Thirty years ago, readers were introduced to Scottish Detective Sergeant John Rebus. In this, Ian Rankin’s 21st Rebus story, the detective is now retired, still a beloved curmudgeon who walks his dog Brillo, is trying to give up smoking, and still likes his IPA. Even though he is no longer on active duty, Rebus is still a detective at heart.

When Rebus meets a woman friend at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh, old stories and memories of previous cases are stirred. Later that night, in his flat, Rebus finds his notes and files from a cold case in 1978, which he had investigated and from which he was later removed. Maria Turquand came from a wealthy family and was married to up-and-coming banker John Turquand, who worked for Brough’s, a private bank. Maria, who was known to have a series of romantic flings, was strangled in her room at the Caledonian. Who killed her and why?

"The plot twists and turns, snappy dialogue and the ensemble of characters in RATHER BE THE DEVIL highlight [Rankin's] mastery of the genre, and his story will intrigue readers right up to the very last page."

Rebus decides to launch his own investigation. On the evening Maria was murdered, musical star Bruce Collier, along with his band and management, were also staying at the Caledonian. Bruce has returned to town and is starting a comeback tour. Was he involved in Maria’s death? Would he now tell Rebus what happened that evening?

Rebus begins asking questions of Detective Inspector Robert Chatham, the Turquand case’s last investigator, and shortly thereafter, Chatham is found dead. Rebus’ interest in the case suddenly intersects with a current case that his former colleagues, Detective Inspectors Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox, are investigating --- the attack on Darryl Christie, who runs betting shops.

It’s a whole new case now, and Clarke and Fox are back in Rebus’ life. On loan from Police Scotland, Fox is investigating dirty money that might be flowing through Christie’sbetting shops. As Fox and Clarke delve into the money laundering schemes, it leads them back to a banking fortune involving the Brough’s millionaires, including John Turquand,and back into the 1970s. The two cases converge, and thethree detectivesmove forward to find out who killed Maria and Chatham, and who attacked Christie. As Rebus continues to follow leads to the murders, the investigations lead all three on a complex, intertwined path of intrigue, corrupt power and bitter rivalries.

Big Ger Cafferty, a friendly adversary with whom Rebus has had many encounters (although they were often on opposite sides of the law), becomes a player. Is Cafferty behind Christie’s attack? How do a murdered flirtatious woman and her banker husband connect with the investigation of money laundering and assault? Who is the mastermind responsible for the money laundering? Who is the killer? Are they one and the same?

Ian Rankin has a keen understanding of criminal behavior. The plot twists and turns, snappy dialogue and the ensemble of characters in RATHER BE THE DEVIL highlight his mastery of the genre, and his story will intrigue readers right up to the very last page.