Since publishing his first book featuring Inspector John Rebus, Knots and Crosses, in 1987 Ian Rankin has become one of the world’s leading crime writers.
To date the Fife-born author has published 25 novels, two short-story collections, one original graphic novel, one novella, and a non-fiction book - earning him a host of awards and a Knighthood.
This year has already seen a new six part BBC series featuring his most famous creation, simply entitled Rebus, and his latest book Midnight & Blue will be released later in 2024.
Rankin is hugely popular on leading book website Goodreads, with an average score of 3.96 out of five over 503,752 ratings and 29,350 reviews.
But which of his books are readers’ favourites? Here are the top 11.
This year has already seen a new six part BBC series featuring his most famous creation, simply entitled Rebus, and his latest book Midnight & Blue will be released later in 2024.
![Completing the top five is the 17th book featuring Inspector John Rebus - Exit Music. The 2007 novel has an average rating of 4.13 from 17,149 reviews. "A mugging gone wrong ... or murder? A dissident Russian poet is found dead - at the same time a delegation of Russian businessmen arrives in town. For some, it is crucial that the case is closed quickly, clinically and with the minimum of attention. But DI Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke believe this is something more than a random attack - especially after a particularly nasty second killing. Then, a brutal and premeditated assault on a local gangster puts Rebus in the frame - and he may not survive long enough to solve anything..."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/29/11/41/Bo.dy%20%2815%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Exit Music
Completing the top five is the 17th book featuring Inspector John Rebus - Exit Music. The 2007 novel has an average rating of 4.13 from 17,149 reviews. "A mugging gone wrong ... or murder? A dissident Russian poet is found dead - at the same time a delegation of Russian businessmen arrives in town. For some, it is crucial that the case is closed quickly, clinically and with the minimum of attention. But DI Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke believe this is something more than a random attack - especially after a particularly nasty second killing. Then, a brutal and premeditated assault on a local gangster puts Rebus in the frame - and he may not survive long enough to solve anything..." | Contributed
![With an average rating of 4.1 from 16,859 reviews, In A House Of Lies is Ian Rankin's sixth best reviewed book online. The 22nd Rebus book was first published in 2018. "Private investigator Stuart Bloom was missing, presumed dead.
Until now. His body is discovered in an abandoned car - in an area that had already been searched...Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke combs through the mistakes of the original investigation. After a decade without answers, it's time for the truth. But it seems everyone involved with the case is hiding something. None more so than Siobhan's own mentor: former detective John Rebus. The only man who knows where the trail may lead - and that it could be the end of him."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/29/11/31/Bo.dy%20%2816%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. In A House Of Lies
With an average rating of 4.1 from 16,859 reviews, In A House Of Lies is Ian Rankin's sixth best reviewed book online. The 22nd Rebus book was first published in 2018. "Private investigator Stuart Bloom was missing, presumed dead. Until now. His body is discovered in an abandoned car - in an area that had already been searched...Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke combs through the mistakes of the original investigation. After a decade without answers, it's time for the truth. But it seems everyone involved with the case is hiding something. None more so than Siobhan's own mentor: former detective John Rebus. The only man who knows where the trail may lead - and that it could be the end of him." | Contributed
![Published back in 1998, The Hanging Garden is the 9th book to feature John Rebus. It has an average rating of 4.09 from 13,270 reviews. "DI Rebus is buried under a pile of paperwork but an escalating dispute between the upstart Tommy Telford and Big Ger Cafferty's gang gives Rebus an escape clause. Telford is known to have close links with a Chechen gangster bringing refugees into Britain as prostitutes. When Rebus takes under his wing a distraught Bosnian call girl, it gives him a personal reason to make sure Telford goes back to Paisley and pronto. Then Rebus's daughter is the victim of an all too professional hit-and-run and Rebus knows that there is now nothing he won't do to bring down prime suspect Tommy Telford - even if it means cutting a deal with the devil."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/29/11/27/Bo.dy%20%2817%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. The Hanging Garden
Published back in 1998, The Hanging Garden is the 9th book to feature John Rebus. It has an average rating of 4.09 from 13,270 reviews. "DI Rebus is buried under a pile of paperwork but an escalating dispute between the upstart Tommy Telford and Big Ger Cafferty's gang gives Rebus an escape clause. Telford is known to have close links with a Chechen gangster bringing refugees into Britain as prostitutes. When Rebus takes under his wing a distraught Bosnian call girl, it gives him a personal reason to make sure Telford goes back to Paisley and pronto. Then Rebus's daughter is the victim of an all too professional hit-and-run and Rebus knows that there is now nothing he won't do to bring down prime suspect Tommy Telford - even if it means cutting a deal with the devil." | Contributed
![The eighth book in the Rebus series takes eighth place in our list - with Black and Blue earning an average rating of 4.09 from 17,527 reviews. "In the 1960s, the infamous Bible John terrorised Scotland when he murdered three women, taking three souvenirs. Thirty years later, a copycat is at work, dubbed Johnny Bible. DI John Rebus's unconventional methods have got him in trouble before - now he's taken away from the inquiry and sent to investigate the killing of an off-duty oilman. But when his case clashes head-on with the Johnny Bible killings, he finds himself in the glare of a fearful media, whilst under the scrutiny of an internal enquiry. Just one mistake is likely to mean losing his job - and quite possibly his life."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/29/11/31/Bo.dy%20%2818%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Black and Blue
The eighth book in the Rebus series takes eighth place in our list - with Black and Blue earning an average rating of 4.09 from 17,527 reviews. "In the 1960s, the infamous Bible John terrorised Scotland when he murdered three women, taking three souvenirs. Thirty years later, a copycat is at work, dubbed Johnny Bible. DI John Rebus's unconventional methods have got him in trouble before - now he's taken away from the inquiry and sent to investigate the killing of an off-duty oilman. But when his case clashes head-on with the Johnny Bible killings, he finds himself in the glare of a fearful media, whilst under the scrutiny of an internal enquiry. Just one mistake is likely to mean losing his job - and quite possibly his life." | Contributed