It’s here. The dreaded day is here. We were warned, of course. Interviews and articles published over the past year told us this day would come. But living in denial is so reassuring.
No! Time to stand up and face it: Scotland’s Detective Inspector John Rebus is retiring.
That’s right. Our old friend of 18 books, including a short-story collection and a novella, the character who made an international star of author Ian Rankin, is turning in his warrant card in EXIT MUSIC. But wait: There are still pints to consume, cigarettes to inhale, superior officers to irritate and, of course, murders to solve. So for the time being, Rebus is not going gently into that good night.
On a chilly November evening, a corpse is found near a parking garage in Edinburgh. The case falls on Rebus as he counts down his last nine days of active duty. Assisting him is his longtime partner, Detective Sargent Siobhan Clarke. The victim is identified as Alexander Todorov, a Russian poet and dissident, currently living in Edinburgh. At first it appears as though the death is the result of a mugging gone terribly wrong. But Rebus isn’t so sure.
An elite delegation of wealthy Russian businessmen are also in town, investing in real estate and other Scottish interests. Todorov was an outspoken critic of Russian greed, so naturally, it is feared that his death was a contract hit to silence his public objections. Things get even more complicated when the financial trail leads to Morris Gerald “Big Ger” Cafferty, the kingpin of organized crime in Edinburgh, and Rebus’ nemesis for many years. But, of course, all of Cafferty’s dealings with the Russians are completely legal and above-board.
Rebus and Clarke stubbornly follow the evidence, even as it veers off into various and time-consuming tangents. But Rebus has been a cop for too long to let complications keep him from dismissing the more obvious and direct motives for the killing. And as the days and hours of his retirement draw near, he relentlessly pursues each scrap of evidence to the unexpected resolutions.
Rankin has grown so comfortable with Rebus over the years that he amazingly packs an abundant amount of details and encounters within more than 400 pages, and still manages to have it flow as though it were less than half as long. The pacing and dialogue glide effortlessly through the police procedural, as well as through Rebus’ interior apprehensions of what life will be like away from the force.
The surrounding characters are also strong. Especially Clarke, who continues her devoted but chaste mentor relationship with Rebus in his final days. Among the many pleasures of the novel is watching Clarke, reluctantly and cautiously, take a more proactive role in the investigation while Rebus observes and instructs.
But make no mistake, this is a John Rebus story. And he remains the same devoted connoisseur of classic-rock albums and scotch that we’ve known and followed all these years. EXIT MUSIC, in addition to being the last, is also one of the strongest stories in this celebrated series. There are several surprises throughout, but it wouldn’t be a spoiler to reveal that Rankin follows through with Rebus’ retirement – right on up to the party at his beloved Oxford Pub.
But life without Rebus? Inconceivable! Then again, he’s not dead – just retired. And what with Siobhan Clarke inevitably becoming a full D.I., she could easily continue to consult with Rebus privately. It could happen!
Ah, denial. So very, very reassuring. —Alan Cranis
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• BLOOD HUNT by Ian Rankin
• THE NAMING OF THE DEAD by Ian Rankin
Related posts:
- The Naming of the Dead
- Blood Hunt
- BULLETS, BROADS, BLACKMAIL & BOMBS >> Dance to the Music
- R.I.P. Arthur C. Clarke
- Re-make/Re-model: Becoming Roxy Music
