Midnight and Blue
| Author | Ian Rankin |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Inspector Rebus |
| Genre | Detective fiction |
| Set in | Edinburgh |
| Publisher | Orion Books |
Publication date | October 2024 |
| Publication place | Scotland |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 352 pp |
| ISBN | 978-1398709423 |
| Preceded by | A Heart Full of Headstones |
Midnight and Blue (also Midnight & Blue) is the 25th novel in the Inspector Rebus series by Scottish author Ian Rankin. It also exists as an audiobook, narrated by James MacPherson.
Plot
[edit]The novel carries on directly from A Heart Full of Headstones, which culminated in Rebus' conviction for the attempted murder of his old nemesis, Big Ger Cafferty.[1] Now, Rebus himself is behind bars. Two parallel investigations follow: one set in Saughton Prison (HMP Edinburgh), in which a prisoner is found murdered in a locked cell, a case which is taken over by Christine Esson, with Rebus as a possible suspect. The second follows DI Siobhan Clarke, as her investigation into the disappearance of a schoolgirl leads her into a world of 'online pornography, pseudo-celebrities and exploitation.'[1] Meanwhile, Edinburgh's underworld struggles to fill the vacuum left by the death of Ger Cafferty, and we see the return of DCI Malcolm Fox, first introduced in The Complaints, as well as a number of other returning characters, including the psychopathic drug lord Darryl Christie, who seems to offer unlikely support for Rebus in his new environment.
Themes
[edit]Like A Heart Full of Headstones, Midnight & Blue deals with the themes of the past, the grey areas between good and evil,[2] past mistakes and taking responsibility for them, as well as those of ageing and mortality.[3] Ian Rankin has described Rebus, ageing alongside him in real time, as a kind of proxy, saying: 'He takes on all the aches and pains... that are waiting around the corner for me. I give all that stuff to him so I don’t have to worry about it so much.'[4]
Reception
[edit]The novel was enthusiastically received, with Kirkus Reviews praising: the 'vividly detailed portrait of the labyrinthine corridors of power in the prison,'[5] and The Guardian calling it: 'An expertly plotted... addition to a standout series.'[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Midnight and Blue by Ian Rankin review: the devil's in the details". The Scotsman. 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "Ian Rankin's Rebus returns in Midnight and Blue". RNZ. 2024-12-08. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ "Midnight and Blue by Ian Rankin | The Arbuturian". 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ Brennan, Marjorie (2024-10-25). "Author interview: Rankin and Rebus raise a glass to their silver anniversary". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ^ MIDNIGHT AND BLUE | Kirkus Reviews.
- ^ Wilson, Laura (2024-10-18). "The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-03-05.