📖 About Inspector Rebus

Inspector Rebus is a series universe written by Ian Rankin. The complete collection runs to 31 books across 2 series, published between 1987 and 2024.

The main series is Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Books with 25 books. It opens with Knots and Crosses (1987) and currently runs to Midnight and Blue (2024).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with Inspector Rebus

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: Knots and Crosses (1987), book 1 of Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Books. Reading in publication order lets the world and characters develop the way the author intended, and it avoids spoilers that later books may contain.

Each of the 2 series on this page is expandable — click a series heading to see every title it contains, in order, with a direct link to buy the book on Amazon.

📚 Inspector Rebus Books in Order

Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Books
25 books
1
Knots and Crosses book cover1Knots and Crosses1987Buy on Amazon
Hide and Seek book cover2Hide and Seek1991Buy on Amazon
Tooth and Nail / Wolfman book cover3Tooth and Nail / Wolfman1992Buy on Amazon
Strip Jack book cover4Strip Jack1992Buy on Amazon
The Black Book book cover5The Black Book1993Buy on Amazon
Mortal Causes book cover6Mortal Causes1994Buy on Amazon
Let It Bleed book cover7Let It Bleed1995Buy on Amazon
Black and Blue book cover8Black and Blue1997Buy on Amazon
The Hanging Garden book cover9The Hanging Garden1998Buy on Amazon
Dead Souls book cover10Dead Souls1999Buy on Amazon
Set in Darkness book cover11Set in Darkness2000Buy on Amazon
The Falls book cover12The Falls2001Buy on Amazon
Resurrection Men book cover13Resurrection Men2002Buy on Amazon
A Question of Blood book cover14A Question of Blood2003Buy on Amazon
Fleshmarket Alley / Fleshmarket Close book cover15Fleshmarket Alley / Fleshmarket Close2004Buy on Amazon
The Naming of the Dead book cover16The Naming of the Dead2006Buy on Amazon
Exit Music book cover17Exit Music2007Buy on Amazon
Standing in Another Man's Grave book cover18Standing in Another Man's Grave2012Buy on Amazon
Saints of the Shadow Bible book cover19Saints of the Shadow Bible2013Buy on Amazon
Even Dogs in the Wild book cover20Even Dogs in the Wild2015Buy on Amazon
Rather Be the Devil book cover21Rather Be the Devil2016Buy on Amazon
In a House of Lies book cover22In a House of Lies2018Buy on Amazon
A Song for the Dark Times book cover23A Song for the Dark Times2020Buy on Amazon
A Heart Full of Headstones book cover24A Heart Full of Headstones2022Buy on Amazon
Midnight and Blue book cover25Midnight and Blue2024Buy on Amazon
Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Short Stories/Novellas
6 books
2
A Good Hanging book cover1A Good Hanging1992Buy on Amazon
Death is Not the End book cover2Death is Not the End1998Buy on Amazon
A Good Hanging and Other Stories book cover3A Good Hanging and Other Stories2003Buy on Amazon
In the Nick of Time book cover4In the Nick of Time2014Buy on Amazon
The Beat Goes On book cover5The Beat Goes On2014Buy on Amazon
Long Shadows (Play) book cover6Long Shadows (Play)2019Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Inspector Rebus books are there?
There are 31 books in the Inspector Rebus collection, organised into 2 series and published between 1987 and 2024.
What is the first Inspector Rebus book?
The first book is Knots and Crosses, published in 1987.
What order should I read the Inspector Rebus books in?
Most readers use publication order, which is the order the books were originally released. A chronological order is also provided on this page for readers who prefer to follow the internal timeline of the story.
Who wrote the Inspector Rebus books?
The Inspector Rebus books were written by Ian Rankin.
Is the Inspector Rebus series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of Inspector Rebus Books, has 25 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the Inspector Rebus series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1987, and the most recent in 2024.