Character · Rebus and his circle · 25 books
John Rebus
John Rebus is an Edinburgh detective with a taste for whisky, cigarettes and 1970s rock, and a habit of ignoring orders. A former soldier who went through brutal special forces training, he is stubborn, lonely and loyal to the dead. Because Ian Rankin lets him age in real time, he moves from detective sergeant to retirement and beyond across the series.
Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.
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Character facts
- First appearance
- Knots and Crosses (1987)
- Latest appearance
- Midnight and Blue (2024)
- Books
- 25 (25 as lead)
- Series
- Rebus
- Author
- Ian Rankin
- Circle
- Rebus and his circle
Where to meet John Rebus
John Rebus first appears in Knots and Crosses (1987), as the lead, book 1 of the Rebus series.
Every book with John Rebus
In publication order, with the size of their role in each.
- 1987LKnots and Crosseslead · RebusA detective sergeant haunted by his SAS pastBuy
- 1991LHide and Seeklead · RebusBuy
- 1992LTooth and Naillead · RebusBuy
- 1992LStrip Jacklead · RebusBuy
- 1993LThe Black Booklead · RebusBuy
- 1994LMortal Causeslead · RebusBuy
- 1995LLet It Bleedlead · RebusBuy
- 1997LBlack and Bluelead · RebusBuy
- 1998LThe Hanging Gardenlead · RebusBuy
- 1999LDead Soulslead · RebusBuy
- 2000LSet in Darknesslead · RebusBuy
- 2001LThe Fallslead · RebusBuy
- 2002LResurrection Menlead · RebusBuy
- 2003LA Question of Bloodlead · RebusBuy
- 2004LFleshmarket Closelead · RebusBuy
- 2006LThe Naming of the Deadlead · RebusBuy
- 2007LExit Musiclead · RebusDays from retirementBuy
- 2012LStanding in Another Man’s Gravelead · RebusBack as a civilian on a cold case unitBuy
- 2013LSaints of the Shadow Biblelead · RebusBuy
- 2015LEven Dogs in the Wildlead · RebusBuy
- 2016LRather Be the Devillead · RebusBuy
- 2018LIn a House of Lieslead · RebusBuy
- 2020LA Song for the Dark Timeslead · RebusBuy
- 2022LA Heart Full of Headstoneslead · RebusBuy
- 2024LMidnight and Bluelead · RebusBuy
Appears most often with
| Character | Books together |
|---|---|
| Siobhan ClarkeDetective who rises from Rebus’s junior to lead investigator | 21 |
| Big Ger CaffertyMorris Gerald Cafferty, Edinburgh crime boss | 19 |
| Gill TemplerRebus’s former lover, later his boss | 17 |
| Malcolm FoxComplaints officer, later in Major Crimes | 7 |
| BrilloRebus’s dog | 6 |
| Brian HolmesDetective, Rebus’s early partner | 5 |