Replacing Rebus?

[HDM]

I recently finished Ian Rankin's "Exit Music", which is the concluding book in the excellent Inspector Rebus series, I have thought the books and the evolution of Rebus as we follow his career in the Lothian & Borders Police has been first rate, problem is, how to replace him? Can anyone suggest some similar type of characters/books?

[TomE]

Val Mcdermid's "Tony Hill" books are great, I can highly recommend them.

She also has series of books which feature a character called Kate Brannigan, and these are also good.

[NewNameNeeded]

Detective Harry Bosch novels, set in LA but much better than a lot of the American detective novels, by Michael Connelly are also a phenomenally good read and there are a fair few of them too. They got me over Rebus.

Edited by NewNameNeeded on Tuesday 9th December 19:42

[ALawson]

Have you read any of the Christopher Brookmyre books, only thing they have in common is a North Of the Borders Author, they star a police officer and some funny stories. Well written though and once you have read one you will probably want to read the rest of his stuff.

[wiz 1]

Mark Billingham - DI Tom Thorne on the 7th book now.

[NewNameNeeded]

Along with my first suggestion i'd second the DI Tom Thorne books. Very good. Greg Isles is a good author too (his surname night be spelt a touch differently to that)

[thepeoplespal]

ALawson said:

Have you read any of the Christopher Brookmyre books, only thing they have in common is a North Of the Borders Author, they star a police officer and some funny stories. Well written though and once you have read one you will probably want to read the rest of his stuff.

Absolutely love Christopher Brookmyre books, but they are hardly a replacement for the Rebus novels IMHO. One page of "One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night" by Brookmyre can be so perceptive and witty with enough laughs and material for a movie in itself, you can be strangely disappointed that the whole book is not like that (no one could keep up that level of quality though).

I really quite like CJ Sansom's Shardlake series of novels set in Henry VIII's England, not exactly a direct replacement maybe, but a detective story non the less.

Edited by thepeoplespal on Tuesday 9th December 20:06

[Wetwipe]

DCI Alan Banks written by Peter Robinson

He has written about 12 or so novels now. well crafted and good character development. set in north yorkshire.

I do a long commute (four hours plus) twice a week and the audio book versions keep me awake during the witching hour!

[BigBen]

thepeoplespal said:

ALawson said:

Have you read any of the Christopher Brookmyre books, only thing they have in common is a North Of the Borders Author, they star a police officer and some funny stories. Well written though and once you have read one you will probably want to read the rest of his stuff.

Absolutely love Christopher Brookmyre books, but they are hardly a replacement for the Rebus novels IMHO. One page of "One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night" by Brookmyre can be so perceptive and witty with enough laughs and material for a movie in itself, you can be strangely disappointed that the whole book is not like that (no one could keep up that level of quality though).

I really quite like CJ Sansom's Shardlake series of novels set in Henry VIII's England, not exactly a direct replacement maybe, but a detective story non the less.

Edited by thepeoplespal on Tuesday 9th December 20:06

Yep Brookmyre books are very enjoyable but are not the same kind of thing as Rebus, a lot more light hearted.

Ben

[speed8]

Wetwipe said:

DCI Alan Banks written by Peter Robinson

He has written about 12 or so novels now. well crafted and good character development. set in north yorkshire.

I do a long commute (four hours plus) twice a week and the audio book versions keep me awake during the witching hour!

Yep, I've been reading these in between Rebus books for the last couple of years.

Starting to run out of these though so I'll try some of the suggestions above.

[grumpyscot]

What about the Bob Skinner novels by Quintin Jardine? Also set in Edinburgh with a Lothian & Borders background and covers many years of the main character's life from a lowly sergeant up to Deputy Chief Constable.

Jrdine also does the Oz Blackstone series that would make reasonable viewing.

[Alex]

Try the Adam Dalgliesh novels by P.D.James.

Ian Fleming's original Bond books.

[jshell]

HDM said:

I recently finished Ian Rankin's "Exit Music", which is the concluding book in the excellent Inspector Rebus series, I have thought the books and the evolution of Rebus as we follow his career in the Lothian & Borders Police has been first rate, problem is, how to replace him? Can anyone suggest some similar type of characters/books?

Rankin has left the door open for Rebus to return from retirement in an 'advisory' capacity though.... Mr Marple? I'd expect something to come out in teh near future.

[Raffles]

Alex said:

Ian Fleming's original Bond books.

I'm reading them now and they're ace.

[stiglet]

As a direct replacement I would suggest the DS Logan "Lazarus" McRae books set in Aberdeen by Stuart MacBride (try to read in order)

Search Amazon and read the reviews!

I would also second the Harry Bosch and Bond suggestions

Cheers
JP

[CaptiV8ted]

I've thoroughly enjoyed the Rebus books. Prior to discovering that though, I used to love the Reg Wexford books. Most of them are really old now, but Ruth Rendell has knocked out a couple in the last few years.

[gshughes]

grumpyscot said:

What about the Bob Skinner novels by Quintin Jardine? Also set in Edinburgh with a Lothian & Borders background and covers many years of the main character's life from a lowly sergeant up to Deputy Chief Constable.

Jrdine also does the Oz Blackstone series that would make reasonable viewing.

I have read one of these, and while it was ok, I thought it wasn't a patch on Rebus. Too superficial, and Skinner was too much of a superman to be true to life, with none of the human frailties of Rebus.

[otolith]

Wetwipe said:

DCI Alan Banks written by Peter Robinson

My wife has started buying those too, now that she's run out of Rebus. She rates them.

[AMacA]

Another vote for the Harry Bosch books here...

Its almost like an American version of Rebus, with the music references (Jazz rather that Rolling Stones etc), and the loner side to the character.

Definitely a good way to carry on from Rebus!!

[jnm23]

Another vote for Mark Billingham - best to read them in order, the first one is called Sleepyhead. Not for the faint hearted!