Inspector John Rebus must disinter four cases to nail just one killer, and do it while facing the glare of an internal inquiry led by a man he has just accused of taking backhanders. One mistake is likely to mean a slow and unpleasant death, or, worse still, losing his job.

Inspector John Rebus must disinter all four cases to nail just one killer. And do it while facing the glare of an internal inquiry led by a man he has just accused of taking backhanders from Glasgow's Mr Big, and with TV cameras at his back investigating a miscarriage of justice. One mistake is likely to mean an unpleasant and not particularly speedy death or, worse still, losing his job. With BLACK & BLUE Ian Rankin joins the elite of British crime writing' Marcel Berlins THE TIMES John Rebus, an outstanding creation...very ambitious and very confident with acute observation of the not so bonny side of Scotland' Mike Ripley, DAILY TELEGRAPH This is the Rebus book that Rankin fans have been waiting for; the one that moves him into the big league' CRIME TIME An outstanding performance' SUNDAY TIMES