Ian Rankin announces new John Rebus novel

Ian Rankin delighted fans at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Friday night with the news that he is writing a new novel featuring his iconic detective John Rebus, to be published in Autumn 2018.

The novel will be published by the Orion Publishing Group in hardback, ebook and audiobook, with a paperback to follow in 2019.

The announcement, made in Rankin’s home town where his Rebus novels are also set, comes during REBUS 30, a year of celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of the first Rebus book, KNOTS & CROSSES.

Ian Rankin says: “After 30 years and 21 novels, John Rebus seems to have more fans than ever – and luckily for me there’s still plenty of life (and fight) in the old dog. Rebus has been proud to call Orion his home for his various adventures and it’s a thrill and privilege for me to say that a further instalment will arrive in 2018, published by Orion, overseen by my indefatigable editor, Jon Wood. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to spend some time with an old friend…”

New Rebus TV Series Announced

Eleventh Hour Films, the independent drama production company, has announced that it has secured the screen rights to Ian Rankin’s bestselling Rebus series, published by the Orion Publishing Group. Gregory Burke, the award-winning writer of ’71, Entebbe and Black Watch will be adapting the novels, to deliver a bold and visionary take for a contemporary international TV audience.

Author Ian Rankin says: “I'm so thrilled and honoured that Gregory Burke is bringing his outstanding storytelling talent to Rebus. As far as I'm concerned it's the perfect match, allowing the character of John Rebus to emerge in all his complex three-dimensional glory."

Screenwriter Gregory Burke adds: "It is an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to work on adapting an iconic character like John Rebus for television. As someone who has grown up and lives in South East Scotland, Ian Rankin's best-selling books provide the perfect material to make a thrilling series about crime in the modern world."

Executive Producer Jill Green comments: “We approached Greg because we knew he would do something really different and characterful. This will be a fresh and revisionist take in every way introducing both Rebus and Edinburgh to a new generation, at a moment where crime drama is at its most exciting level.”

The Rebus novels have sold over 30 million copies and are published in 36 languages. 2017 marks the 30^th anniversary of John Rebus, when he walked across the page of Knots & Crosses for the first time in 1987.

Ian Rankin and the Orion Publishing group are marking the anniversary of this iconic character with a series of events and activities across the year, including the much-heralded RebusFest, which takes place 30 June – 2 July 2017

For more information please visit www.ianrankin.net/rebusfest

Rankin Launches RebusFest: 30 years of a Crime Fiction Icon

Ian Rankin and the Orion Publishing Group today announced plans to mark the thirtieth anniversary of John Rebus, one of crime fiction’s greatest and best-loved creations, with a festival of literature, music, art and film in Rankin and Rebus’s hometown of Edinburgh. RebusFest will reflect the many facets of the irascible old rogue – a fun-filled, entertaining and revealing weekend is guaranteed.

RebusFest will take place over the weekend of 30 June to 2 July and will provide fans and new readers with a wonderful opportunity to explore Rebus’ world and discover the making of an iconic character.

Ian Rankin says: “I had no idea when I published KNOTS AND CROSSES in 1987 that Rebus would still be sharing his adventures - and misadventures - with me thirty years later. It's a thrill to be spending 2017 celebrating the man, his legacy, and his taste in music. Central to this is RebusFest - a weekend festival in Edinburgh of all things Rebus. I just hope he enjoys all the hoopla - I need him to still be speaking to me afterwards...”

The festival, curated by Ian Rankin, will include interactive events, live music, walking tours, screenings, and food and drink, as well as talks on the historic and contemporary influences on Rebus. Experts, artists and performers will join Ian across the weekend to provide a unique insight into one of the most significant and best-loved characters in crime fiction.

The full festival line-up will be announced on 17th March, when tickets will go on sale. For further updates and exclusive announcements, fans can visit www.ianrankin.net

2017 is the year of Rebus & Rankin, celebrating thirty years from Rebus’ first outing in Knots & Crosses and most recently in the bestselling Rather Be the Devil. Over the course of the year Ian Rankin will be embarking on an international tour taking in countries across Europe, North America, the Antipodes and South East Asia.

The announcement of RebusFest follows the recent news that Ian Rankin is to be made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in recognition of his contribution to contemporary fiction. Rankin’s iconic crime novels have gained global acclaim and made him an international bestseller.

Ian Rankin at Crimefest 2016

It was great seeing Ian Rankin come to Crimefest as a special guest. Quoting The Talented Mr Ripley at the start of his “Sorry I haven’t a Cluedo” quiz [when turning toward arguably Great Britain’s biggest selling writer of Police Procedurals] he said mischievously, tongue planted firmly in his cheek “…and we come to Ian Rankin, a writer who needs no introduction……”

We’ve all known Ian for some time now, though due to his popularity, when he makes an appearance he is much in demand from his readers and fans; so Mike Stotter [who has known Ian from way, way back] and I usually only get to say “hello” and have a brief chat as we pass in stairwells. This year we were fortunate as we managed to get to really chat in detail with the creator of John Rebus.

Ian arrived on Saturday morning, and I managed to have a brief chat as he waited for his room to be prepared. Naturally I was interested in the new book, “Rather be the Devil” due out this autumn. Ian would only reveal that he’d finished it, but was waiting for his wife to come back to him with her comments, and then he’d go back to re-writes. He did say that he was happy with the narrative structure and story, so here’s a tease, before November –

John Rebus, now a couple of years into his retirement, finds himself drawn into a cold case from the 1970s involving a female socialite, found dead in a bedroom in one of Edinburgh’s most luxurious hotels. It’s a crime over forty years old, but no one was ever found guilty.

Now, Rebus has his own reasons to investigate . . . but it is going to set him against some very dangerous people.

Ian had two major events planned at Crimefest, the first being an interview on Saturday with The Telegraph’s crime fiction critic Jake Kerridge and Sunday’s appearance on Mike Ripley’s “Sorry I haven’t a Cluedo” and with little surprise both these events would be standing room only.

Ian Rankin and the Crimefest team allowed Shots Blog to record an edited version of the interview with Jake Kerridge which we present here. Please note it was recorded ‘gonzo style’, and from my position I was unable to capture Jake, due to a lectern being in the way, though the sound is good. We’ve edited out the first fifteen minutes due to sound quality issues, and as the sound for the Q & A with the audience was poor, we only have presented one of the questions.

So we hope you enjoy this presentation of Jake Kerridge in conversation with Ian Rankin

Shots has archived more video footage from Crimefest 2016 here including footage of Ian Rankin.

We will be uploading video form Mike Ripley’s his “Sorry I haven’t a Cluedo” quiz shortly.

Shots would like to thank Angela McMahon of Orion Publishing and Ian Rankin, as well as Adrian Muller and Myles Allfrey of Crimefest for allowing us to make this recording available to Shots Readers.

Shots Ezine has available for pre-order, copies of Ian Rankin’s next novel RATHER BE THE DEVIL at a 50% discount from our online bookstore - click here

Ian Rankin announces new Rebus novel for 2016

Great news from Orion Publishing

Ian Rankin today revealed the title and details of his new novel RATHER BE THE DEVIL which will feature his curmudgeonly old rogue John Rebus, one of crime fiction’s most beloved characters.

Rankin’s most recent Rebus novel EVEN DOGS IN THE WILD spent an amazing four weeks at #1 in the SUNDAY TIMES bestsellers’ charts and also hit the top spot on Amazon’s Kindle chart. But fans will have to wait another six months for their Rebus fix when the Orion Publishing Group publishes RATHER BE THE DEVIL on 3 November.

Ian Rankin announced the title on Twitter and Periscope at 3.00pm on Thursday 17 March just before going on stage at Orion’s annual sales conference where he shared more details with an appreciative audience.

John Rebus, now a couple of years into his retirement finds himself drawn into a cold case from the 1970s involving a female socialite, found dead in a bedroom in one of Edinburgh’s most luxurious hotels. It’s a crime over forty years old, but no one was ever found guilty. Now, Rebus has his own reasons to investigate . . . but it is going to set him against some very dangerous people.

Ian Rankin said:
“Rather Be The Devil is the title of a song by John Martyn, from one of my all-time favourite albums, 'Solid Air'. There are demons aplenty in this new book, not all of them faced by Rebus. I've not finished writing it yet, but I'm sure fans will enjoy being back in the old devil's company...'

Jon Wood, Group Publisher at Orion, commented:

 “Like the finest of whiskies, Ian Rankin – and John Rebus – just keep getting better every year. There is no more entertaining or interesting partnership in crime fiction today. It’s an absolute joy to reveal that they will be both back in our bookshops this year”

JOHN REBUS is one of crime fiction’s most popular and iconic characters. Public affection for the irascible ex-cop grows unabated and has sent the Rebus novels soaring to the top of the bestsellers’ charts again and again since his return in STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN’S GRAVE in 2012.

IAN RANKIN is the internationally bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus and Detective Malcolm Fox novels, as well as a string of standalone thrillers. His books have been translated into 36 languages and are bestsellers on several continents. Ian is the recipient of four CWA DAGGER AWARDS and in 2004, won America's celebrated EDGAR AWARD. He is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, Hull and Edinburgh and received the OBE for services to literature. He was recently made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 

Find out more at www.ianrankin.net. Follow Ian on @beathhigh

RATHER BE THE DEVIL is published on 3 November 2016, hardback (£19.99), eBook (£10.99) and unabridged audio CD and Download.

The Beat Goes On with John Rebus

For immediate release

Orion to release the complete Rebus short stories

The Orion Publishing Group has announced it is to publish the complete collection of Rebus short stories by bestselling novelist Ian Rankin. It will be published in one volume entitled THE BEAT GOES ON, and released 9 October 2014.

Jon Wood, Fiction Publishing Director, Orion Publishing Group has bought the UK, Commonwealth and European rights from Peter Robinson of Rogers, Coleridge & White literary agency.

Over the years, Ian Rankin has amassed an incredible portfolio of short stories featuring his curmudgeonly hero John Rebus. Published in crime magazines, composed for events, broadcast on radio, they all share the best qualities of his phenomenally popular novels. These stories are brought together for the first time in THE BEAT GOES ON which also contains two brand new stories The Passenger and A Three-Pint Problem, plus an essay by Rankin on his creation. The 29 stories unfold chronologically; we follow a younger, energetic Rebus as he grows into the more world-weary, cynical character of the latest novels.

Jon Wood, Fiction Publishing Director, Orion Publishing Group says:

“Collected together fully for the very first time, these stories show that Rankin is as much a master of the short form as he is of the novel. They also vividly chart the development of his beloved Rebus across the two and a half decades of his existence. They are a must for any fan.”

JOHN REBUS has featured in nineteen novels and become one of crime fiction’s most beloved and iconic characters: “a remarkably lived-in and mesmerising figurehead of the genre” (INDEPENDENT); “as sharp, petty, curmudgeonly and likeable as ever”(IRISH SUNDAY INDEPENDENT); “one of the most beguiling characters in the history of crime fiction”(TIMES). Rebus was adapted for television, played by John Hannah and later by Ken Stott, and was the subject of five radio adaptations on BBC Radio 4.  The character has also appeared in a series of book sculptures and is inspiration for a popular walking tour of Edinburgh.

IAN RANKIN is the internationally bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus and Detective Malcolm Fox novels, as well as a string of standalone thrillers. His books have been translated into 36 languages and are bestsellers on several continents. Ian is the recipient of four CWA DAGGER AWARDS and in 2004, won America's celebrated EDGAR AWARD. He is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, Hull and Edinburgh and received the OBE for services to literature. He was recently voted Scotland’s Favourite Writer of All Time.

THE BEAT GOES ON is published by Orion on 9 October 2014

Rebus on Radio 4

Tune into BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 11th November 2012 at 15.00 hrs (GMT) and listen to the first epiosde of Ian Rankin's THE BLACK BOOK.

Inspector John Rebus, investigates an unsolved murder with the help of a notebook full of coded clues.

Ron Donachie  Photo: BBC

When DS Brian Holmes is left in a coma after being severely beaten, Rebus discovers his colleague's black notebook contains coded clues on a case involving arson and murder. Five years before, a mysterious fire burned down Edinburgh's seedy Central Hotel. All the staff and customers were accounted for but an unidentified body was found in the rubble. The post mortem revealed the victim had died from a bullet through the heart before the fire broke out.

Dramatised in two parts by Chris Dolan.
Credits


DI John Rebus.......Ron Donachie
DC Siobhan Clarke.......Gayanne Potter.
Mickey Rebus.......Steven McNicoll.
DS Brian Holmes.......Sean Biggerstaff.
CS Watson.......Douglas Russell.