Rather Be the Devil, Ian Rankin
Rather Be the Devil, Ian Rankin
2 Rating(s)
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
Club: $13.99

Rather Be the Devil

Author: Ian Rankin

Narrator: James Macpherson

Unabridged: 10 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/31/2017


Synopsis

Rebus investigates a cold case that just turned red hot.

As he settles into an uneasy retirement, Rebus has given up his favorite vices. There's just one habit he can't shake: he can't let go of an unsolved case. It's the only pastime he has left and up until now, it's the only one that wasn't threatening to kill him. But when Rebus starts reexamining the facts behind the long-ago murder of a glamorous woman at a luxurious hotel - on the same night a famous rock star and his entourage where also staying there - the past comes roaring back to life with a vengeance.

And as soon as Rebus starts asking questions about the long forgotten crime, a fresh body materializes. His inquiries reunite him with his old pals-Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox-as they attempt to uncover the financial chicanery behind the savage beating of an upstart gangster, a crime that suggests the notorious old school crime boss Big Ger Cafferty has taken to retirement as poorly as Rebus himself.

As he connects the mysteries of the past to the those of the present, Rebus learns - the hard way - that he's not the only one with an insatiable curiosity about what happened in that hotel room forty years ago, and that someone will stop at nothing to ensure that the crime remains ancient history.

A twisted tale of power, corruption, and bitter rivalries in the dark heart of Edinburgh, Rather Be the Devil showcases Rankin and Rebus at their unstoppable best.

About Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin is a Scottish crime writer, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Andrew on January 13, 2025

The title of this book is taken from a song performed by British singer John Martyn. Rankin is big on music, and he populates his books with references to songs and song lyrics, perhaps to provide further insight into the personality (and age) of his characters. On this occasion, the use of this par......more

Goodreads review by James on July 24, 2018

Edinburg detective John Rebus is officially retired and in the middle of a health scare. He's quit smoking and cut back on his drinking, but then a forty-year-old murder that was never solved captures his attention and he's off to the races again, even if he's not running quite as fast as he used to......more

Goodreads review by Barbara on November 24, 2021

In this 21st book in the 'Inspector Rebus' series, the detective is retired, but still manages to investigate cases. The book can be read as a standalone, but knowledge of the characters is advantageous. ***** Retired Scottish detective John Rebus is in his sixties, suffering from chronic obstructive......more

Goodreads review by [ J o ] on June 22, 2018

John Rebus is a copper through and through, and he most certainly cannot let go. Despite retirement and severe health problems, he still capers about like the best of them and he certainly can't stop himself going where he definitely shouldn't... Ian Rankin and his creation John Rebus never disappoin......more


Quotes

Praise for RATHER BE THE DEVIL:

"Rankin is an expert at manipulating multiple plots...Along with his plotting prowess, Rankin has cultivated a fluid style that accommodates mordant cop talk, coarse gangster lingo and the occasional honest expression of compassion."
Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

"Rather Be the Devil will not disappoint - in the last 30 pages or so, Rankin delivers so many shocking but
satisfying twists I felt I might have whiplash."—Tampa Bay Times

"Excellent."
The Seattle Review of Books

"[A] finely crafted new entry...[Rankin] is as tireless in delivering the goods as his creation is in solving tough cases."
Kirkus

"With its trademark blend of sharp wit and even sharper police work, this entry is yet another example of why Rankin remains in the top echelon of Scottish crime writers."
Publishers Weekly

"One of the best things in crime fiction for years, but Rankin kicks it up several notches here."

Booklist (Starred Review)

"This may be the author's 21st series outing, but the thrill is still fresh."
Library Journal

Praise for EVEN DOGS IN THE WILD:

A "twisty, darkly topical, and immaculately executed tale of Edinburgh's underbelly." —The Guardian