🎯 Where Should I Start?
Best Starting Point
Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Books
Start with: Knots and Crosses (1987)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Short Stories/Novellas
Start with: A Good Hanging (1992)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Jack Harvey Books
Start with: Witch Hunt (1993)
ⓘ About Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin’s work is now appearing in university literature departments, as modern examples of complex crime fictional works. Rankin makes annual appearances on the BBC’s Newsnight Review. In 2013, Rankin made his play writing debut with, Dark Road, which debut in Lyceum Theatre in September, 2013. In his down time, Rankin has also been spotted in Edinburgh’s Oxford Bar, a bar visited by his fictional detective Inspector Rebus.
All Book Series by Ian Rankin
1
Knots and Crosses
Series opener · book 1 of 25 · published 1987
Buy on Amazon1987
3
Tooth and Nail / Wolfman
Book 3 of 25 · published 1992
Buy on Amazon1992
9
The Hanging Garden
Book 9 of 25 · published 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
11
Set in Darkness
Book 11 of 25 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
13
Resurrection Men
Book 13 of 25 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
14
A Question of Blood
Book 14 of 25 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
15
Fleshmarket Alley / Fleshmarket Close
Book 15 of 25 · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
16
The Naming of the Dead
Book 16 of 25 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
18
Standing in Another Man's Grave
Book 18 of 25 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
19
Saints of the Shadow Bible
Book 19 of 25 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
20
Even Dogs in the Wild
Book 20 of 25 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
21
Rather Be the Devil
Book 21 of 25 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
22
In a House of Lies
Book 22 of 25 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
23
A Song for the Dark Times
Book 23 of 25 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
24
A Heart Full of Headstones
Book 24 of 25 · published 2022
Buy on Amazon2022
25
Midnight and Blue
Latest in the series · book 25 of 25 · published 2024
Buy on Amazon2024
1
A Good Hanging
Series opener · book 1 of 6 · published 1992
Buy on Amazon1992
2
Death is Not the End
Book 2 of 6 · published 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
3
A Good Hanging and Other Stories
Book 3 of 6 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
4
In the Nick of Time
Book 4 of 6 · published 2014 Co-authored · Peter James
Buy on Amazon2014
5
The Beat Goes On
Book 5 of 6 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
6
Long Shadows (Play)
Latest in the series · book 6 of 6 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
1
Witch Hunt
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 1993
Buy on Amazon1993
3
Bleeding Hearts
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2001
Buy on Amazon2001
1
The Complaints
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
2
The Impossible Dead
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
1
Laidlaw
Series opener · book 1 of 4 · published 1977 Anthology · William McIlvanney
Buy on Amazon1977
2
The Papers of Tony Veitch
Book 2 of 4 · published 1983 Anthology · William McIlvanney
Buy on Amazon1983
3
Strange Loyalties
Book 3 of 4 · published 1991 Anthology · William McIlvanney
Buy on Amazon1991
4
The Dark Remains
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2021 Co-authored · William McIlvanney
Buy on Amazon2021
1
The Flood
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 1986
Buy on Amazon1986
5
The Heights
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2026
Buy on Amazon2026
1
A Deep Hole
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 1994
Buy on Amazon1994
4
Deathwatch Journal
Book 4 of 5 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
5
The Rise
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
1
Dark Road
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
2
A Game Called Malice
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 2023 Co-authored · Simon Reade
Buy on Amazon2023
1
Beggars Banquet
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
2
The Complete Short Stories
Book 2 of 3 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
3
Cully & More
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2026
Buy on Amazon2026
1
Rebus's Scotland
Single-title series · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
1
Dangerous Habits
Series opener · book 1 of 50 · published 1991 Anthology · Jamie Delano
Buy on Amazon1991
2
Bloodlines
Book 2 of 50 · published 1991 Anthology · Garth Ennis,William Simpson
Buy on Amazon1991
3
Fear and Loathing
Book 3 of 50 · published 1993 Anthology · Garth Ennis
Buy on Amazon1993
4
Damnation's Flame
Book 4 of 50 · published 1993 Anthology · Garth Ennis
Buy on Amazon1993
5
The Fear Machine
Book 5 of 50 · published 1998 Anthology · Jamie Delano
Buy on Amazon1998
6
Hard Time
Book 6 of 50 · published 2000 Anthology · Brian Azzarello
Buy on Amazon2000
7
Freezes Over
Book 7 of 50 · published 2001 Anthology · Brian Azzarello
Buy on Amazon2001
8
Good Intentions
Book 8 of 50 · published 2002 Anthology · Brian Azzarello
Buy on Amazon2002
9
Son of Man
Book 9 of 50 · published 2003 Anthology · Garth Ennis
Buy on Amazon2003
10
Haunted
Book 10 of 50 · published 2003 Anthology · Warren Ellis
Buy on Amazon2003
11
Setting Sun
Book 11 of 50 · published 2004 Anthology · Warren Ellis
Buy on Amazon2004
12
Highwater
Book 12 of 50 · published 2004 Anthology · Brian Azzarello
Buy on Amazon2004
13
Rare Cuts
Book 13 of 50 · published 2005 Anthology · Grant Morrison,Garth Ennis,Jamie Delano
Buy on Amazon2005
14
All His Engines
Book 14 of 50 · published 2005 Anthology · Mike Carey
Buy on Amazon2005
15
The Gift
Book 15 of 50 · published 2006 Anthology · Mike Carey
Buy on Amazon2006
16
Lady Constantine
Book 16 of 50 · published 2006 Anthology · Andy Diggle
Buy on Amazon2006
17
Papa Midnite
Book 17 of 50 · published 2006 Anthology · Mat Johnson
Buy on Amazon2006
18
Empathy is the Enemy
Book 18 of 50 · published 2006 Anthology · Denise Mina
Buy on Amazon2006
19
The Devil You Know
Book 19 of 50 · published 2007 Anthology · Jamie Delano
Buy on Amazon2007
20
The Red Right Hand
Book 20 of 50 · published 2007 Anthology · Denise Mina
Buy on Amazon2007
21
The Family Man
Book 21 of 50 · published 2008 Anthology · Jamie Delano
Buy on Amazon2008
22
Joyride
Book 22 of 50 · published 2008 Anthology · Andy Diggle
Buy on Amazon2008
23
The Laughing Magician
Book 23 of 50 · published 2008 Anthology · Andy Diggle
Buy on Amazon2008
25
The Roots of Coincidence
Book 25 of 50 · published 2009 Anthology · Andy Diggle
Buy on Amazon2009
26
Scab
Book 26 of 50 · published 2009 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2009
27
Hooked
Book 27 of 50 · published 2010 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2010
28
India
Book 28 of 50 · published 2010 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2010
29
City of Demons
Book 29 of 50 · published 2011 Anthology · Si Spencer
Buy on Amazon2011
30
Bloody Carnations
Book 30 of 50 · published 2011 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2011
31
Original Sins
Book 31 of 50 · published 2011 Anthology · John Ridgway,Jamie Delano
Buy on Amazon2011
32
Phantom Pains
Book 32 of 50 · published 2012 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2012
33
The Devil's Trenchcoat
Book 33 of 50 · published 2012 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2012
34
Death and Cigarettes
Book 34 of 50 · published 2013 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2013
35
Tainted Love
Book 35 of 50 · published 2014 Anthology · Garth Ennis
Buy on Amazon2014
36
Shoot
Book 36 of 50 · published 2014 Anthology · Brian Azzarello
Buy on Amazon2014
37
Rake at the Gates of Hell
Book 37 of 50 · published 2014 Anthology · Garth Ennis
Buy on Amazon2014
38
Critical Mass
Book 38 of 50 · published 2014 Anthology · Paul Jenkins
Buy on Amazon2014
39
In The Line Of Fire
Book 39 of 50 · published 2015 Anthology · Paul Jenkins
Buy on Amazon2015
40
Last Man Standing
Book 40 of 50 · published 2015 Anthology · Paul Jenkins
Buy on Amazon2015
41
How to Play with Fire
Book 41 of 50 · published 2016 Anthology · Sean Phillips
Buy on Amazon2016
42
The Wild Card
Book 42 of 50 · published 2017 Anthology · Mike Carey
Buy on Amazon2017
43
Out of Season
Book 43 of 50 · published 2017 Anthology · Mike Carey
Buy on Amazon2017
44
30th Anniversary Celebration
Book 44 of 50 · published 2018 Anthology · Neil Gaiman,Paul Jenkins,Alan Moore,Garth Ennis
Buy on Amazon2018
45
Systems of Control
Book 45 of 50 · published 2019 Anthology · Mike Carey
Buy on Amazon2019
46
Regeneration
Book 46 of 50 · published 2020 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2020
47
No Future
Book 47 of 50 · published 2020 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2020
48
Sectioned
Book 48 of 50 · published 2021 Anthology · Peter Milligan,Si Spencer
Buy on Amazon2021
49
Another Season
Book 49 of 50 · published 2021 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2021
50
The Curse of the Constantines
Latest in the series · book 50 of 50 · published 2022 Anthology · Peter Milligan
Buy on Amazon2022
1
The Book of Virtue
Series opener · book 1 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · Ken Bruen
Buy on Amazon2012
2
Pronghorns of the Third Reich
Book 2 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · C.J. Box
Buy on Amazon2012
3
The Book Thing
Book 3 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · Laura Lippman
Buy on Amazon2012
4
The Book Case
Book 4 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · Nelson DeMille
Buy on Amazon2012
5
An Acceptable Sacrifice
Book 5 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · Jeffery Deaver
Buy on Amazon2012
6
Death Leaves a Bookmark
Book 6 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · William Link
Buy on Amazon2012
7
The Final Testament
Book 7 of 40 · published 2013 Anthology · Peter Blauner
Buy on Amazon2013
8
Rides a Stranger
Book 8 of 40 · published 2013 Anthology · David Bell
Buy on Amazon2013
9
The Long Sonata of the Dead
Book 9 of 40 · published 2013 Anthology · Andrew Taylor
Buy on Amazon2013
10
The Book of Ghosts
Book 10 of 40 · published 2013 Anthology · Reed Farrel Coleman
Buy on Amazon2013
11
The Compendium of Srem
Book 11 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · F. Paul Wilson
Buy on Amazon2014
12
What's in a Name?
Book 12 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Thomas H. Cook
Buy on Amazon2014
13
Remaindered
Book 13 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Peter Lovesey
Buy on Amazon2014
14
The Sequel
Book 14 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · R.L. Stine
Buy on Amazon2014
15
The Gospel of Sheba
Book 15 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Lyndsay Faye
Buy on Amazon2014
16
Book Club
Book 16 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Loren D. Estleman
Buy on Amazon2014
17
The Nature of My Inheritance
Book 17 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Bradford Morrow
Buy on Amazon2014
18
It's in the Book
Book 18 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Max Allan Collins,Mickey Spillane
Buy on Amazon2014
19
The Scroll
Book 19 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Anne Perry
Buy on Amazon2014
20
The Book of the Lion
Book 20 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Thomas Perry
Buy on Amazon2015
21
The Little Men
Book 21 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Megan Abbott
Buy on Amazon2015
22
Condor in the Stacks
Book 22 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · James Grady
Buy on Amazon2015
23
Mystery, Inc.
Book 23 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Joyce Carol Oates
Buy on Amazon2015
24
Every Seven Years
Book 24 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Denise Mina
Buy on Amazon2015
25
From the Queen
Book 25 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Carolyn Hart
Buy on Amazon2015
26
The Travelling Companion
Book 26 of 40 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
27
Citadel
Book 27 of 40 · published 2016 Anthology · Stephen Hunter
Buy on Amazon2016
28
Reconciliation Day
Book 28 of 40 · published 2016 Anthology · Christopher Fowler
Buy on Amazon2016
29
Dead Dames Don't Sing
Book 29 of 40 · published 2016 Anthology · John Harvey
Buy on Amazon2016
30
The Haze
Book 30 of 40 · published 2016 Anthology · James W. Hall
Buy on Amazon2016
31
Hoodoo Harry
Book 31 of 40 · published 2017 Anthology · Joe R. Lansdale
Buy on Amazon2017
32
The Pretty Little Box
Book 32 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · Charles Todd
Buy on Amazon2018
33
Seven Years
Book 33 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · Peter Robinson
Buy on Amazon2018
34
The Hemingway Valise
Book 34 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · Robert Olen Butler
Buy on Amazon2018
35
The Last Honest Horse Thief
Book 35 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · Michael Koryta
Buy on Amazon2018
36
The Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository
Book 36 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · John Connolly
Buy on Amazon2018
37
The Girl Who Did Say No
Book 37 of 40 · published 2020 Anthology · David Handler
Buy on Amazon2020
38
The Traitor
Book 38 of 40 · published 2022 Anthology · Martin Edwards
Buy on Amazon2022
39
The Dark Door
Book 39 of 40 · published 2022 Anthology · Lisa Unger
Buy on Amazon2022
40
The Honeymoon Trap
Latest in the series · book 40 of 40 · published 2022 Anthology · Peter Swanson
Buy on Amazon2022
1
Murder under the Christmas Tree
Series opener · book 1 of 7 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
2
Murder on Christmas Eve
Book 2 of 7 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
3
A Very Murderous Christmas
Book 3 of 7 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
4
Murder at Christmas
Book 4 of 7 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
5
Murder in Midwinter
Book 5 of 7 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
6
Murder on a Winter's Night
Book 6 of 7 · published 2021
Buy on Amazon2021
7
Murder in the Falling Snow
Latest in the series · book 7 of 7 · published 2022
Buy on Amazon2022
1
Rambo
Series opener · book 1 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · David Morrell
Buy on Amazon2022
2
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike
Book 2 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Robert Crais
Buy on Amazon2022
3
Jack Taylor
Book 3 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Ken Bruen
Buy on Amazon2022
4
Jack Reacher
Book 4 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Lee Child
Buy on Amazon2022
5
Charlie Parker
Book 5 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · John Connolly
Buy on Amazon2022
6
Hieronymus Bosch
Book 6 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Michael Connelly
Buy on Amazon2022
7
Lincoln Rhyme
Book 7 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Jeffery Deaver
Buy on Amazon2022
8
Alex Delaware
Book 8 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Jonathan Kellerman
Buy on Amazon2022
9
Tess Monaghan
Book 9 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Laura Lippman
Buy on Amazon2022
10
Charlie Resnick
Book 10 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · John Harvey
Buy on Amazon2022
11
Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus
Book 11 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Faye Kellerman
Buy on Amazon2022
12
Inspector Morse
Book 12 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Colin Dexter
Buy on Amazon2022
13
Dismas Hardy
Book 13 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · John Lescroart
Buy on Amazon2022
14
Bob Lee Swagger
Book 14 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Stephen Hunter
Buy on Amazon2022
15
Aloysius X. L. Pendergast
Book 15 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Douglas Preston,Lincoln Child
Buy on Amazon2022
16
Lou Boldt
Book 16 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Ridley Pearson
Buy on Amazon2022
17
Spenser
Book 17 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Robert B. Parker
Buy on Amazon2022
18
Charlotte and Thomas Pitt
Book 18 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Anne Perry
Buy on Amazon2022
20
Mallory
Book 20 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Carol O'Connell
Buy on Amazon2022
21
Jane Whitefield
Book 21 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Thomas Perry
Buy on Amazon2022
22
Ian Rutledge
Book 22 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Charles Todd
Buy on Amazon2022
23
Amos Walker
Book 23 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Loren D. Estleman
Buy on Amazon2022
24
Precious Ramotswe
Book 24 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Alexander McCall Smith
Buy on Amazon2022
25
Maisie Dobbs
Book 25 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Jacqueline Winspear
Buy on Amazon2022
26
The Lincoln Lawyer
Book 26 of 33 · published 2022 Anthology · Michael Connelly
Buy on Amazon2022
27
Condor
Book 27 of 33 · published 2023 Anthology · James Grady
Buy on Amazon2023
28
Ben Kincaid
Book 28 of 33 · published 2023 Anthology · William Bernhardt
Buy on Amazon2023
29
Repairman Jack
Book 29 of 33 · published 2023 Anthology · F. Paul Wilson
Buy on Amazon2023
30
Joe Pickett
Book 30 of 33 · published 2024 Anthology · C.J. Box
Buy on Amazon2024
31
Peter Diamond
Book 31 of 33 · published 2024 Anthology · Peter Lovesey
Buy on Amazon2024
32
Nathan Heller
Book 32 of 33 · published 2024 Anthology · Max Allan Collins
Buy on Amazon2024
33
Orphan X
Latest in the series · book 33 of 33 · published 2025 Anthology · Gregg Hurwitz
Buy on Amazon2025
1
The Oxford Book of Detective Stories
Series opener · book 1 of 21 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
2
Master's Choice: Mystery Stories by Today's Top Writers and the Masters Who Inspired Them
Book 2 of 21 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
3
The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories 1
Book 3 of 21 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
4
The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories 2
Book 4 of 21 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
5
The Longman Anthology of Detective Fiction
Book 5 of 21 · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
7
Dangerous Women
Book 7 of 21 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
8
Crime Scenes Revisited: Scottish Popular Fiction
Book 8 of 21 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
9
The Penguin Book of Crime Stories
Book 9 of 21 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
10
Ox-Tales: Earth
Book 10 of 21 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
11
Crimespotting
Book 11 of 21 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
12
The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 8
Book 12 of 21 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
13
The Best of Barcelona INK
Book 13 of 21 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
14
The Killer Cookbook
Book 14 of 21 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
15
OxCrimes: 27 Killer Stories from the Cream of Crimewriters
Book 15 of 21 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
18
Ten Year Stretch
Book 18 of 21 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
19
First Edition: Celebrating 21 Years of Goldsboro Books
Book 19 of 21 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
20
Daggers Drawn
Book 20 of 21 · published 2021
Buy on Amazon2021
21
The People's City: One City Trust
Latest in the series · book 21 of 21 · published 2022
Buy on Amazon2022
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ian Rankin?
Ian Rankin’s work is now appearing in university literature departments, as modern examples of complex crime fictional works. Rankin makes annual appearances on the BBC’s Newsnight Review. In 2013, Rankin made his play writing debut with, Dark Road, which debut in Lyceum Theatre in September, 2013.
Which Ian Rankin series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Jack Laidlaw series, the earliest of Ian Rankin's multi-book series: it opens with Laidlaw (1977) and runs to 4 books across 1977–2021, ending with The Dark Remains (2021). Ian Rankin's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Ian Rankin written?
Ian Rankin has 207 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1977 and 2026. 170 of them belong to 9 named series — the largest being the Hellblazer Graphic Novels series with 50 books — and 37 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Ian Rankin's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Ian Rankin's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Jack Laidlaw (1977–2021, 4 books), Inspector Rebus (1987–2024, 25 books) and Hellblazer Graphic Novels (1991–2022, 50 books), plus 3 more.
How are Ian Rankin's books organised into series?
This guide splits Ian Rankin's 207 books into 9 named series and 37 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Hellblazer Graphic Novels (50 books, 1991–2022); Inspector Rebus (25 books, 1987–2024); Inspector Rebus Short Stories/Novellas (6 books, 1992–2019); Jack Laidlaw (4 books, 1977–2021); Jack Harvey (3 books, 1993–2001), plus 4 further series.
