Exit Music by Ian Rankin

Have I gone off mysteries? I have read very few in the last few years, not so much by design as by oversight. But I thought I would try again with a classic author/detective combination: Ian Rankin’s John Rebus, in his most-recent-but-one offering Exit Music. Appropriately titled, Rebus is days away from retirement but can’t keep himself from going rogue yet again and getting suspended in the process. As usual, his colleague Siobhan Clarke tries to keep him in check while getting herself into position for her long-awaited promotion.

In the end I was just kind of “meh” about this book. There’s nothing wrong with it. Rankin is a good writer and Rebus is an interesting guy and a bit easier to take now that he’s sobered up somewhat. Clarke still has a bit of a chip on her shoulder but that’s to be expected. I just couldn’t get very invested in them and what they were up to. And so then what’s the point? I guess I am breaking up with mysteries. This must be the part where I say “It’s not you, it’s me.”

Here’s something: All the Rebus novels are set in Edinburgh. Rankin’s website has lots of good stuff about Edinburgh, about Rebus and his origins, and about Scottish literature. It also includes an interactive map where you can follow Rebus around the city and a Rebus playlist for Spotify (Rebus is a huge music fan).

(Book 10, 2013)