made it very relatable.

All in all this is a great book, its entertaining and as a murder mystery it also keeps the perpetrator close to its chest till the end. I’m really looking forward to exploring more in the world of Rebus.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ian Rankin is once again on top form. As gritty and as hard-hitting as all the other twenty-plus Rebus novels.
I found the interaction between the central characters an absolute joy. Rebus is still Rebus, even if a little mellowed by the passing years; Siobhan plays a careful balancing act between the ways of the old regime and the new; Malcolm Fox has finally come into his own as a character (so much better developed than in 'The Complaints'); and then, of course, Morris Gerald Cafferty, still trying to pull strings, and surely missing what he once had with Rebus.
Ian Rankin continues to fly the flag for Scottish crime writing with a skill unmatched and unrivalled.

There is something very reassuring about delving back into the world of John Rebus and Siobhan Clarke. Whilst things on the home front may be all change, and Rebus' health certainly isn't getting better, you know that, as stubborn as he is, he won't let that get in the way of solving a good mystery. This is never more true than when the mystery involves his own family and when he gets that call from his daughter, Samantha, early on in the book, you know there is nothing that will stop him from making the long drive north to help her. It's his instinct as a ather, but more so as the Detective who cannot take a step back, the reason we all love hims as a character in the first place.

The story is actually divided between his daughter's new adopted home of Naver, a remote village in the far north of Scotland, and Edinburgh where Clarke, Fox and the folks in CID are investigating the murder of. Saudi student that may, or may not, be racially, or perhaps politically, motivated. It takes the Detectives into a murky world of property development, wealthy investors, battles over land ownership and development and within the sights of a certain Big Ger Cafferty. Rebus may be out of town but that won't stop Big Ger toying with the police, especially when it is to his financial benefit. The way in which Big Ger is brought into the story is very carefully and cleverly done, the potential from what happens certainly makes for an intriguing opening for the next book in the series.

Rebus' half of the story is intriguing. I loved the way in which Ian Rankin has explored the internal conflict of Rebus the father verses Rebus the Detective. The man who is driven largely by his gut knows that sometimes the simplest explanation is actually the truth, but seeing his struggles when it comes to suspecting his daughter really felt authentic, and knowing the way in which duty always came before his commitment to his family, the whole investigation really played to this part of his character. And yet ... he was never ready to give up on Samantha, even if he couldn't always voice his feelings in the way she needed. In that way the book stayed very true to the Rebus we know and love. Well, that and his innate ability to rub up the investigating Detective, the local police and some of the townsfolk the wrong way without breaking a sweat. He's lost none of his charm with age.

There is a part of the story rooted in fact, even if the village of Naver, where most of Rebus's story takes place, is entirely fictional. Ian Rankin gives us a kind of history lesson, with part of the story leading him to a disused Internment Camp from World War II , many of which were dotted across Scotland, and which held prisoners of war up until the end of the conflict. Samantha's partner, Keith, was researching one such camp at the time of his disappearance and hearing Rebus go back over the interviews that Keith had with some of the people who worked, or even lived, in the camp serves as a perfectly timed reminder of our history, both the good and bad, especially in the 75th anniversary year of the Victory in Europe. Much like in Europe, not every prisoner housed in these camps was a true enemy, and whilst Camp 1033 may not exist, there were many camps just like it that did and the stories of the survivors of that time are fascinating, even as fiction, something that would certainly appeal to history buffs.

Now there may not be as much action in this book as in earlier books in the series, but it doesn't mean that Rebus can't find himself in a spot of bother now and again. Even his old Saab can escape the wrath of the locals as they try to prevent him finding the truth. Things are perhaps a touch more sedate in Edinburgh, if you discount the regular Brillo walks that Clarke is subjected to in Rebus' absence. There is no less of the tension though, especially as Big Ger insinuates himself into the action and Clarke and Fox chase down the clues to find a killer. There is certainly no end of suspects in the murder as they dig further into the victim's past and with a very clever entwining of their case with Rebus' investigation, you are faced with another potential motive for what happens at either end of the A9.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the historical angle and the brilliant way in which the author pulled the two stories together. With the usual banter between the characters, Rebus' legendary charm (?) in play and such perfect description of setting that whether in the heart of the city or the wilds of the Northern Scottish coastline, you could really feel as though you were there. The author managed to keep killers hidden in plain sight and keep the tension building right to the end, whilst still pulling in some perfectly pitched tender moments between Rebus and Samantha. Well, as tender as Rebus gets anyway. And then that ending, leaving a huge question mark hanging over everything. But by 'eck. I'm looking forward to the next book now.

Ian Rankin has definitely still got it. After reading a couple of rather disappointing new books from long-established authors I approached this with a little trepidation, but I enjoyed it very much.

Rebus is ageing with the rest of us and is now suffering from COPD. He is, therefore having to make changes to his way of life, including giving up smoking and cutting down on the booze. He is retired, of course, but he is still his old, dogged, determined, contrary and sometimes bloody-minded self. When his daughter Samantha’s partner goes missing in the far north of Scotland, Rebus goes there immediately, pursuing enquiries in spite of repeated warnings from local police to stay out of it and leave it to them. Meanwhile, DIs Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox are investigating a murder in Edinburgh, which may have some connection to Rebus’s case.

It’s very well done. Rankin remains a brilliant storyteller and I was hooked throughout. It’s not as dark as some Rankin classics, but Big Ger Cafferty is still a malign presence and the Clarke/Fox stories are developing very well in their own right. There is some interesting stuff about POW camps in Scotland during the war as the history of that time becomes very relevant to Rebus’s enquiries, but Rankin never overdoes it. He has clearly done a lot of research, but doesn’t overburden us with it, so it forms a very believable background without bogging down the story. (Some other authors may wish to take note of the skill of a light touch here.) Rankin’s characterisation and dialogue are, as always, excellent, the sense of place is very well done and I found this a really good read.

There are perhaps one or two coincidences too many and it may not be absolute classic Rankin, but I enjoyed it so much that I’ve rounded 4.5-stars up to 5. Warmly recommended.

(My thanks to Orion for an ARC via NetGalley.)

Despite what people think, Rebus isn’t ready to give up on his life. It’s not in him to walk away from the world of the heroes and the villains. It’s as much as part of him as the rain is to the Scottish psyche. It’s part of the very fabric of his being, he can’t stop being who he is. Not for his ex-colleagues, his friends or for his own daughter. Samantha may need her father to support her during a crisis, but she gets a bloodhound of a detective instead who is determined to protect her, the only way he can.

Rebus out of his comfort zone is a wonderful thing. It’s a delight to see where Rankin takes our beloved curmudgeon next and this latest instalment is everything you want in a crime novel. It has a juicy mystery with complex characters that have varying shades of honesty and deception within each of them. This book is a joy to behold and I so pleased to be given an early copy.

A new Rebus is always a treat and this new instalment is no exception. The title seems poignant and appropriate for these strange times. Although John Rebus is retired and suffering from COPD, he is as prominent as ever; when his daughter's partner goes missing, he brings all his old skills to bear on the case. Meanwhile, Siobhan Clarke is working on a case with Malcolm Fox, and old adversary Big Ger Cafferty makes an appearance. As always the musical references are a delight and this is a tremendous read.

Mr Rankin, please don’t make my heart sink in the first two paragraphs again! Apart from that, it’s back to business with my all time favourite Rebus. I have been waiting on A Song for the Dark Times for what seems Like forever, but once you get started reading you can’t stop and you don’t want it to end.. Rebus is like an old friend who you only see every once in a while, but feels like he was never away. There’s something very comforting in the familiarity of Rebus & Siobhan. As Siobhan and her team investigate a murder in Edinburgh, John heads north to help his daughter Sam. All the regulars make an appearance, including my favourite bad man Big Ger. Although I miss Rebus being on the force, and hate reading about him getting older, this one is everything I’ve come to to expect from his books. He’s still on the ball, giving everyone who gets in his way hell. He’s the same Rebus as always just in a knackered old body now. His mind is still as sharp as his tongue and I had many laughs throughout. As usual there is loads going on in the book, different stories and different characters but it comes together perfectly. Definitely worth the wait and another classic from Rankin.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for my ARC

And Rebus goes on. I had a little trouble finding which number in the series is - I think it's 23, but actually, does it matter? I'm just glad to have another chance to meet the awkward, driven, intractable old sod. (Readers though may like me be alarmed at what's going on in the first few pages of the book...)

In recent Rebus books, accepting that he's no longer on the Force, Rankin has at times had to stretch things a bit to give John an in to the investigation. In A Song for the Dark Times this is finessed very nicely: Keith, partner to Rebus's daughter Samantha, has gone missing to of course it's into the clapped out old Saab and off up the A9 to try and find him. That mystery, and the worse one that emerges as Rebus begins to poke around, gives him a perfect excuse to get involved because he's family.

Which is not to say that the local police welcome or even accept him getting involved in their enquiry (and nor does Sammy, as things spiral out of control). But he's clearly in the right place and doing the right thing.

Back in Edinburgh, Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox are working on a more conventional enquiry - a wealthy Saudi student, whose father is in disfavour back at home, has been found dead in a bad part of town. There are all kinds of sensitivities, and Cafferty seems to be taking an interest. So lots to chew on there and we get to see something I've long been hoping for, a story with Clarke as its focus, out of Rebus's shadow (and taint). Fox may have got the fancy promotion rather than her, but she's, always, clearly the more capable of the two, albeit they work together well (including on looking after Rebus's long-suffering dog, Brillo).

The result is, effectively, a pair of parallel stories showcasing Rebus at his most driven and implacable (his little girl is at risk!) and Clarke being generally on top of things. Brilliant to read, and also allowing Rankin to divert off to the history of the local camp (variously used for internments, POWs and refugees) that Keith is interested in and to the precarious state of Cafferty's crime empire. The latter looks as though it's sowing the seeds for future storylines in a series that continues to satisfy.

Amongst all this, Rankin has his sights set on dodgy land deals, on the scapegoating of foreigners (both in the 1940s, with internments in the camps, and now, with assaults following Brexit) and perhaps on rich, entitled students ('no visible bookcases'). But these are more background themes than foreground concerns with the story dominated by Rebus's family concerns, especially a sense of regret that he wasn't a better husband and father and by the axis between Fox and Clarke (there seems more of a spark between them than there is between her and Sutherland, notionally her lover).

Overall, another very enjoyable Rebus novel.

Even with the Old Fella retired and suffering from COPD the latest episode in Ian Rankin's long-running Rebus series shows that you can't keep a good man down. A Song for the Dark Times sees Rebus' daughter Samantha calling him in the middle of the night in a panic saying that her partner Keith has been missing for a couple of days. With their relationship almost non-existent and barely knowing Keith Rebus knows that for Samantha to call him things must be serious so he heads for the remote North Coast of Scotland where she lives.
Meanwhile in Edinburgh there appears to be a series of racist attacks culminating in the murder of affluent Saudi student Salman Bin Mahmoud. Old Rankin favourites Siobahn Clarke and Malcolm Fox are amongst the team investigating the murder and the shadow of "Big Ger" Cafferty lurks in the background as things prove to be very much different to first impressions.
As Rebus mounts an unofficial investigation into Keith's disappearance it becomes apparent that events Up North and those under investigation in Edinburgh are linked. To add some spice Big Ger is trying to use Fox to do his dirty work for him after suggesting he has some dirt on his boss at the Major Crime Division. Last ,but not least,of the old characters making a welcome return is Brillo,who proves that indeed you can't teach an old dog new tricks..
This is classic Rebus with a great story and the relationships between the characters evolving further as they get older. Rebus is still spiky and in failing health but getting results, Big Ger thinking he's respected as an old time Gangster while not realising that things have changed on the street, Fox the loner who never really fits in or is quite trusted, Siobahn now in a relationship but very much her own woman.
If you're already a fan you'll love this,and scarily I've been following this series since 1987 and "Knots and Crosses", if it's your first you'll want to read the rest.
Another big hit for Ian Rankin and the ending leaves all kinds of possibilities for the next one....I can't wait.

This is the first Rebus investigation I’ve read but my mum is a fan so I wanted to see if it would be another crime series in which I’d fall in love. And it was. John Rebus, now retired and having to move home because of his COPD, receives a call from daughter Samantha to say her husband has been missing for two days. While Rebus wasn’t always around to show his fathering skills, he knows he can be present now, and leaves for the coast and Samantha’s small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. There’s history between residents and not all of it is good. Meanwhile his former team in Edinburgh are trying to crack a murder case – and it appears there could be links between the two. What I most loved about this was the decision making and thinking that Rebus undergoes. There’s nothing hidden from the reader on his part: you discover things as he makes a discovery, and it’s simply well written, interesting and engaging crime fiction.

It's always a joy to read the latest in Ian Rankin's Edinburgh based now retired John Rebus series, even as his health declines, he is suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), meaning he struggles to climb the stairs to his flat, which has him and Brillo, the dog, moving to a smaller place, helped by DI Siobhan Clarke. Clarke is on a new murder investigation, run by her work colleague and lover, DCI Graham Sutherland, with a team that includes DS Tess Leighton and DC Christine Esson, with the surprising addition of Major Crimes DI Malcolm Fox. The victim is wealthy 23 year old Saudi student, Salman Bin Mahmoud, a James Bond obsessive with a love of horseracing, with a home in London as well as Edinburgh, with two close, well off, university friends, Lady Isabella 'Issy' Meiklejohn and Italian Giovanni Morelli. He was stabbed at night in the car park of a carpet warehouse..

Rebus receives a call in the middle of the night from his daughter, Samantha, living in the village of Nawar, close to Tongue, on the wild north coast. Her partner, Keith Grant, has disappeared, and she is seriously worried with the police being called in. There is nothing that Rebus will not do for Sammy, despite their rocky relationship and her young daughter, Carrie, setting off in his rickety old Saab, listening to a CD music compilation put together for him by Siobhan, under the title of 'Songs for the Dark Times'. DS Robin Creasey is the local police officer in charge of the missing person case, and it is Rebus who finds Keith's dead body at an old internment Camp 1033, a place that Keith and a local group had been interested in the history of, and wanted to preserve. Sammy's relationship with Keith had become strained and troubled, making her the prime suspect of his murder, which ensures that Rebus investigates as he oscillates between the role of cop and father with Sammy.

Odd connections emerge between Rebus's case in the north and Clarke and Fox's Edinburgh murder inquiry with the involvement of some of the same characters. Rebus is his usual sardonic self, a determined maverick, unwilling to let go of any leads, worried that the police will focus solely on Sammy without looking into Keith's obsession with Camp 1033 and its history, particularly given his notes and laptop were taken. Rankin has developed a successful formula in which he incorporates Clarke, Rebus and Fox in ongoing cases, and Big Ger, Morris Gerald Cafferty, getting older too, still there, still standing, unwilling to relinquish his prime position, continuing to try and pull the police into his own machinations and agenda. This is a great crime read, intricate, dark, engaging and compelling, and I can't wait for the next in the series. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

Another great adventure in the Rebus series.

I confess I am a sucker for the Rebus books, and this one didn't disappoint.

This time his protege, Siobhan, is mainly left on her own to manage a murder of a young socialite, as he has business elsewhere because his daughter's boyfriend has gone missing. Needleas to say, Rebus applies his endless charm, and sleuthing skills to the case, but of course misdirection and deadly danger beset him at every turn.

I read it in one sitting, as always, and as always enjoyed it immensely. Fans of police procedural and murder mystery will love this book, and Ian Rankin in General.

** spoiler alert ** There's something comforting about being back in the Rebus world,with Malcolm,Siobhan,big Ger and now even Brillo.
You know what you're getting.
Yet this time,Siobhan and Rebus were barely in the same room together,we see the role of father being thrust onto Rebus more so than most books,a distinct lack of boozing and two crimes,miles apart that may well be connected.

It didn't matter,because the old Rankin magic works just as well without the familiar props.
As enjoyable as ever.