First Sentence: The girl screamed once, only the once, but it was enough.

DI John Rebus is one week from retirement. What begins as the murder of a Russian poet becomes much more complex. Does it involve the Russians meeting with Edinburgh real estate agents and bankers? How does it link with a second murder? What is the connection to Rebus' nemeses Ger Cafferty?

When Rebus gets suspended, it's up to DS Siobhan Clark to work on the inside while Rebus keeps investigating from the outside.

I put off reading this book because I was concerned as to how Rankin would close out Rebus' career. I need not have worried.

This is quintessential Rebus who has given up almost everything in his life for his job. The case seemed to start off as a simple killing, but layers build upon layers and twists upon turns.

Rankin has done such a fine job creating Rebus, he is very real. I don't always like him, but you know that is intentional.

Rankin hasn't glamorized Edinburgh, as many authors do, but presents it as a city of people and problems as is any city, and he makes that city alive to us.

For me, the ending was perfect and just the right touch. I'm anxious to see what Rankin does next, but I do sincerely hope Rebus reappears from time-to-time. Bravo, Mr. Rankin.

伊恩·蘭金，英國著名推理小說、犯罪小說作傢。1960年生於蘇格蘭，畢業於愛丁堡大學。他曾經做過葡萄采摘員、養豬人、收稅員、酒精研究員、音響記者和朋剋音樂傢。

目前，他是英國國內首屈一指的犯罪小說作傢，他的小說曾多次獲得文學奬項。迄今為止，他的17本係列作品被翻譯成31國文字齣版，蘭金也早已成為英國當代最重要的作傢之一。

1997年，《黑與藍》榮獲英國犯罪小說作傢協會金匕首奬，同時獲得美國推理小說作傢協會愛倫坡奬提名；1999年，《死靈魂》再獲金匕首奬提名；2004年，《掘墓盜屍人》奪得愛倫坡奬最佳小說奬；2005、2006年連續兩年贏得英國國傢圖書奬年度犯罪驚悚小說奬。

2002年，蘭金因其文學貢獻獲得大英帝國勛章；2005年獲得英國犯罪小說作傢協會頒予代錶終身成就的鑽石匕首奬，成為史上最年輕的鑽石匕首奬得主；同年，蘭金再獲法國推理小說大奬、德國犯罪電影奬與蘇格蘭傑齣人物奬，並於1999至2005年間獲得四所大學的榮譽博士學位。

蘭金目前與妻子跟兩個兒子住在愛丁堡，與著名作傢J. K.羅琳比鄰而居。在完成“哈利·波特”係列之後，J.K.羅琳開始創作偵探小說，而蘭金為她的創作提供瞭諸多幫助，被羅琳稱作偵探小說創作上的領路人。