Saints of the Shadow Bible (A Rebus Novel, 19) Hardcover – January 14, 2014

I have read some, but not all, of the Rebus series and also "The Complaints" which introduced Inspector Fox. This book brings them together investigating a modern crime which becomes entangled with the misdeeds of a police squad back in the 1980s of which Rebus was a junior member.There is a gloomy, end-of-an-era atmosphere pervading this book. Rebus has rejoined the police after an unsuccessful attempt to retire and a sojourn with the Cold Cases group -- but he had to come back at a lower rank. He's now the subordinate of his former protege, Siobhan Clarke. The younger generation of cops regard Rebus as a dinosaur -- and he also apparently looks at himself that way. -- the Last of the Mohicans so to speak. He continues to smoke at every opportunity (which to me makes him an idiot rather than a dinosaur), drinks too much and bends the rules when it suits him. But he remains a brilliant investigator, devoted to doing the hard work with feet on the ground -- method plus intellect plus instinct.We learn that Rebus was a member of a group of cops known as the Saints of the Shadow Bible -- who may have murdered a suspect and covered it up back in the early 1980s when policing was done a very different way. Fox is on the trail and originally regards Rebus as a prime suspect but the two forge a partnership based on grudging respect -- mingled with constant mutual suspicion. One of the strengths of the book is that Rebus himself is conflicted between loyalty to former colleagues and his passion for truth -- and justice. Another theme is an implied debate between the politically-correct, rules bound era the police live in now and the free-wheeling atmosphere of 30 years ago when rules were broken but they got results.The book starts slowly and takes its time getting warmed up. It's as if the author himself is a dinosaur too and like his hero he's going to tell this story his way. There's little of DNA and modern investigative techniques in this book. It's all about a man who loves what he does -- investigating crimes -- and will do whatever it takes to keep doing that as long as he can. He has no life outside of the job -- but neither do Fox or Clarke. He has a broken marriage, an estranged wife and a bunch of unhealthy habits.I'd feel better about Rebus if Rankin allowed him to try to quit smoking. He's bound to end up in the ER battling a heart attack, lung cancer or emphysema -- or all three -- in the next book in the series if there is one. I know that the smoking habit is Rebus' way of cocking a snook at modernity and saying "I'm going to do it my way or not at all" -- but there's also such a thing as reality and one might expect an intelligent investigator to realize it.

First, why the title? It refers to a nickname that a group of detectives went by 30 years ago. Their bible was the cop rule book that they literally and figuratively spat on. Fast forward to the present. Rebus and Siobhan are investigating a car crash that at first glance seems rather straight-forward. A young woman, late at night and at significant speed, drives her car off the road and survives. But evidence suggests she wasn't alone and that she may not have been driving.....Hmmmm, suspicious (tell me again why R and S are investigating this?). Concurrently, it appears that Rankin's "friend", Malcolm Fox, the Complaints guy (I doubt many readers care for this guy but Rankin seems to stubbornly keep trying to salvage this guy as a likeable character) is directed for political reasons to investigate the Saints for an unsolved murder in the 80's. There's a couple of bodies that subsequently pop up (pun), a lot of who knew whom back then etc etc. According to Fantastic Fiction (check out that website if unknown to you), this is the 19th Rebus book. I have read them all, and "Saints" is clearly one of the better ones. However, the first half of the story was rather slow, while the second half was more interesting but there I had to press my reading pause button several times and rewind to absorb what I was learning. And Rebus is still one of the most intriguing characters in crime fiction. Rebus is unmatched in discovering motive and plot as he pieces all the bits together. He is better than ever at interviewing suspects, digging up information that none of the other cops can. He's his usual charming, bumbling self in front of a new lady. He still manages to mangle his career and relationships with the big boys when it's totally unnecessary. What's new is that he seemed to be a bit more mellow in his dealings with the team. I sense he and Siobhan may be finally disengaging their relationship and that there is a new assignment sans Siobhan awaiting him in the next one. But I thought he was also too easy in his relationship with Fox. The old Rebus would never have worked with Fox as cooperatively as in this story - so that didn't seem credible to me. And my final comment is that crime fiction, excluding those dull cozies of course, seems to focus too much these days on either serial murder or a cold case of 30 years ago. So a 0.5 deduct, Mr. Rankin, for lack of plot originality. Do I recommend this and will I read the next?? Yes, yes, absolutely !

This is another of the very good John Rebus police procedurals from Edinburgh. John is getting older and on the edge of retirement, having been demoted to Detective Sargent from DCI. There are always cutbacks and changes in the constabulary and he is both highly respected for his cleverness and renowned for his ability to skirt the rules and offend people. He has too good of a relationship with drink but a very nice relationship with his protégé, Shioban Clarke, now DCI Clarke, and also his boss.This story has many parts, as usual, but lurking in the background is his association with a group of officers who 30 years previously got into trouble for breaking the rules to get arrests and convictions. The 4 of them were united in their respect for an old Scottish law book they called The Shadow Bible. Rebus was new and not yet a member when the others were brought to grief over a scandal involving a murder. One of them took the fall for the rest, resigned, and went on to become a successful real estate developer while the others continued on until retirement. Politics enters the current day scene when a solicitor decides to go back to that case and search for the answers to some old questions. Because Rebus was there at the time he is put on the case under the leadership of his old nemesis from internal affairs, Malcom Fox. Malcom has his own problems with OCD so the two of them are not a good match. Ian Rankin has developed the personas of the two men over time so that we see the pros and cons of each, with Fox usually coming off less than likeable. But he’s wanting to get into real police work and who better to learn from than John Rebus.Once again, it’s a fine story with lots of scene-setting in the Edinburgh environs.

I’m still reading them in order, and Rebus is getting older. It’s interesting to see him once more as a DS instead of a DI and the relationships he has with characters in the book, some new, some old. The interplay of dialogue is still excellent and there are some good quips here which have been missing from some previous “darker” novels. It’s a bit complicated at times with Rebus dabbling in three different investigations but only he has the skills to connect them all together mostly using good, old fashioned, policing methods. Starting a new Rebus novel is like putting on an old, comfy pair of slippers and settling down for a good read. I look forward to the next one.

Ian Rankin continues to breathe new life into John Rebus, and if "Standing In Another Man's Grave" was a strong return to form for Rankin, then "Saints of The Shadow Bible" is, arguably, even better.Combining elements of Rebus's shady backstory in the days of eighties policing with a recent murder enquiry, and bringing something of a thaw to the Cold War-type relations between him and Complaints cop Malcolm Fox, Rankin can draw on an impressive catalogue of work and beleivable, real characters, to now offer a potential new partnership for future books.The dialogue in "Saints of The Shadow Bible" is particulary sharp and enjoyable, almost like reading something from a well-constructed script, and Rebus himself is shown with all his ambiguities and faults. Yes, he's a good cop, but also something of an increasingly outdated one, and it is this theme of an older man still battling with the modern world that has made his return something to savour in these latest stories.Interestingly, as Fox and Rebus rub shoulders, something of each of them rubs off on the other. By the end of the book, Fox comes across as more human and likeable, while Rankin cleverly tops and tails the story with an illustration of Rebus's darker side, and the fact that he won't change how he approaches things.Entering the world Rankin has constructed is to enjoy spending time with someone who has refreshed his series character - and seemingly his own interest in the genre at the same time. Streets ahead of other contemporary Scottish crime, there will be something very wrong if this latest title doesn't get some recognition in the next round of CWA awards. Hugely enjoyable. Can't wait for more.

In the dim and distant past, I recall that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had to bring back Sherlock Holmes after his final duel to the death with Moriaty thanks to outside pressure. I've no idea if this is why Ian Rankin has brought Rebus out of retirement, reduced him to a DS and, in an interesting twist, teamed him up with Malcolm Fox from The Complaints but, like many, I'm delighted he has.Such a scenario was always going to be a tricky move but DI Siobhan Clarke is on hand to act as intermediary. Matters are not helped when Fox has to dig into a cold case involving Rebus when a rookie and his immediate superiors going back 30 years.The story is very cleverly laid out, beginning with a seemingly innocuous car accident involving only the one car. As might be expected, Rebus picks up on the fact that the female driver who survived with realtively minor injuries, was not wearing her seatbelt when found and one of her boots was also found in the passenger footwell.And so begins a journey through the Edinburgh characters so often to be found in the Rebus stories but, as Rebus says himself, are a dying breed - like him; new techno-kids on the block on both sides of the criminal line. If anything, Rebus is more mellow in this book. Old age partly but he is kept under control by Clarke and by Fox, though, of course, Rebus would not be Rebus if he didn't do 'his own thing' which is how he gets results.This is a book where you need to read every word for fear of missing a clue, a comment which will influence the outcome. There are bodies to be discovered, old stones to be overturned, many references to the upcoming vote for independence and most of all, a grudging and gradually increasing respect for each other between Rebus and Fox and let's not forget Siobhan Clarke who manages her investigations not unlike those of the day when Rebus was the DI.This bodes well for further novels featuring this trio and I, for one, certainly look forward to such a proposition. In the meantime, this book is highly recommended - there's life in the old dog yet - and maybe, one hopes, a new TV series with Ken Stott!

Ian Rankin was the author that whetted my appetite for Crime Fiction way back in the late 1980's when I discovered Rebus. Since then I've read the whole series as they've come out with a great sense of anticipation whenever a new book was announced.Sadly the last couple have hardly inspired,I found Exit Music way below standard and Standing In Another Man's Grave a Rebus book too far.I ended that one thinking,"please Ian,kill the bold boy off and leave us with our memories".I did at one point feel as if Ian Rankin wanted to do just that,the standalone Doors Open and the Malcolm fox books appeared to show that Rankin was either bored with everyone's favourite grumpy Cop or had decided he'd gone as far as he could with the character.Sadly others were beginning to agree and to be honest I wasn't too bothered about getting this one until it started appearing in the Charity shops.Then,the clouds parted,a light shone from the heavens and I heard trumpets....well actually I discovered the Kindle App on my Tablet and saw it on sale for a quid.The reward for my extravagance was Rankin back on form and the best Rebus book for a few years.Saints of the Shadow Bible has Rebus fighting the ghosts of his past and also perhaps gives us a glimpse into the future of Rankin's books.Malcolm Fox from "Complaints" finds himself moved to CID just as Rebus finds himself marking time.I'd guess that Rankin is sensitive to a lot of people disliking fox and wanting Rebus' return so he appears here seemingly ready to take over the series while Rebus eventually bows out.In this book Fox is a less unlikeable (sorry Ian,still not totally convinced) character than in the Complaints series and basically a cleaner cut version of the great man,even prepared to bend the rules a bit when required.The story itself is one of ghosts of the past,redemption,changing times and loyalty,if you liked "the old Rebus" you'll love this one.I'd guess the future will bring Malcolm Fox becoming a more prominent and well-rounded character while Rebus fades into the background while mentoring Fox and initiating him into the dark arts of Rebus-style policing.Great read,welcome back Rebus.

When a young woman is found unconscious at the wheel of her car, evidence at the scene suggests this was no ordinary crash. Especially when it turns out her boyfriend is the son of the Scottish Justice Minister and neither of them is willing to talk to the police. Meanwhile, John Rebus is back on the force, albeit with a big demotion and an even larger chip on his shoulder. A new law has been passed allowing the Scottish police to re-prosecute old crimes and a thirty-year-old case is being reopened, with Rebus and his team from back then suspected of corruption and worse. Known as ‘the Saints’, his colleagues swore a bond of mutual loyalty on something called ‘the Shadow Bible’. But with Malcolm Fox as the investigating officer – and determined to use Rebus for his own ends – the crimes of the past may not stay hidden much longer. With political turmoil threatening to envelop Scotland, who really are the saints and who the sinners? And can the one ever become the other?After reading Standing in Another Mans Grave last year I was really happy to see the return of John Rebus and Siobhan Clark and every Rankin fan got their wish in that he brought in his new creation Malcolm Fox and his Complaints Team into the mix as well. After reading that book we all knew that it would have a love or hate relationship with the die hard fans, some would be on Team Rebus and others would be on Team Fox, so it is nice to see in the new Rebus novel Number 19 Saints of the Shadow Bible that the two old foes can be brought together in a way that satisfies everyone who loves and enjoys Ian Rankins novels,This book fully deserves the five star rating that it has been given and if I could have given it a higher mark I would have, it has all the classic markings of a great Ian Rankin novel in that it has the great character relationship, the brilliant storyline that keeps you guessing up to the final pages, takes you on a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs and has you up all day and night waiting to find out what happens.I hope now that 2014 will give us a new Clark, Fox and Rebus Novel number 20 as the way in which Ian Rankin has incorporated the New POLICE SCOTLAND and has managed to introduce us to new characters and make others fit into the fold, and shown us why he is considered by many to be the face of Scottish Tartan Noir. I for one have a lot to thank Ian Rankin for us he was the author who introduced be to the exciting world of Modern Day Scottish/ British Crime Fiction and for that I will be entirely thankful, as he opened up by eyes to a bunch of great Crime Author’s who I have had the pleasure of having over on this blog and who in turn have made me pround to be Scottish and have made others look at Scottish literature in a completely different light and brought it to the attention of thousands of people world wide.