Ian Rankin‘s Inspector John Rebus is probably the best known contemporary British detective series apart from Morse. The first Rebus novel, Knots and Crosses (1987) was originally conceived as a one-off, and was followed by two non-series book before the second installment arrived in 1991. In the early 90s Ian Rankin was little known and although his thrillers showed promise he lacked a market for them. This changed when he decided to work on a book twice the usual length with multiple story lines, a back story rich in Scottish heritage, with overlapping contemporary concerns. Black and Blue (1997) was critically acclaimed, received the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger and created the confidence and space for Rankin to develop and take the Rebus series to new levels; bringing significantly added zest to the growing book trade interest in a detective that was more about shadows and contradictions than solutions – thus noir came out of the shadows.

The combination of the seedy side of Edinburgh with the hand-drinking, tough but vulnerable policeman with humanity, and deft narratives paced like adventure stories was noted by television producers. Once the right leading man was found Rebus on the small screen came to rival other detective adaptations such as Wexford, Resnick and Morse.

Blurb from the Ian Rankin site: Collected together for the first time, these short stories from the modern-day master of crime writing represent the very best of Ian Rankin’s repertoire. Selected from ten years’ worth of material, they are taken from magazines, radio and journals. They include seven tales starring Rankin’s outstanding creation, Inspector John Rebus and this paperback edition includes the novella ‘Death is Not the End’. Stretching from suburban murders of loved ones to the sinister workings of a serial killer’s mind and from a bent cop with a terminal approach to his work to a hitman who gets more than he bargained from in a crowded fairground, these tales not only explore the inner life of a city like no other. For the streets of Edinburgh have seen more than their fair share of blood. With Beggars Banquet, Ian Rankin once again demonstrates all the powers that have made him a consistent number one bestseller. Including two CWA Dagger-winning tales, these stories show a writer of incredible range and a storyteller at the height of his powers.

The Scorpion Press edition was issued with an Appreciation by highly regarded American mystery writer Lawrence Block. Mr Block points out that in the old days the craft was learned through the short story form; these days few big-name writers have ever tried it. Possibly Rankin is the better writer for his evident skill at the shorter format. Our print run was 99 numbered and signed copies with 15 lettered for presentation purposes.