This is the first of Rankin’s books which references current affairs I can clearly remember. The Make poverty history marches, the concerts, and of course the London bombings. Seventeen years later it all seems like a very different world.

Rebus continues to be a difficult self driven officer of the law, running people up the wrong way left right and centre. But is Siobhan taking or one too many of his dark characteristics?

Unlike a number of the earlier books Rankin doesn’t spend too much time in Rebus’s past or personal life concentrating instead on broadening the character of Siobhan and giving us more insight to her back story and family.